According to Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung, Austria will not return for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. However, the final of the competition on 16th May will be broadcast live on ORF. Andi Knoll, who hosted the 2002 Austrian national final, will take the role of the commentator. The semi finals won't be broadcast.

Austria withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest after failing to reach the final in 2005. Theyreturned in 2007 butEric Papilaya finished 27th in the semi final and ORF withdrew again before the 2008 competition. ORF's Wolfgang Lorenz statedthatin the contest"the quality of the entries is not important but only which countries sent them".

Austria won the Eurovision Song Contest once in 1966 with Udo Jürgens and Merci Chérie but with only six top five placings in 43 years, Austria is one of the less succesful countries in the competition.