The World’s
Biggest Music and Entertainment Show that Launched the Careers of Icons ABBA,
Olivia Newton-John, and Celine Dion Airs Live and Commercial
Free Saturday, May 14 Exclusively on Logo and LogoTV.com
New York, NY, May 02, 2016 – Logo
announced today that the network will be the first U.S. home of the annual Eurovision Song Contest and will air
the 61st annual Grand Final live and commercial free on
Saturday, May 14 at 3PM ET on Logo. The 2016 Grand Final
competition and winner’s ceremony will also be streamed exclusively in the U.S.
on www.logotv.com and
the LogoTV mobile app.
The Eurovision Song Contest, organized
by the European Broadcasting Union, is the world’s largest non-sporting live TV
event and the most watched live entertainment program in Europe, attracting
nearly 200 million television viewers worldwide last year alone. This year’s
spectacular 2016 Grand Final competition, celebrating the theme “Come
Together,” will be held in Stockholm, Sweden. The competition will feature acts
representing 42 countries battling for the coveted trophy as well as the chance
to host next year’s contest in their home country.
Eurovision is known for its eclectic mix
of power ballads, ethnic rhythms, and bubblegum pop, paired with intricate
lighting sequences, pyrotechnics, and elaborate costumes. Over its storied 60
year history, the contest has catapulted the likes of Celine Dion, Olivia Newton-John, Julio Iglesias, and ABBA to stardom. Last
year’s winner Måns Zelmerlöw of
Sweden wowed audiences with his song “Heroes,” and two years ago viewers across
the world were blown away when Eurovision’s 2014 champion, Conchita Wurst of Austria, took
home the trophy after a performance of “Rise Like a Phoenix.” Conchita ignited
a wave of buzz as the first drag performer to win the contest.
Each member country of the European
Broadcasting Union will submit a song to be performed during two Eurovision
Semi-Finals. Winners of the Semi-Finals move on to compete in the 2016 Grand
Final competition on Saturday, May 14. This year’s winner will be chosen based
on a brand new voting system. In the biggest change to Eurovision voting since
1975, professional juries and televoters will award a separate set of points to
each performance and ensure the finale winner will remain unpredictable up
until the last moment.
The 61st annual
Eurovision Song Contest is produced by Swedish Host Broadcaster, SVT, and will
be held at the Globe Arena in Stockholm on May 14.