Today the host broadcaster ORF has revealed further details regarding the Eurovision Village this year. An extensive Eurovision-related programme will be offered to all fans and citizens of Vienna. As we already know, the location of the Eurovision Village will be Rathausplatz, a large square in front of the town hall in the heart of the city. Edgar Böhm, the …
Stage construction begins today
Today things are getting serious in Vienna: This morning the host broadcaster ORF started occupying the Eurovision arena Wiener Stadthalle. Before any construction work could begin the whole complex had been scanned for anything suspicious by police dogs this morning. For increased security airport scanners have been installed as well. In the afternoon the first technical works in the arena …
Austria: 6 qualifiers from the first heat
The first show of the Austrian preselection Wer singt für Österreich has just ended. 16 acts competed for 6 tickets to the remaining three shows. The qualifiers were determined by a 15-member professional jury. One of these 6 acts will get to represent Austria on home ground in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. These are tonight’s qualifiers: Celina Ann Dawa …
Tonight: First show in Austria
The Austrian preselection Wer singt für Österreich? is finally about to kick off! The first out of four shows will air tonight at 20.15 CET. You’ll be able to stream the show HERE. Tonight 16 acts will compete with songs that won’t end up being their ESC entries in case they win. A 15-member jury will pick 6 qualifiers …
2015: Allocation draw completed
The allocation draw for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest took place in Vienna’s city hall and has just been wrapped up. We now know which countries will perform in which semi final as well as their position in the first or second half of the respective show. Before the draw took place, a delegation from last year’s host city Copenhagen …
2015: Important jobs for Andi Knoll & Kati Bellowitsch
Today the host broadcaster ORF has announced two further additions to the Eurovision 2015 team: Andi Knoll who has been commentating the shows for ORF since 1999 and the Austrian spokesperson since 2011, Kati Bellowitsch. Here’s an overview of what they’ll be involved in until May: 26 January: Insignia ceremony & Allocation draw At 12:00 CET, a delegation from last …
Udo Jürgens dies, aged 80
Austria’s first winner Udo Jürgens has died aged 80. The artist was the only Austrian contestant to win the Eurovision Song Contest until earlier this year and took part a record three times in a row for the country between 1964 and 1966. “Merci, Cherie” brought the contest to Vienna for the first time in 1967. The news was broken …
2015: A female host duo for Vienna?
It looks like the hosts for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest have been chosen. According to today’s issue of the magazine TV Media, Alice Tumler and Mirjam Weichselbraun will get the privilege to host the major event in May. However, this hasn’t been confirmed or commented on by ORF. Alice Tumler is relatively new to the ORF family – she …
2015: First tickets on Monday!
The exact start of the Eurovision 2015 ticket sales has finally been announced: On Monday, 15 December at 9am the first wave of tickets will go on sale. The official ticketing partner is oeticket.com. The ticket prices will range from €14 (category D for a semi final family show) to €390 (gold category in the final). You can find the exact …
(P)review: First round of the Austrian NF
So yesterday I went to see the recording of Round 1 of the Austrian national final for 2015. Upon arriving at the ORF centre it’s immediately apparent which topic will be the dominating one in the upcoming months: Building Bridges logos and Conchita Wurst pictures wherever you look. And – being from a country that hasn’t exactly been a powerhouse …