RSI, the Swiss Italian national broadcaster has confirmed to esctoday.com that the 2014 Swiss Italian Eurovision regional final will be held on November 12.The regional final will not be televised but will be aired on Swiss Italian radio Rete 3 as was the case last year. This radio channel is targeted to the younger generation, hence has many young listeners.

The 2014 Swiss Italian Eurovision regional final will be aired at 9pm on 12 November on Rete 3 from Lugano.

RSI will be releasing more information and details regarding their 2014 Eurovision regional final in due course. Last July RSI opened the submission period for artists and composers wishing to compete in the contest to submit their entries.

NEW SELECTION MODE

The 9 best candidates from the internet platform of SRF / RTR selection +6 candidates of RTS  (via an internal selection)+3 candidates from RSI (via a regional radio selection) will present their song live in front of a panel of experts. Hence a total of 18 candidates will be go through an audition enfront of a special jury. They will all have to showcase their vocal and singing skills live along with their stage presence.

The 3 best performers from SRF+ 2 best performers from RTS +the  best performer from RSI  will qualify to compete at the 2014 Swiss Eurovision National Final which will be held on 1 February 2014 in Kreuzlingen.  A total of 6 acts will fight for the golden ticket to Denmark, each act will have to peform 2 songs ( their respective Eurovision entry + a cover version of a song) in order to showcase their talent and vocal skills to the Swiss audience.

Takasa  represented Switzerland at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo with You and Me.  Takasa failed to qualify to the grand final in Malmo.

Switzerland is one of the founder members of the Eurovision Song Contest, having hosted the very first edition in Lugano in 1956 and winning the very first grand prix with Lys Assia‘s Refrain on home ground. The Helvetic nation has won the event 2 times in 1956 with Lys Assia and in 1988 with Celine Dion’s Ne partez pas sans moi.

Stay tuned for more information on Switzerland and the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest.