France: National final to choose 2011 representative?

by Victor Hondal 86 views

France Télévisions are currently studying the possibility to hold a televised national selection, according to fansite eurovision-fr.net. The change of president in the broadcasting corporation might open the door for this selection formula for Eurovision 2011.

It was only a few days ago when it was reported that a national final was likely to be held towards the 2012 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. Now, it seems that the decision could be moved forward to 2011.

France has often held televised national finals, since the very early days of Eurovision. In the 60s, ORTF produced successful internal selections, and in the early 70s, the channeltook over the televised selections before returning to internal procedures.

At the outbreak of ORTF, TF1 resumed the Eurovision Song Contest selectionsby creating from 1976 to 1981 Le Grand Concours de la Chanson Française to choose the French song for Eurovision, with good results in the paneuropean competition. Antenne2 took over in 1983, with minor success, and returned to the selections in internal committee in 1988.

It was not until 1999 when France 3 became responsible for the selections for two consecutive years. The poor results led to recovering internal selections, except from 2005 to 2007.