Yesterday Eurovision’s Executive Superviser Jon Ola Sand revealed that the EBU was in discussions with Australia’s SBS about potentially giving Australia a permanent spot at Eurovision. Today wiwibloggs can exclusively reveal that China is ready to get in on the act too — and the EBU is exploring Beijing’s interest.
This morning in the press centre we caught up with Ying Lei, an adviser in strategy & business development for China’s Hunan Broadcasting System and China’s Head of Delegation here in Vienna. According to Ying: “The EBU said, ‘Let’s see. We are open and are always finding new creative ways to bring new elements to each year’s ESC.'”
China at Eurovision: Head of Delegation interview
Known as Mango TV because of its fruity logo, Hunan TV is China’s second-most-watched channel behind CCTV-1, which is run by China’s state broadcaster. This year it has already broadcast both semi finals live, and will air the grand final live on Saturday at 03:00 local time. In 2013 they aired the show in November.
Ying says that Eurovision fans in China can be divided into two camps: Professionals who admire the stage, lighting and design, and ordinary audiences who love the show for its music and fabulosity.
“Regardless of nationality or continents, we admire the best performance,” she says. “We admire the splendid stage setting, whether it’s Europe or China.”
It looks like China’s route to ESC will be similar to that of Australia, who first had a guest performer (Jessica Mauboy in 2014) before joining as a one-off (Guy Sebastian in 2015) and potentially joining for good (discussions with Australia are ongoing).
“That’s the question we ask,” Ying says, “whether we can follow in China, at least have a special performer on the stage and then join the big family and join the show.”
What do you think of China’s potential participation?
I agree with LuisRB… they should open up for a seperate semi-final for non-european countries… let them compete, but let the 3 best go to the semi-finals… of course, they need to have more than 3 countries competing. Eurovision needs some new inspiration. But the rule has to be; the show can only be held in an european country.
Why don’t you just create a special semi-final for the countries around the world that want to participate like Australia, China or Qatar? And the winner of that semi-final would be the guest of the year at ESC and qualified for the final, like Australia was this year 🙂 It would be much more fun!!!!
I thought it was acceptable to have Australia as a wild card to feature in the 60th anniversary and I think it fine that it is broadcast even worldwide, but it is peculiarly European. I don’t even think Armenia, Azerbaijan or Georgia should partcipate: we should be focussing on why traditional European countries Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland and the Netherlands could not be represented because they were kicked out after the semi-finals. Is it a Eurovision contest or an world contest?? I also think the songs should again be sung in the native language of the participating countries. It is beginning… Read more »
IF CHINAS JOINING
JOIN PHILIPPINES
For the 65th anniversary maybe. I could live with one single country every year too. Just please don’t let them stay permanently.
Eurovision should make up their minds. Eurovision should only be with European countries. So they should put attention to atract those all. They extended it with members of EBU countries, so already non European countries have participated for a long time. A one of guest in a celebration year, no problem with that. If they want a contest with nations out of Europe, the should rename it f.e. Worldvision. But Worldvision would probably be become a very long thing to watch, and lose many people’s interest. Better that each continent has his own ……vision contest, and they could have the… Read more »
I want to see Japan or Canada in ESC, but no China! China don’t make good songs and China isn’t a big-fan . However, is more important the Kazajistan or New Zealand’s entries.
Let China in? You must be kidding me. Please never ever think about that. Especially Hunan TV, it’s the WORST broadcast company EVER. What a DISASTER it is! Hunan TV is a locally-popular but also nationalwide-NOTORIOUS broadcast company. They (or “it”) know nothing but VULGAR value and cheap commercial interests. They just keep making yellow news that are far away from the fact. They even dare to make fun of various participanted artists, just because by doing so they can make more eye-catchy news reports. We Chinese can translate their ulgy, fact-distorted and low-valued reports if you want to know… Read more »
YES! Bring China to eurovision! that’s the only thing i wanted and Ukraine back. They bring us something great every year, 100% sure. But let China in the Semi aswell, cause i don’t want a big 5+host+guest+guest…
If China or Australia delivers a bad song, they won’t qualify. Still we gotta do something about Greece, Romania and Russia Always in the final, this year they desurve it, but if you look at the past….
I am a Chinese fan. I don’ t support the idea because what Hunan TV seeking is commercial interest. They don’ t respect and don’ t know the Eurovision value. If u know Chinese language and watch the promo video the Hunan TV made, u will find that they make Eurovision like a joke, like a cheap freak comedy show, people join the contest because of funny costume. Even worse is, when they introduce the Spain contestant, they translated Spain(???) into Siberia(????), which is absurd. You can find many mistakes Hunan TV made, it ‘s not just a case ,… Read more »
Why don’t we already have Amerivision, Asiavision, Afrovision and Oceavision? Let Europe do it’s own thing
Australia’s understandable, this is an utter joke.
I’m a Chinese ESC fan, but, Please don’t let china in !!! I like ‘Euro’vision, not ‘Inter’vision,if china participate,i will never watch eurovision song contest any more!
your guys see the video? Ying Lei even can’t say the name of each countries, In fact they do not know much about eurovision, they are just media seeking for commercial interests,
Their ideas can’t represent us chinese fans!!
So please nooooo! It will ruin the Eurovision!(my English is not verygood, hope you can understand what I wrote 🙂 )
Nooooway. We cant sitt for weeks and listen for songs. Its the ehd of ESC. Its to mutch that Australiia is in the contest
@Robyn – they should ask New Zealand first. They’re near Australia, part of UK commonwealth and have lots of Europeans living there too.
The fact that I don’t live in Europe and that as much as I loathe China as of the moment (they’re invading our islands!), I too don’t want them to join. Ever.
This is getting ridiculous, let Eurovision be for countries in the EBU and create a Worldvision for all associate members who want to participate. I don’t see UEFA inviting China and Australia to participate in the Euro Cup.
Why do I have the feeling this is all Pilou’s fault?
I think if they do this, this will be the end of eurovision: hard words I know .. 🙁 So please, don’t take my passion away ! Next year, no Australia or China. But European coutries like Luxembourg, Slovakia,..
This is joke.. I don’t want them asia in eurovision
The difference between Australia participating and China participating is Australia has a huge fan base with cultural and political ties to Europe, while China’s just looking for commercial/geopolitical opportunities. They don’t want in because of any Chinese support for Eurovision.
I can live with Australia being a one-off. Hell, I can even live with Australia being a permanent part of Eurovision because of how much it’s loved in Australia. But China joining in…that’s just wrong.
Everybody say NOOOOO
But not so many european country want to participate
Where Slovakia Luxemburg Andorra
Next year we will not see Czech Republick and Macedonia, so China welcome!
If you want to destroy Eurovision then do it right now don’t take it slow it’s worse.
Yes, let’s expand. When countries want to join just let them, it’ll be more fun! Worldvision here we come yeeeha
http://www.change.org/p/jon-ola-sand-european-broadcasting-union-don-t-let-china-join-the-eurovision-song-contest
Totally agree with @Sal we need to focus on bringing EUROPEAN countries back NOT NON-EUROPEAN IN. I knew bringing in Australia was a bad idea. It breaks tradition and everything gets ruined through commercialization. It breaks my heart.
@Bogdan: Aye! What fitting way is there to force the longtime ESC participants to step up their game, than to have a guest insurgent provide some unusual variety into the mix?
@cheesecake: Too late to close that barn door after the horse escaped. They invited the biggest economic power in Oceania (Australia) because of their ESC fan-base. You know, for sure, that soon enough, one or all of the biggest economic powers from the other continents (Asia/China, S. America/Brazil; N. America/U.S., Africa/Nigeria) will want a piece of that pie.
I’m from NYC, but my horse money is on Brazil to be next.
How can someone be excited about this !!!! We certainly don’t want to see China at Eurovision !!
Please please ebu preserve the integrity of the contest. No non european members!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, please don’t! They say the Australian participation is a one-off 🙁
Somehow I knew this was coming….there were hints of it last year when one of the hosts was speaking Mandarin. Anyway, having one country outside the EBU appear as a guest each year doesn’t hurt, and would another dimension. Whether or not they become PERMANENT is another matter. However, I can see that the EBU wants to expand the reach of the ESC around the world, and Australia seems to be the experimental starting point. Personally, I’d be thrilled and honoured if they allowed Canada guest status one year. (Yes, we have MANY connections to Europe!) Interesting times ahead!
Seems like just a few months ago I was being laughed off the internet over my “slippery slope” theory. “But they said it’s a one time thing! They wouldn’t lie to us … again … would they?” Anybody still care to argue? It’s happening even faster than *I* expected, and I expected it to happen pretty fast. Speaking as an American fan, if the European cultural aspect is lost or diluted, then there’s no sense in paying the contest any attention. The USA has plenty of contests that we DO participate in, and usually dominate. The fact that we CAN’T… Read more »
Are you kidding me? This is getting out of hand. Stop it, EBU!
With China’s participation Eurovision’s YouTube channel will break World’s record as most viewed channel))
The doors been opened by Australia and now they all want in.. :[
but no one knows Eurovision in China. Why do they show it at 03.00 am and not in prime zone?
Ola Sand will do whatever he wants and desires, because the EBU doesn’t CARE about you all:)
It’s become an autocracy atop the EBU. So long as you all fawn over the competition and memorize the color of every singer’s underwear, the EBU can have South African join the contest!!
I’m getting bored. Australia, China. What’s next. And who the hell watches Eurovision in China ?
Yes, every year a guest country would be great ! Gives something special to the show.
Anyway a WWSC (World Wide Song Contest) triennial would be righter for the World and much bigger then a simple ESC.
LovelyIrishPetal, I think you mistake EU with Europe. All the countries in the Euroviaion this year, except for Australia, Israel, Azerbaijan, Gerogia, Cyprus and (although it has part of territory in Europe) Georgia, are in Europe so we have 6 countries outside of Europe not 15. Some countries participating are part of EU (e.g. UK, France and Cyprus, which is considered part of Asia) but others are in Europe but are not part of EU (e.g. Switzerland, Norway, Albania). Some countries are not in Europe but are in EBU broadcasting area. Some countries, like Israel are not in Europe but… Read more »
If we look at countries which make up Europe ( 27 in all ) only 25 of these have/are participating in this year’s contest. This means that if we remove all non-european countries we’ll be removing 15 of this year’s countries.
Should China enter in next years contest, no. Should Austrqlia have entered in this years contest, neither but no matter that we still need more diversity in this contest and just having European countries in it won’t cut it.
No, just NO !! EBU, what are you thinking ?! Can someone please undo this nonsense ? Let eurovision be eurovision and let only compete countries that are allowed to take part, so not China neither Australia or I don’t know which other country the EBU is thinking of …
Really disappointed 🙁
To the suggestion that “if we dont like their music, we can vote them out in the semis” isn’t really a realistic approach. First of all, that isnt a valdi reason for them to be taking part in the first place….you’re name is ESCAddict..yet you fail to recognize what the E in your wiwi name actually means?? As in “Euro” or Europe. Now…since when was China European? Or even Culturally European as the excuse has been for Australia? Secondly…we all no the Chinese diaspora is worldwide, so I dont even think they would be removed in the semi’s regardless of… Read more »
I dont think Europe need a communist country like China in the ESC. Even tho Russia and some eastern countries are not that democratic. But I want an pure European contest. Why they dont invite Kosvo or Turkey to come back.
ESC would lose its sense as European contest
NEVER! Make an Earthvision or Worldvision Song Contest instead of this idea! Keep the ESC for the EBU members!
Yes, bring in new countries. If we don’t like their songs then they get voted out in the semis. It’s that simple. If they are permanent contestants then they play by the same rules as everyone else. What are people so scared of? The hateful replies just comes across as bigotry or racism (like Sopon’s comment). Yes, bring back Croatia, Slovakia, Monaco and the rest. The thing is they can come back anytime they want but they don’t want to participate. We should have a competition filled with countries that want to play. Any external country that wants to join… Read more »
Noooooooooo NO MORE
Why not?. Israel is an asiatic country and performs every year.
Welcome everybody, A good solution could be a Semifinal 3.
That is why I’m opposed to Australian participation… China has a little in common with Europe so why should we allow it to participate? An what next – Uganda, Nigeria and North Korea? I think allowing Australia to paricipate next year will be huge mistake.