“Eurovision Song Contest” is the largest music competition in the world. In 2024, acts from 37 European countries will compete against each other. Australia is also there, but why are they allowed to take part?
Eurovision Song Contest Malmö 2024 (Source: Eurovision.tv)
- The “Eurovision Song Contest” is the biggest music event of the year.
- In the 2024 competition, 37 countries from Europe, Asia and Australia will compete against each other.
- But why are countries outside Europe allowed to take part in a European competition?
The “Eurovision Song Contest” is the biggest music event in the world. Artists from numerous European countries compete to bring home victory for their country with the best music act. But what began as a European competition has long since become intercontinental, with countries from Asia and even Australia also taking part in the ESC. But why are they allowed to do that?
Australia’s participation in particular has divided the ESC’s fan base for several years, as many still view the music competition as a purely European event. However, with Israel’s participation in 1973, the competition was no longer just at home in Europe.
The reason why countries such as Israel, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Australia participate in the ESC is their membership in the EBU, the European Broadcasting Union. The EBU is an association of currently 69 broadcasters in 56 countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
All countries that want to take part in the ESC must be members of the EBU. But Australia is not officially a real EBU member, but only a so-called associate member.
Why is Australia allowed to take part in the ESC?
The “Eurovision Song Contest” has been extremely popular in Australia since it was first broadcast Down Under in 1983. So there has been a special relationship between the ESC and Australia for years.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the “Eurovision Song Contest”, the EBU invited Australia to take part in the ESC in 2015. Especially given the popularity of the competition in Australia. Comparable here to the Super Bowl, which runs late at night in Germany and still achieves incredible ratings.
Australia was directly seeded for the final in 2015 and achieved a very good 5th place with the song “Tonight Again”.
The appearance was supposed to be a one-off affair, unless Australia had won the competition then, in which case they would have been allowed to return in 2016. Since Australia was so well received by the audience as a participant, the EBU decided to let the country compete the following year. This time, however, Australia had to qualify in the semi-finals just like the other participating countries.
Until 2018, it was only decided shortly before the start of the competition whether Australia would be allowed to take part again. In February 2019 it was announced that the EBU and the Australian broadcaster SBS had agreed on a five-year contract for the ESC.
Australia at the “Eurovision Song Contest 2024”
After their participation in Liverpool 2023, the agreed contract between the EBU and SBS expired. For a long time it was uncertain whether Australia would be allowed to return this year. But fans from Down Under can now breathe a sigh of relief because the EBU confirmed Australia as one of the 37 participating countries for 2024
However, it is still unclear whether participation in Malmö in 2024 is a one-off extension or whether the broadcaster has again concluded a multi-year contract with the television station.
In our overview you will find out where you can watch what may be Australia’s last appearance at the “Eurovision Song Contest 2024” on television or live stream. We’ll also tell you where you can watch other ESC-related shows.
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