The Qualifying Heat of this year's Eurovision Song Contest on May 12 will be shown in Germany, but only in one of the country's seven regional TV channels. As Germany is one of the so-called Big Four countries, it is directly qualified for the final on 15th May. Meanwhile, the Eurovision season kicks off with several specials on music channel Viva and casting shows on ProSieben.

As reported earlier, an airing of the Qualifying Heat on the nationwide First Channel in Germany is “out of the question”, as Jürgen Meier-Beer from NDR said, due to the fact that the country does not take part in it. Until now, it was unclear if the preliminary round was going to be aired in Germany at all, depending on the question if German viewers will be allowed to vote in it. Broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) now announced that the Qualifying Heat is going to be shown on its regional channel Nord 3, serving the nothern federal states. Nord 3 is also available via satellite (Astra 11,582 GHz) and cable in most other parts of the country.

Beginning this Monday, 12th January, music channel Viva starts airing weekly promotional specials about the so far seven German finalists, including video clips of their entries (pictured above is a still from Sabrina Setlur's clip to her entry Liebe). The specials, named EuroClash, will be shown Mondays 21:30 CET, with reruns Wednesdays 14:30 CET, Fridays 17:30 CET and Saturdays 14:00 CET, plus an all-weekend special on March 13th and 14th. On Viva's Euroclash webpage (use the link in the left sidebar) you will find portraits about the finalists (in German) and their clips.

Meanwhile, former German participant and daily comedy show host Stefan Raab is casting a singer for his possible entry to the German preselection. Beginning January 9, three special editions of his casting show Stefan sucht den Super Grand Prix Star (SSDSGPS) are going to be aired Fridays, 22:15 CET on ProSieben, with nine participants each. Every week, a jury made of former Modern Talking singer Thomas Anders, former German participant Joy Fleming and Stefan Raab himself will select three of them to go through. Those nine survivors have to battle it out in three other editions, where the viewers can opt for their favorite. The final winner is to be selected on February 20. Stefan Raab is going to write a song for him or her, which has to achieve a listing in the German singles sales charts to be picked for the German final as a “wild card” entry.

The German national final Germany 12 Points! will take place Friday, 19th March, in the Treptow Arena in Berlin and is going to be aired on the first national channel ARD from 20:15 CET.