According to the TV website xabatnet.com, the reality show looking for the Spanish representative for the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest will be aired during the first quarter of 2005. The show will have very outstanding changes compared to Operación Triunfo. Though promoted as Operación Triunfo 4, the TV show will only follow the evolution of the contestants, who will be selected to represent Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest.
The new format will be very similar to the formula of the very successful children's version Eurojunior, with only a few shows which are likely to be recorded, except for a live final. The songs will already have been selected by the organisation.
In order not to wear away Operación Triunfo too long, the programme could be renamed Eurocanción. Nevertheless, the copywriting team of Gestmusic-Endemol is still considering a new name for the programme.
The contestants won't be profiled as inexperienced artists in the music business, but singers who have been struggling and working on stage, recording studios, record labels and so on, will be selected. TVE is still considering the possibility to accept songs written by the contestants in order to be selected prior to Eurovision.
As for the organisation of the contest, it is confirmed that former director Nina will not participate. “I won't be part of Operación Triunfo 4,” she said. Neither is Carlos Lozano expected to host the programme, as he could be replaced by a former contestant of Operación Triunfo 1, preferably a woman, who could be accompanied by little María Isabel, the winner of the 2004 Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
The big changes are the result of TVE and Gestmusic-Endemol not reaching an agreement to put on a fourth edition of Operación Triunfo. However, both parties are now slowly negotiating in order to organize a true fourth edition of Operación Triunfo after the summer.
