RULES FOR THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2009
Moscow, 12, 14 and 16 May 2009
Section One: Core Elements
1) The Eurovision Song Contest (the "ESC") is produced each May under the auspices
of the European Broadcasting Union (the EBU) as part of the television programme
exchanges known as Eurovision and is a state-of-the-art, world-class television
production of a music competition between songs representing different countries of
the Members of the EBU. Only Active Members of the EBU are eligible to
participate in the ESC and are authorized to apply. […]. The EBU Members selected
to participate in the ESC shall each enter a national song and shall be referred to
hereafter as the "Participating Broadcasters".
2) The ESC takes place in two parts as follows:
two Semi-Finals, which shall be held on Tuesday, 12 May 2009 and on Thursday,
14 May 2009. Each shall take place from 21.00 to approximately 23.00 CET.
a Grand Final, which shall be held on Saturday, 16 May 2009 (from 21.00 to
approximately 00.15 CET).
Collectively the Semi-Finals and the Grand Final are referred hereafter to as the
Shows. They shall all take place in Moscow, Russia and shall be organized, produced
and transmitted live by Channel One Russia (herein referred to as the "Host
Broadcaster") and made available over the Eurovision satellite network for live
broadcast by the Participating Broadcasters.
3) The Shows shall be presented on stage, in both English and French, by the
international presenters. National commentary by commentators appointed by each
Participating Broadcaster shall be added to the international version of the Shows.
4) The Format of the ESC consists chiefly of successive live musical televised
performances by the artists during the Shows of the national songs entered by the
Participating Broadcasters. The order of appearance of the songs in the Shows is
decided by means of draws organized by the Host Broadcaster. Each national song
which competes in the ESC shall be selec