The same year that the original version went through the most complicated controversy in decades, Israel sought to expand throughout the world by announcing Eurovision Asia, its first derivative in several countries. Bangkok, capital of Thailand, has been the city chosen to host this event that will bring together at least 10 states and will celebrate its grand finale on November 14, as confirmed by the organization itself in a press release this Tuesday.
The song contest had been trying to carry out this project for almost two decades since they announced their first plans in 2008. The preparations were, however, canceled again and again together with the production company Voxovation. It also arrives four years after the failure of , the first spin-off of the festival that was trying to replicate it in the US. Rumors suggest that negotiations continue to launch a version in Latin America and Canada.
This first Asian version will be hosted by Thailand, as well as heavyweights such as South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan as contestants, although the EBU hopes to expand the list, it announces in its statement. Each country will be represented by a public or private television (except in the case of Korea, since ENA is paid) and the organization points out that they will have a potential audience of 600 million viewers.
“To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Eurovision, it feels especially significant to open a new chapter in Asia, a region rich in culture, creativity and talent,” EBU director Martin Green explains in the note: “This is about evolving Eurovision together in Asia, building something that reflects the voices, identity and ambition of the region, but respecting what the contest has always done special.”
