The 2019 Eurovision host broadcaster KAN and the City of Tel Aviv held a special joint press conference today in Tel Aviv in order brief the media with the latest developments regarding the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, thus unveiling many details related to the show.

With little less than a month left for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final, the Israeli national broadcaster has revealed further details on the upcoming ESC 2019 shows and ongoing organization.

KAN and the City of Tel Aviv held a special press conference today at Expo Tel Aviv’s Pavillion 10 where both the national and international media were briefed with the updates on the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest preparations by the key members of the 2019 ESC CORE Team.

The Mayor of Tel Aviv opens the press conference

Ron Huldai, the mayor of Tel Aviv, opened the event with words about the size of the event:

The two parents, the broadcaster (KAN) and the municipality (City of Tel Aviv), did not have much time to give birth. The beautiful face of the country for thousands of tourists who will arrive and tens of millions of viewers will watch the competition.

Special shuttle buses during ESC weekend

Huldai also noted that following the publication in recent days, the municipality will operate a special transportation system of 50 buses throughout the weekend for the convenience of tourists and Tel Aviv residents who will attend the Eurovision events throughout the city and at the Expo Tel Aviv.

Eldad Koblenz promises a great contest

Eldad Koblenz (KAN’s CEO) praised the cooperation with the Tel Aviv Municipality, and noted that the Eurovision Song Contest will be held along with the broadcaster’s two-year anniversary and solemnly promised:

This will be the best Eurovision in history. We do not believe in lowering expectations.

Zivit Davidovitz sheds details on the ESC project

Zvit Davidovitz ( ESC 2019 Executive Producer), revealed several details and figures from the ambitious ESC 2019 project at Expo Tel Aviv’s Pavillion 2:

The process of setting up the Eurovision Song Contest takes 54 days and requires 450 containers and trucks managed and operated by 300 technicians from abroad. Entaling over 3,000 shifts of stage workers. In addition, to discharge the 220-km cables and fibers used in the production 96 hours are required (dismantling procedure). The Eurovision Song Contest will produce a team of about 1,600 people, of whom about 500 will be spread over 15 information stations throughout Tel Aviv.

Zivit Davidovitz adds:

The Israeli team that works at the Eurovision consists of the most prominent figures in both the production and the creative departments, and the people came to work on a mission and an aspiration to represent Israel and to host the best ever Eurovision Song Contest in the history of the competition.

Remaining tickets to go to sale

During the press conference Ms.Tali Eshkoli (ESC 2019 Events Manager) revealed that tomorrow the second wave of Eurovision tickets sales will kick off at 17:00 CEST. This time, tickets will be sold at special prices for the final rehearsals of the semi-finals starting from NIS 200, in addition to about 1,000 additional tickets for the Grand Final that will go on sale.

Yuval Cohen reveals the show’s artistic plans

Yuval Cohen (ESC 2019 Director and Editor in Chief) revealed the artistic plans of the Eurovision Song Contest – he gave a taste of the  ESC postcards featuring the 2019 Eurovision participaants and hundreds of dancers throughout Israel. Cohen also shed more light on the the artistic performances that are expected to take place during the live shows:

• Idan Raichel will perform the song Come with 24 musicians and the 26 ESC competing acts the Grand Final.
• Dana International will return to the competition with special performances in the Semi-finals and Grand Final.
• Neta Barzilai will perform with a world premiere song in the Grand Final and a special version of her Eurovision entry ‘Toy’ at the First Semi-final on 14 May.
• Shalva Band will perform their song ‘Million Dreams’ at the Second Semi-final on 16 May.

Gal Gadot to grace the contest

Cohen revealed another big surprise when he announced that Gal Gadot will grace the the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final in a very special way. She will show Tel Aviv and Israel as never seen before during a special segment.

What about Madonna?

What about the Queen of Pop? Is she heading to Tel Aviv for Eurovision?  Cohen stressed that the talks with Madonna were still underway, but once the negotiations were completed, the broadcaster would release an official announcement regarding the Queen of Pop’s Eurovision performance.

Special ESC broadcast in Israel

The  Grand Final’s broadcast in Israel will begin at 21:40 local time with a special transmission which will be presented by Yardena Arazi, 40 years after she the presented the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest d in Jerusalem. Radio hosts Sharon Teicher and Eran Zerachovitz will be the Israeli commentators for the the three Eurovision live shows.

Yizhar Cohen Israeli Spokesperson.

Yizhar Cohen, the 1978 Israeli Eurovision winner will be the 2019 Israeli Eurovision spokesperson, who will read out the results of the Israeli jury during the Grand Final.

The Eurovision Village

During the press conference details of the 2019 Eurovision Village were also unveiled. The 2019 Eurovision Village will be located at the Charles Clore Park in Tel Aviv. The ESC 2019 officials revealed that the Eurovision parties will go on until the late hours of the night.

A festive food festival Tel Aviv EAT will be placed in compound at the Eurovision Village enabling visitors and locals to enjoy and taste both local and international delicacies.

The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest live shows will be screened on giant screens. Visitors will be able to enjoy the live performances of the 2019 Eurovision acts and former international and national ESC representatives.

Dana International presents Tel Aviv on Facebook

Dana International will also show us the Eurovision Song Contest and Tel Aviv (from the Facebook page of the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality).

The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 14, 16 and 18 May at the Expo Tel Aviv Convention Centre in Tel Aviv, Israel.