Tomorrow 7th March, the Portuguese Public Broadcaster RTP will begin celebrating its 50th anniversary with a special series of programmes many with connections to the Eurovision Song Contest including the Portuguese national final which will take place on Saturday, March 10.

It was on 7th March of 1957 when RTP started broadcasting to the Portuguese homes, and as anywhere else the broadcaster played an important role in the national citizens' life. RTP's50th anniversary is going to be celebrated with several programmes and documentaries concerning the broadcaster's history. It goes without saying that the Portuguese songs and performers of the Eurovision Song Contest will be recalled as well.

At 5 p.m. (local time), RTP will transmit a live programmeinaugurating the new studios and the TV Productions Centrenext to RTP's headquarters building;the President of the Portuguese Republic, Cavaco Silva with be present.

The very special show of the day will be transmitted at 9 p.m. (local time) from Coliseu dos Recreios, in Lisbon, and viewers canexpect to seethe performancesof some Portuguese performers at the Eurovision Song Contest. Howeversong contestfans will really look foward to one of the biggest events of this 50th anniversary celebrationwhich will be on Saturday, 10th March when the broacaster presents it's Eurovision Song Contest national final Festival RTP da Canção 2007.

Portugal made its Eurovision Song Contest debut in 1964. RTP hasparticipated in the song contest40 times over its 50 year history; Portugal's highest result came in 1996 when the country reached 6th place.