PBS has revealed this evening that The X Factor will be making its debut in Malta, with the winner going on to the Eurovision Song Contest 2019.
The Maltese national broadcaster has announced that from October this year it will be producing The X Factor Malta. The broadcaster will use the show to select their participant for the Eurovision Song Contest, replacing the nations long term selection process Malta Eurovision Song Contest.
The Malta Eurovision Song Contest also previously known as the Malta Song Festival had been used to select the nations Eurovision entry since their debut in 1971. The selection had undergone a number of revamps in recent years including the introduction of televoting and cutting out the semi-final stages.
PBS is yet to reveal how the nations song for the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be decided.
Christabelle represented Malta in Lisbon with the song “Taboo”. She finished 13th in the second semi-final, having finished 5th with the juries on 93 points, but last with the public with 8 points
Source: PBS
Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest
Malta debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 and was represented by Joe Grech and the song “Marija L-Maltija”, which finished last. Malta competed again in 1972 and 1975 but then withdrew until their return in 1991. During the 1990s Malta only once finished outside of the top 10, and in 1998 they came within just 7 points of victory. It was Chiara who brought the country their 3rd place finish in 1998, and who went on to finish in 2nd at the 2005 contest in Kyiv. The only other artist to finish 2nd for Malta is Ira Losco, who was 12 points away from victory in 2002. They are the longest participating country never to have won the Eurovision Song Contest.
PBS has to make sure that contestants are 16 or older. 🙂