Latvian public broadcaster LTV have announced the rules and dates for their Eurovision 2011 selection, Eirodziesma. There will be 2 semifinals, a second chance round and a final. The winner and thus representative of Latvia in Düsseldorf will be known on February 26th.
Songs submissions are already open and can be sent in to LTV until December 6th. A panel of experts will then choose the 20 lucky entries to battle for the right to represent Latvia. The names of the qualifying entries will be announced on December 14th.
The contestants will be divided in 2 semifinals, to be held on February 5th and 12th. Five will qualify from each of them. As an important novelty, an additional challenge round will be held on February 19th with 10 non-qualifying songs from the semifinals.Two songs will go through the final, one chosen by the public and the other one by the jury.
The national final has been set on February 26th, to be held in Ventspils, featuring a total of 12 songs. Three songs will qualify for the "superfinal", a part of the final. Out of these, the Latvian representative will be chosen. All decisions will be taken by televote and jury vote with a 50% stake each.