RTP, the Portuguese national broadcaster, decided to start with Operação Triunfo in January 2003. The programme will be used to select the Portuguese participant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2003, just like they do in Spain.

At the beginning of 2002, RTP made public that the formula of the Spanish Operación Triunfo was bought. When a new board took over the management of the Portuguese national broadcaster, it appeared that there were financial problems and that Operação Triunfo could be cancelled.

An important difference with the Spanish version is that Portugal will start with the show in January 2003, which is much later than in Spain. Although the planning is unknown, it's possible that there will be less participants in the Portuguese version.