Tonight the German representative for Malmö will be selected. The programme is called Eurovision Song Contest 2013 – Unser Song für Malmö and is a two hour show broadcast live from the TUI Arena in Hannover. The arena was opened in 2000 and can accommodate over ten thousand people when hockey matches are happening. It can be transformed from an ice hockey stadium into a concert arena within 6 hours.

The hostess for the programme is Anke Engelke who is big fan of the Eurovision Song Contest. Along with Stefan Raab and Judith Rakers she hosted the three shows in 2011 in Düsseldorf.

During this week prior to the final, the entries have been played on nine ARD radio channels and listeners voted online for their favourite song. Tonight there will be a public telephone/SMS vote along with one from the expert jury of:

Tim Bendzko (singer-songwriter), Roman Lob (Eurovision entrant in 2012), Anna Loos (singer-actress), Mary Roos (German Eurovision entrant in 1972 and 1984 and actress) and Peter Urban(German Eurovision Song Contest commentator and musician-radio presenter)

Together all of the votes will decide who will succeed Roman Lob in winning the ticket for the Grand Final in Malmö.

To watch the transmission:

It will be broadcast from 20.15 to 22.15 (CET) on Das Erste (free to air on satellite), on the ARD live web stream here and here.

Live stream before and after the show:

On NDR at 18.45 (CET) the programme Das! will be broadcast from the arena. This will also be on an internet live stream. Included will be three of the expert jury members and much more besides from the red sofa.

From 19.30 (CET) we will join our web presenter, Janin Reinhardt. When the show ends, at 22.15 (CET) he will get the first reactions of fans and participants. The live stream will last until the beginning of the press conference with the winner/s which is expected to be at about 23.00 (CET). This will also be streamed live.

Participants (click on artist for the video on the song)

• Ben Ivory – The righteous ones
• Betty Dittrich – LaLaLa
• Blitzkids mvt. – Heart on the line 
• Cascada – Glorious
• Finn Martin – Change
• LaBrassBanda – Nackert
• Mia Diekow – Lieblingslied
• Mobilee – Little sister
• Nica & Joe – Elevated
• The Priests featuring Mojca Erdmann –  Meerstern, sei gegrüßt
• Saint Lu – Craving
• Söhne Mannheims – One love

Stay tuned to esctoday.com for more information and details on the 2013 German Eurovision National Final and the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest