The popular talent show The Next Star will again search for Israel’s Eurovision participant. Moreover, several new shows will decide an additional finalist plus search for the eventual ESC-entry.

As Israel is gearing up to host the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019, the country has also revealed its method for selecting the artist that will defend the ESC-crown on home soil. Just like in previous years, the talent show HaKokhav HaBa or The Next Star will be used as the platform to select Israel’s Eurovision representative.

However, slight changes were made to the format: while The Next Star will be aired in prime-time on channel Keshet 12, additional shows that will search for an extra The Next Star-finalist ánd the eventual Israeli ESC 2019 entry will be aired in prime-time on channel KAN 11.

KAN 11 will also broadcast the actual Eurovision Song Contest 2019 (semi-finals and Grand Final).

Successful formula

The Next Star is a joint venture between broadcaster KAN, Keshet Broadcasting and Teddy Productions, and has proven to be a successful means when it comes to finding an ESC contestant: since 2015 the winners of the show have consistently reached the Grand Final of Eurovision, ultimately leading up to Netta Barzilai‘s victory with her entry Toy.

The Next Star was chosen following a tender issued by KAN and turned out to be a favourite to select the Israeli ESC 2019 candidate, surpassing other possible selection methods such as The X Factor Israel and The Voice Israel.

Extra shows to decide Israel’s 2019 Eurovision song and additional finalist

Furthermore, The Next Star will see a little change in the upcoming season. While the Israeli ESC participant will be the winner of the show, three extra shows will decide the song that the victor will perform. Thus, artist and eventual song are kept separate until the very end.

The prime-time format will be aired on KAN 11 and will feature the ultimate winning song and its accompanying music video for the first time.

In addition, the programme A Final Ticket will reveal an extra contender for The Next Star‘s final. The prime-time show on KAN 11 will be broadcast between the semi-final and final of The Next Star, offering a second chance and progression to the final.

Sources: kan.org.il, haaretz.co.il

Israel won the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon, Portugal, with the song Toy performed by enigmatic artist Netta Barzilai, receiving 529 points in the Grand Final.