SRF Zwei, will be holding “Eurovision Weekend” as it builds up to the final of ESC 2018 – Entscheidungsshow on February 4.
SRF has revealed a weekend of Eurovision programing as the channel builds up to the final of the Swiss selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. SRF Zwei will broadcast a number of special programs and concerts focusing on the Eurovision Song Contest.
To be aired as part of Eurovision Weekend are:
- Céline Dion Story – 30 years on from Céline Dion’s victory, Beni Thurnheer who commentated in 1988 and Stefan Büsser look back at Switzerland’s last winner
- Conchita – Unstoppable – Follows Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst from her victory in 2014 through the year following her win in Denmark
- Eurovision Song Contest – Die Doku – Documentary charting the history of the Eurovision Song Contest from 1956
- Eurovision Song Contest 1988 – SRF has remastered the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, in which Céline Dion brought Switzerland their last victory in the competition
Six participants will be taking part in a revamped selection process in Switzerland, that is hoping to bring the country back to the Eurovision Song Contest final for the first time since 2014.
The finalists are:
- Zibbz – Stones
- Angie Ott – A Thousand Times
- Naeman – Kiss Me
- Chiara Dubey – Secrets And Lies
- Alejandro Reyes – Compass
- Vanessa Iraci – Redlights
The final of ESC 2018 – Entscheidungsshow will take place on February 4 in Zurich. Sven Epiney will host the program while Stefan Büsser is the Green room host.
The winner of the Swiss selection process will be determined by 50% jury voting and 50% public voting. This years sees the introduction of international juries to the selection process, this is hoped to replicate the Eurovision Song Contest voting.
Source: SRF
Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Switzerland hosted the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 a contest that they won. Lys Assia won the first contest with the song “Refrain”, it wasn’t until 1988 that Switzerland would win the contest again. At the contest in Dublin, it was Celine Dion with “Ne partez pas sans moi” who beat the United Kingdom to victory by just 1 point. In recent years Switzerland has finished last five times since 2004. In the past three years, Switzerland has failed to reach the final.
