Over the last few years, SBS has tried to “Aussie-ize” its Eurovision Song Contest coverage, most recently with comedian Des Mangan providing commentary. For 2005 it's back to the BBC feed, on tape delay, including Terry Wogan's commentary for the final.
It's official: SBS will show both the semi-final and final of the 50th Eurovision Song Contest. The broadcast will be delayed by several hours, since Australia is 7-to-9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): a live broadcast would commence at 5 in the morning Eastern Standard time. The semi-final will be broadcast (in Eastern Australia) on Friday evening, 20 May, at 7:30 PM. The final will be shown on Sunday evening, 22 May, also at 7:30 PM.
However, SBS has decided to return to the BBC feed, rather using an Australian commentary. Reaction to Des Mangan's commentary over the past two years has been mixed: many have appreciated an Aussie perspective, while others felt no one does quite the job that Terry Wogan does. So this year, at least for the final, it will be Wogan again here Down Under.
There's been something of a groundswell among Australian Eurovision Song Contest fans to have the contest shown live, early on Sunday morning (with a taped rebroadcast that evening, for those who want to sleep!), something that's done with many international sporting events on Australian television. Despite its annual tape-delayed Eurovision broadcast being “one of SBS Television�s most popular annual events,” there are no current plans for a live telecast.
