The Cypriot broadcaster has announced the rules of the country's selection of their representative in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Moscow on 10, 12 and 14 May 2009. The format will be almost identical to the one used in 2008, that is a national, televised final of ten songs selected by an expert jury.
The selection is open to any Cypriot regardless of the country of residence, or any European citizen (composer or lyricist) who has been living permanently in Cyprus for the past two years at least. The songs can be in any language but they cannot have been submitted to another broadcaster. Songs can be sent to: Eurovision Song Contest 2009, Cyprus National Final, Television Programmes Department, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, P.O. BOX 24824, 1397 Nicosia, Cyprus, until 28th November 2008.
A seven-member jury will shortlist 20 of the songs received, out of which ten will proceed to the country's final. The seven members will be drawn from a suggestedfourteen candidates and their identities will not be revealed.
The final winner will, this time, be selected entirely through televote, while the jury vote will only be used in case the televoting system collapses.The same as last year, it is made clear in the rules that the finalist songs should not be made public through TV, radio, internet or public performance before the night of the Cypriot final.
Another difference in this year's rules is the fact that CyBC do not rule out the possibility to organise a promo tour for the winning song as opposed to last year when it was made clear from the very beginning that there was no budget for it.
Detailed rules can be found here. (in Greek)