SWR takes over the lead at the Eurovision Song Contest

There is in the ARD after almost 30 years A change of responsibilities in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). From next year, the Südwestrundfunk (SWR) will take over the lead in Baden-Baden instead of the North German Radio (NDR), the SWR announced on Monday. The competition on television continues to be broadcast in the ARD program.

The ARD explained this by the fact that forces were bundled in the course of the ARD reform. In the course of this, competence centers are to be formed at the State Radio Centers, which then take care of certain topics across ARD. This also applies to the entertainment area. In the past, however, there was Again and again criticism of the NDR and its selection of frequently unsuccessful German ESC starters.

The ESC final is I have 17. Mai in Baselin February it begins this year after a break of years Again by entertainer Stefan Raab was responsible for German preliminary decision. Anyone who starts Germany is to be decided by the audience in a show on March 1st. In order to guarantee a good transition, the SWR should already be involved in this year’s ESC, the broadcaster said. In early summer, the Südwestrundfunk will begin the planning of content for future design.

For the NDR, however, there is still a back door for an extension in the most respected music competition worldwide: Should Germany win the ESC final, the NDR will be responsible for the international final in 2026.

Victory at the Eurovision Song Contest is a clear goal

ARD program director Christine Strobl has already declared Germany’s victory to the goal of this year’s competition. Strobl justified this with the partnership with Raab, who was also involved in the last German victory of Lena Meyer-Landrut in 2010. In the 69-year ESC history, Germany was only able to win twiceIn 1982 Nicole succeeded with “a little peace” in front of Lena with “Satellite”.

To change responsibilities, Strobl said that she was grateful to the SWR that he was ready to successfully lead the ESC into the future. “The ESC is the biggest show event of the ARD-a symbol of a cosmopolitan Europe and a real campfire moment that delights millions of across all generations, whether on classic TV or in the media library.” the brand has continued to develop with enormous use.

The NDR had taken responsibility for the ESC in 1996 by Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk MDR. At that time, Germany failed the first and only time to move into the final. Since then, Germany has been set for the final with the other largest donor countries in competition – Great Britain, Spain, Italy and France.

Competition for years with great passion supervised

SWR program director Clemens Bratzler said that his broadcaster will do everything that the ESC will continue to remain “exciting, colorful, lively, conversation and surprising”. “In order to be able to do this financially without additional funds, we have switched internally and will cooperate with other ARD houses.”

NDR program director Frank Beckmann said that his broadcaster had looked after the competition with great passion for many years. “We won Lena, but also often occupied back seats. Many strategic considerations have been made, but the ESC always remains a bit incalculable – and that is a good thing. ” Beckmann also set himself behind the goal of wanting to win the ESC together with Raab.

There had been speculation about changing responsibility for the ESC for a long time. These were mainly With the frequent failure of German starter founded in the most respected music competition worldwide. Since 2015, Germany has been in the last or penultimate place almost every year since 2015, exception was only fourth of Michael Schulte in 2018 and the twelfth place of Isaak last year.

This year, after years of break, Entertainer Stefan Raab is responsible for the German preliminary decision, which, in addition to ARD, also runs at the RTL private broadcaster. After four shows, the German participant should be certain on March 1stthe ESC final is on May 17th.