While Eurovision 2020 won’t be going ahead, fans in Australia will still have plenty of entertaining Eurovision television events. Broadcaster SBS has announced its schedule of alternative Eurovision 2020 shows, including the Saturday night special Eurovision 2020: Big Night In!, which will give Australian fans the chance to vote for their favourites.
SBS is treating Australian Eurovision fans to a full week of Eurovision programming, including the EBU’s alternative Eurovision show Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light. But SBS will also be producing their own special, Eurovision 2020: Big Night In! which will screen on Saturday, 16 May,
Due to time-zone differences, Australia won’t get Europe Shine a Light until Sunday Australia time, so SBS are producing their own Eurovision extravaganza.
Big Night In! will be hosted by Australia’s Eurovision commentators and national final hosts Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey. The show will feature an exclusive performance from Montaigne, who will deliver the performance of “Don’t Break Me” she had been due to give in Rotterdam.
Australian fans will also have a chance to vote for their favourites from Eurovision 2020. Just like Australia did in the years before they started competing at Eurovision, SBS will run a poll for down under fans to vote for their favourites. Voting is open now at SBS and will run until 3 May. The results will be revealed throughout the Big Night In! show.
A week full of Eurovision action
SBS are giving Australian fans a solid week of Eurovision treats. The action kicks off on Sunday 10 March with Road to Eurovision 2020. The Dutch show will celebrate the long history of Eurovision and will catch up with Eurovision stars such as Sergey Lazarev, Dana International, Netta and Johnny Logan.
Over the week, SBS will screen the five previous editions of Eurovision in which Australia competed. From Monday 11 May to Friday 15 May, fans will be able to relive the Eurovision moments of Guy Sebastian, Dami Im, Isaiah Firebrace, Jessica Mauboy and Kate Miller-Heidke.
Following Saturday night’s Eurovision 2020: Big Night In!, SBS will keep the celebrations going into the night with Eurovision Top 40 Controversies and Secrets of Eurovision.
On Sunday evening, Australia will get slightly delayed covered of Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light, which will honour the acts of Eurovision 2020.
SBS’s Commissioning Editor and Australia’s new Head of Delegation Josh Martin was enthusiastic about the events, saying: “Eurovision was born as an idea to help unite people after a period of turmoil and instability. In 2020, SBS is incredibly proud to fill the gap left from the cancellation of this year’s contest in Rotterdam, with a network event that champions the very same goal.”
Australia: Eurovision 2020 alternative shows
All times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time – GMT+10.
- Sunday 10 May: Road to Eurovision 2020 (20:30 on SBS Viceland)
- Monday 11 May: Eurovision Song Contest 2015 (13:30 on SBS)
- Tuesday 12 May: Eurovision Song Contest 2016 (13:30 on SBS)
- Wednesday 13 May: Eurovision Song Contest 2017 (13:30 on SBS)
- Thursday 14 May: Eurovision Song Contest 2018 (13:30 on SBS)
- Friday 15 May: Eurovision Song Contest 2019 (13:15 on SBS)
- Saturday 16 May: Eurovision 2020: Big Night In! (19:30 on SBS)
- Saturday 16 May: Eurovision Top 40 Controversies (22:30 on SBS)
- Sunday 17 May: Secrets of Eurovision (00:30 on SBS)
- Sunday 17 May: Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light (20:30 on SBS)
What do you think? Will you vote in the Big Night In poll? Which shows will you tune in for? Tell us your thoughts below!
It seems there’s more effort put into Eurovision week from many broadcasters than if the contest was actually going ahead.
Well, that’s a LINE UP. It’s so nice to see how much they care about the contest. When I see this I think that all the criticism about having Australia in the contest doesn’t make sense.
I’m so jealous of you Australian fans! They should rename SBS, the Eurovision Channel, that week.
What a fantasic line up of shows for Australia, they really put effort in it. Europe: watch and learn 🙂
Well done SBS
“fans will be able to relive the Eurovision moments of Guy Sebastian, Dami Im, Isaiah Firebrace, Jessica Mauboy and Kate Miller-Heidke.” This line-up of Australian representatives sounds pretty badass
Excited to see Montaigne performance. She did an amazing job at the home concert last week.