The German preselection to the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 will be shown on ARD March 19 from 20:15 CET, under its new name of Germany, 12 Points!. The name is not the only thing that changed: new rules including an obligatory videoclip and a cooperation with music channel Viva are made to ensure a collection of “more professional” songs in the final.

The show will be held in Berlin, Jörg Pilawa and Viva-VJane Sarah Kuttner (picture) are to host the event. Up to 12 songs are going to participate, which will – like in the last years – be supplied by German record companies. A new rule demands that professional videoclips are produced for the entries, which are designated to be promoted on the private music channel Viva from January 2004.

“Viva will promote adequate songs, aiming to bring them into the German charts. In the following ARD show, the theme is not national, but international success”, Dr. Meier-Beer from organising broadcaster NDR explains the new concept, which means that only songs that fit into the Viva playlist have a chance of making it into the German final.

Viva-head Jörg Grabosch told German tabloid Bild today: “We only want songs with international hit potency. The range should vary from Jeanette to Rammstein.” Asked if German Eurovision veteran Ralph Siegel may apply an entry again, he answered: “With people like Lou or Corinna May, he does not have a chance with us.” Dr. Meier-Beer stated on NDR's Eurovision website: “Both broadcasters Viva and ARD want to turn down songs which do not stand a chance to chart in Germany or abroad and which rather burdened the image of the Eurovision Song Contest in the past.”