After half a century of unveiling talent in the European market, the Eurovision Song Contest will have an Asian equivalent in 2009.
Eurovision TV has entered into a broadcast deal with Asiavision Pte Ltd to start producing a talent show through 2009 to be known as the Asiavision Song Contest.Asiavision will cover the countries of Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
"The format is highly suited to the Asia region and its people who love popular music and have a strong national pride", says Andreas Gerlach, CEO of Asiavision Pte. Ltd. "Asia today is all about competition, economically and politically. The Song Contest is a friendly competition between cultures. Like in Europe, the universal language of music will help to bring people closer together and nurture mutual understanding in the region."
The annual song contest will take place over a six-month period and finish with a Grand Final.
The first Eurovision Song Contest was held in 1956. The biggest success to come from Eurovision was Abba.
