After the French speaking Belgians selected Nuno Resende to represent Belgium in Kyiv, it is Flanders' turn again to select a song for next year's Eurovision Song Contest in Greece. Songs for the Flemish Belgian selections can be submitted until 28th September. The participants in Eurosong 2006 will be announced in December.

Deadline: 28th September
Flemish broadcaster VRT sticks to the successful Eurosong concept, a series of television shows to be broadcast in January and February 2006. Bart Peeters, who launched the Eurosong 2006 campaign on één tonight, will be the host of the shows. He also hosted the three previous editions of Eurosong in 1999, 2002 and 2004.

As of today, songs for Eurosong 2006 can be submitted. The rules and entry form can be downloaded on the website of VRT's first channel één. The song submission deadline has been set on 28th September.

Trying to turn the tide
The previous years, the VRT delegation left for the Eurovision Song Contest with high expectations. However, the results were disappointing: Vanessa Chinitor finished 12th in 1999, Sergio & the Ladies 13th in 2002 and Xandee 22nd in the final in 2004. Therefore, VRT will continue refining the concept of Eurosong in order to reach a good result in 2006. The basic rules however remain: well-known and unknown talents are invited to submit their proposals. All languages are allowed.

The Flemish broadcaster once again states that Eurosong and the Eurovision Song Contest remain some of their most important television programs of the year. With 1.914.000 viewers, the final of Eurosong 2004 was the most watched TV program in Flanders for years and reached a market share of 65,3%. Xandee's winning song 1 Life became the most sold single of the year.

International promotion for the 2006 entry
VRT understands that Belgian artists and record companies can no longer bear all efforts linked to the Eurovision Song Contest on their own. Therefore the Flemish broadcaster will play a more active role in the preparations for the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest in Greece. The winners of Eurosong 2006 will be allowed to remix their song, aiming for European success.

Following the success of Ruslana and Helena Paparizou, who both promoted their song before heading for the Eurovision Song Contest, VRT has the intention to organise an international promotion tour for the Belgian entry. The aim is to make the Belgian entry known among the television viewers in Europe before the decisive semifinal on 18th May in Greece.

VRT does not believe in an 'East bloc plot'
VRT uses the opportunity to comment the criticism on the current voting system. VRT does not give much credence to the so called 'East bloc plot' about which many have been talking and writing lately. “Some countries can indeed count on a rather high amount of points from their neighbouring countries, but that is seldom sufficient to reach the top 10 in the final. Turkey in 2003, Ukraine in 2004 as well as Greece in 2005 have received high marks from all over Europe.”

None of the 23 Flemish entries that represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest reached the top 5.