EurovisionTel Aviv 2019

Czech Republic wants to use national final again

After achieving the best result ever in the contest, Czech Republic plans to continue using this year’s format again. 
Czech Republic’s broadcaster (Česká televize) has yet to confirm participation in Israel in 2019, however, it seems like plans for next year are already in the making. In an interview released by eurocontest.cz, Jan Bors, the country’s Head of Delegation, expressed hopes to continue using a national final (Eurovision CZ) to select Mikolas’s successor at the contest. Additionally, he noted that several Czech artists have already began working on potential entries for the 2019 selection. This is a positive sign of growing interest in the contest in the country.

Best result so far

In the past, Czech Republic used both internal selection and national finals to select entrants. In 2018, CT opted to use a combination of public votes and votes from a jury composed of 10 previous Eurovision entrants. Over 400 songs were submitted to CT but ultimately only 6 made it to the final round. Mikolas Josef won both jury and televote, earning the right to fly the Czech flag in Lisbon. Mikolas sang his charismatic entry “Lie to me” and he not only gave Czech Republic its second final, he achieved its best result and first top 10 placing, coming six with 281 points. 

Czech Republic at the Eurovision Song Contest

Czech Republic participated to 7 contests. It debuted in Helsinki in 2007 with the band Kabát and their entry “Malá Dáma” placing last in the semi-final with just 1 point. The country continued to participate until 2009 when gypsy.cz scored the dreaded nul points and it then decided to withdraw. It returned in 2015 and has participated every year since. It qualified for the first time for the grand final in 2016 with Gabriela Gunčíková and her entry “I stand” who went on to reach 25th place in the final. However, it was in 2018 that Mikolas Josef gave the country the best placing at the contest, finishing 6th with 281 points.

Do you think Czech Republic should continue using a national final? Who would you like to fly the Czech flag in Israel? What is your favourite Czech entry so far?
Let us know in the comment section below and on all social media platforms @ESCXTRA

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