American Song Contest starts on March 21 — and it won’t just be Americans who can tune it. Sweden’s Göteborgs-Posten reports that its state broadcaster SVT has secured the rights to bring the multi-part spectacular to Sweden.
“Yes it is true,” says SVT program purchasing rep Mikael Österby. “Now we can confirm that SVT will broadcast the major venture – American Song Contest – and we are really happy about that.”
“In a divided world, Eurovision’s message to unite people through music feels more important than ever. For over 20 years, the major American producer Ben Silverman has dreamed of transmitting ESC success to American TV viewers and now it is finally a reality thanks to Christer Björkman, Anders Lenhoff, Peter Settman and Ola Melzig.”
?? NBC has aired its first big commercial for the American Song Contest.
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) December 15, 2021
? It was shown during the final of series 21 of The Voice.
? It teases 56 original songs “from every genre.”
?? – @willyleeadams
? https://t.co/MngGOfktND pic.twitter.com/UZKt0bGqq0
As we recently reported, the show has been pushed back by one month and will run from March 21 until May 9. The finale occurs one night before the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Torino.
Göteborgs-Posten says that SVT hasn’t yet made it clear when it will broadcast the episodes. It’s not known whether they will be broadcast live — so after 02:00am in Sweden — or on tape delay.
They add that residents of each state will be forbidden from voting for the act from their own state, similar to how countries vote at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Sweden is the second European country known to have secured rights. Finland’s YLE has already listed the show in its AREENA online player listings.
The contest will include three qualifying rounds, semi-finals and a grand final that picks the Best Original Song.
Last May the spin-off of the wildly popular Eurovision Song Contest officially launched its submissions and casting site, which laid out the scope of the show.
“From indie to pop, bands to DJ’s, rap to singer-songwriters, signed or independent, we will be showcasing a diverse array of artists in all genres from across the country.”
Last autumn, Christer Björkman told GP that he doesn’t expect the show to be a huge hit overnight.
“I am clear that this must be a long-term investment — no one can expect the format to be an immediate success. But I believe in a catch-up effect after three or four seasons.”
Are you excited that Europeans will be able to watch the show? Are you a Swede and will you be tuning in? Let us know in the comments box below!
The US is a strong, weird, friendly, schizophrenic country – like a giant drunk puppy with self-esteem issues. I can’t wait to see how this goes. I’m very excited. As others have rightly pointed out, this is NOT the same as Eurovision, it’s more like Melodifestivalen on steroids. Bring it on!!
I’m pleased you’re excited sangfroidx, but I wish “on steroids” wasn’t seen as a good thing. If one is “on steroids” they’re cheating their opponents and endangering their health.
I mean it with all the good and bad connotations. You’re picking up what I’m putting down.
Will SBS be airing it?
Thunder and lightning it’s getting exciting!
I’d like Japanese-American singer Nano to represent New York. I’ve always wanted to see Japanese pop rock in any song contest. It probably won’t happen, but I can always hope.
Every new bit of info regarding this contest intrigues me more. This could either be great or awful, but I’m very interested in it either way!
I was thinking how I would be able to watch it. Thanks Yle for making it easy for me!
No, the procedure is much too long for me. Beginning in march and ending in may… Let the states each select their candidate and not broadcast tens of preselections first. That will bore the audience. It’s special that so many Swedes will work for the American edition now, while it has been made known today that the Dutch have been asked to play leading roles in Turin as head of production, head director and head of technics.
The states won’t be picking their own singer and song, the producers will be doing that for them.
Much to long? ESC NF season starts in December and goes to nearly the end of March. We then have a month of waiting for two weeks of 30 second rehearsal clips before we get an actual show we can watch.
It’s convenient that this ASC covers the time from the last NF until the first ESC jury show.
What do you mean with the word ‘special’? Do you know who asked the Dutch to be involved in Turin in so many leading roles: EBU or the Italian organisation?
Why so hostile? According to the people involved, the RAI were very satisfied with the way things were handled in Rotterdam. And why wouldn’t they.
Despite the executive are gonna be swedes, I think swedish people won’t like it. The US shows always have a lot of drama, lots of personal stories, cheesy graphics and there is a diversity of different kind of people who thinks diferent. In other hand, the swedish society despite it is very open mind and progressive, there is anything called ‘unwritten rules’ and those are into the swedish society so deeply; it is one of the least religious societies nowdays, but its protestant influence can be appreciated in those deeply influence like there is only a way in truth (different… Read more »
That’s such an interesting point you made with everything having to be equal. Maybe that really also was forced Melodifestivalen songs.
Jeez! Thanks for pointing that out, I had forgot that depressing aspect of Sweden.
I think it is not a surprise. Four out of five executive producers are Swedish people.