TV show host Stefan Raab, German representative of the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 and composer of the German entries of 1998, 2000 and 2004, plans to organize a German Song Contest – with all the country's provinces competing against each other. NDR seems not to be amused about this rival event called Bundesvision Song Contest.
Raab's contest, which is scheduled for the beginning of 2005, is going to be held in two rounds, as the entertainer told to newsmagazine Der Spiegel. The preliminary rounds will be held via local radio stations in each of Germany's 16 federal states. “This is not going to be a talentshow”, Raab explained in the interview, “I want acts that one already has heard of”.
The 16 regional winners of the radio contests will compete in a televised final on commercial channel ProSieben. The final winner will be chosen by televote, split into the 16 regions. Spokespersons will read the regional results (of course the people of a certain federal state are not allowed to vote for their own entry). “After all, the procedere should be as crappy as with the original”, Raab said. “Imagine there will be a spokesperson sitting and declaring: 'This is Erfurt calling; our twelve points are going to Saxonia' – this is going to be great fun!”
Although there is no direct link to the official German national final or the Eurovision Song Contest itself, public channel NDR, which is in charge of the Eurovision Song Contest in Germany, seems not to be too delighted about the idea. “After we trademarked the titel 'Bundesvision Song Contest', instantly some of NDR's lawyers called and said that this is not possible”, Raab told. “We think it is – and we will simply do it now.”
