Eurovision looking at alternatives for canceled song contest

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest are looking to stage an alternative to their canceled event sometime this year, in the form of a television show or through its online platforms.

The European Broadcasting Union, which decided on Wednesday to scrap the event due to the coronavirus crisis, said it is “exploring alternative programming, but not a competition.”

The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the world’s largest television events and had been scheduled to take place in the Dutch city of Rotterdam in May.

The contest has been held annually since 1956, and was expected to draw up to 200 million viewers and a live audience of tens of thousands for the final on May 16.

“The EBU is very aware of how much the Eurovision Song Contest will be missed this year,” the organizers said.

“It is our intention to honor the songs that have been elected for 2020,” they said, “to help unite and entertain audiences around Europe during these challenging times.”

Eurovision features live musical numbers from each participating country - more than 50 in recent editions - reaching beyond Europe to Israel and Australia.

Countries could decide to send the same artists as they would have this year when the competition returns in 2021, organizers said.

But they will have to put forward new songs, as the ones chosen for the 2020 edition will no longer be allowed to run in the competition.