First Eurovision Asia Begins in Bangkok With 11 Countries
Eurovision Asia holds its first grand final in Bangkok on Saturday, with 11 countries competing. The European Broadcasting Union is testing the format on Asian audiences after a sudden budget cut of about $1 million three weeks before the show.
The first Eurovision Asia begins in Bangkok on Saturday, when 11 countries compete in the grand final at 20:30 local time (13:30 GMT). The European Broadcasting Union is using the Thai capital to test its 70-year-old song contest on Asian audiences.
Eurovision, famed for zany gimmicks and elaborate staging, celebrates its 70th birthday this year. An Asian edition has been discussed for two decades without ever happening.
Who is taking part
Host Thailand is joined by Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, South Korea, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. India, China, Japan and Indonesia are absent. Talks are under way to bring them in next year, assuming there is a next year.
A format that needs explaining
Sarun 'Note' Kungbunpot, a Thai singer and Eurovision enthusiast who has won several competitions in the region, says the concept is unfamiliar. "It's still very new in Asia. I'm not sure many people have heard about it yet," he says.
He points to a cultural gap. Contests in Thailand, the Philippines and Korea are built around popular singers and their fans. "But Eurovision is all about the song, not the singer," he says, adding that this needs to be communicated clearly.
Eurovision began in 1956 as a project to encourage cultural exchange in postwar Europe. It has no such history in Asia, and it arrives as traditional TV formats struggle to cut through.
How the voting works
The winner will be decided by a 50/50 mix of public votes and national juries from each of the 11 countries, plus a 12th "rest of the world" category. Viewers who register get eight votes. They cannot back their own country and must spread votes across at least three other entries.
Votes are converted into points. In each country, the favorite song gets 12 points and the last-ranked song gets zero.
Filipinos, known for their passion for singing, are expected to take part enthusiastically. Around 11 million live overseas, but most are in countries that are not competing, so their votes will go into the "rest of the world" pool.
Political tensions could also play a role. Thailand and Cambodia fought a border war last year, and that may influence how their audiences vote.
Budget cut and criticism
A sudden budget cut of one million dollars (£760,000) came just three weeks before the final. As a result, many technicians experienced in staging Eurovision were not brought to Thailand, and several staff have resigned.
Fans have noticed. They have criticized the audio and lighting in rehearsal videos.
