Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest

Infobox Eurovision country
Name = Germany

---

Member station = NDR, ARD
National selection event = Vorentscheid
ESC apps = 52
ESC first = 1956
ESC best = 1st, 1982
ESC worst = Last, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1995, 2005
Website = [http://www.ndrtv.de/grandprix/ NDR page]
EBU page = http://www.eurovision.tv/index/main?page=67&country=9With the exception of 1996, Germany has participated in every Eurovision Song Contest since its beginning in 1956. No other country has been represented as often. France and the United Kingdom come in a close second, missing only two contests each. Despite a high participation record, Germany has only won one contest, in 1982.

Although German contestants have had limited success compared to their neighbors, public interest remains high and the contest is one of the most watched events each year.

Germany, along with the United Kingdom, France and Spain, is one of the "Big Four" countries that are automatically qualified to the final, regardless of the placing. This is due to being the largest financial contributors to the contest. However it was reported that the "Big Four" could lose their status and have to compete in the semi-finals for the first time in the 2009 contest. [cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12025 |title=Big 4 (France; Germany; Spain; United Kingdom): May lose automatic place in Eurovision final |publisher="ESCToday" |author=Murray, Gavin |date=2008-05-28|accessdate=2008-09-13] However this never progressed, and the "Big Four" will keep their ststus for the 2009 contest. [cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12281|title=Eurovision 'Big Four' final spots confirmed|last=Viniker|first=Barry|date=2008-09-14|publisher="ESCToday"|accessdate=2008-09-14]

The Eurovision Song Contest semi-final is broadcast on NDR, and the final is broadcast on ARD.

In recent years Germany have been notable for their adoption of musical styles which are not typical of Eurovision, such as country and western (Texas Lightning - "No No Never" in 2006) and swing (Roger Cicero - "Frauen Regier'n Die Welt" in 2007).

After coming joint-last in the 2008 contest, ARD annouced that changes would occur to the national final, Vorentscheid, for 2009. Thomas Herrmanns will also not be returning to host the contest. [cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12073|title=Germany: Will participate in Eurovision 2009|last=Davies|first=Russell |date=2008-06-09|publisher="ESCToday"|accessdate=2008-09-13]

1996 absence

ARD has selected an artist and song to represent them at the Eurovision Song Contest 1996, set to be held in Oslo, Norway. Due to the large number of countries wanting to compete at Eurovision, the EBU decided to use a pre-selection method to reduce the 30 countries wanting to compete down to 23. Unfortunately for Germany its entry, Leon with "Planet of Blue", failed to get enough points to progress to the final. ARD and the EBU were not happy with this, as Germany was the biggest financial contributor at the time. This was the only time that Germany was absent from the contest.

Contestants

Hostings

References

External links

* [http://www.eurovision.tv/ Eurovision official website]
* [http://www.ecgermany.de/ Eurovision Club Germany]
* [http://www.ogae.de/ OGAE Germany]
* [http://www.eurovision.de/ German ESC official website]