The Eurovision Song Contest made its debut in Asia on Saturday with its first grand final held in Bangkok, bringing the 70-year-old television format to the region as part of the European Broadcasting Union’s push to test new audiences, JournalArta Global reported.
Eleven countries competed in the opening event, featuring host Thailand alongside Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, South Korea, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, according to JournalArta Global. The lineup left South Korea as the sole large pop powerhouse participating in the contest.
Continent’s four most populous nations—China, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia—were absent from the Bangkok stage, alongside Japan, leaving major musical cultures out of the mix, nytimes.com reported. Assaf Blecher, Eurovision Asia’s executive producer, said that conversations with Chinese, Japanese, and Indian broadcasters had not concluded in time, though he insisted that they “are knocking on our door,” according to nytimes.com.
“It’s still very new in Asia. I’m not sure many people have heard about it yet,” said Sarun ‘Note’ Kungbunpot, a Eurovision enthusiast and Thai singer, telling JournalArta Global that local talent contests focus on popular idols while Eurovision centers on the song.
Censorship and budget cuts affected Eurovision broadcasts and staging
Eurovision previously canceled a broadcast deal with Mango TV in 2018 after the network censored performances featuring gay themes and blurred rainbow flags.
Frank-Dieter Freiling, a former Eurovision official, said in an interview that such censorship went against Eurovision’s values and that organizers had historically barred broadcasters from airing the competition with delays, according to nytimes.com.
Logistical hurdles also affected the Bangkok event. A sudden million-dollar budget cut three weeks before the final prevented organizers from bringing in technicians familiar with Eurovision staging, and the changes drew criticism from fans regarding rehearsal lighting and audio, JournalArta Global reported.
Public votes and national juries decide the winner
The winner was decided by a 50/50 split between public votes and national juries from each of the 11 participating countries, alongside a 12th “rest of the world” category, according to JournalArta Global. Registered viewers received eight votes each, with rules prohibiting votes for their own country’s entry while requiring selections from at least three others.
While European contests frequently see reports of coordinated regional voting, JournalArta Global said that political tensions, such as those between Thailand and Cambodia, could influence how audiences distribute points.
| Contest Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Participating Countries | 11 nations (Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, South Korea, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan) |
| Voting Structure | 50% public vote, 50% national juries, plus a “rest of the world” category |
| Notable Absences | China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Japan |
Frequently Asked Questions About Eurovision Asia
Which countries participated in the first Eurovision Asia grand final?
Eleven countries took part in the Bangkok event: Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, South Korea, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, according to JournalArta Global.
Why did China not participate in the contest?
China’s absence is linked to strict broadcasting regulations and past censorship issues regarding gay themes and rainbow flags, which led Eurovision to cancel a broadcast agreement with Mango TV in 2018, nytimes.com reported.
How is the winner of Eurovision Asia determined?
The winner is decided by a combination of public votes and national juries from the participating countries, alongside a separate voting pool for the rest of the world, JournalArta Global reported.
Talks are under way to bring absent nations into next year’s contest, assuming there is one, JournalArta Global reported.
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