“It’s still very new in Asia. I’m not sure many people have heard about it yet,” Sarun ‘Note’ Kungbunpot told JournalArta.
The Eurovision Song Contest reaches Asia for the first time with an 11-country grand final in Bangkok on Saturday night local time, The New York Times reported. The European Broadcasting Union is using the competition to test audiences in Asia.
This launch is the first attempt to establish an Asian spinoff. Despite numerous false starts over the past twenty years, the concept had consistently failed to progress.
The European Broadcasting Union is using the contest’s 70th birthday to test audiences in Asia. It has no such resonance in Asia. It also arrives in the digital age, when traditional TV formats struggle to cut through.
“It’s the right time for something to happen, with the evolution of music from Asia and the curiosity of Eurovision fans to see what’s happening beyond Europe,” Assaf Blecher, the executive producer of the Eurovision Song Contest Asia, told The New York Times.
Eleven Nations Compete Without Major Media Markets
The lineup features 11 participating countries: host Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, South Korea, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Asia’s three largest media markets—China, India, and Japan—are absent from the inaugural event. Indonesia is also missing from the roster.
Talks are under way to bring them into next year’s contest, assuming there is one.
Russia’s expulsion from the European contest in 2022 led to the revival of the Cold War-era Intervision song contest. China, India, and Vietnam sent performers to that rival event last year, where a Vietnamese singer won with a folk-inspired entry.
Budget Cuts and Staging Challenges in Bangkok
Organizers faced logistical hurdles ahead of Saturday’s event. A sudden million-dollar budget cut three weeks before the final prevented several European staging technicians from traveling to Thailand, according to JournalArta.
The funding reduction coincided with staff resignations. Fans reviewing rehearsal footage pointed out issues with audio balance and lighting setups.
Kungbunpot told JournalArta that regional audiences accustomed to idol-focused talent shows will need time to adapt to the format. European contests prioritize original songs over the performers themselves.
“Talent contests in Thailand, the Philippines and Korea are built around the singer,” Kungbunpot told JournalArta. “It’s all about popularity – fans are looking for their idols. But Eurovision is all about the song, not the singer.”
Acts Perform Original Songs for Public and Jury Votes
Each act receives three minutes on stage to perform an original song that won a national competition. The roster includes emerging artists alongside established pop acts.
An even split between national juries representing the 11 nations and public votes will determine the victor, mirroring the European format. A 12th “rest of the world” category also votes. Anyone can vote. Every signed-up viewer receives eight ballots, is prohibited from voting for their own nation’s act, and is required to distribute preferences among a minimum of three alternative entries.
Hybrid Voting Combines Jury Rankings with International Mobile Votes
A hybrid voting system decides the winner on Saturday night. National juries in each of the 11 countries rank every performance, converting those rankings into point scores ranging from zero to 12.
Public voting from international YouTube viewers and participating nations combines evenly with the jury totals. Viewers cannot vote for their home country’s act.
Broadcast streams utilize an onscreen QR code directing viewers to a voting website. Users receive eight free votes distributed across at least three songs, with options to purchase up to 10 additional votes.
Questions About Eurovision Asia
How can international audiences watch the grand final?
The contest streams live on YouTube on Saturday night local time, corresponding to Saturday morning in the Eastern time zone. Government and commercial television stations across the 11 participating nations are also broadcasting the event.
What does the winner receive?
The victorious act earns an invitation to perform at the European Eurovision edition next year as a guest rather than a competitor. Unlike the European format, the winning country does not automatically host the following year’s event.
How do overseas fans without local entries vote?
A 12th “rest of the world” category allows global viewers to cast ballots. JournalArta said that approximately 11 million overseas Filipinos live mostly in non-participating nations, routing their votes exclusively through that global pool.
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