Eurovision Song Contest to Begin U.S. Journey

Thanks to an exclusive license from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Eurovision Song Contest is being developed for the American market.

The team behind the American Song Contest project includes some of Europe’s most experienced TV producers. Anders Lenhoff and Peter Settman will be joined by Christer Björkman and Ola Melzig, who have worked on more than 20 Eurovision Song Contests between them. Brain Academy, a part of Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), will develop, manage and coordinate the project for the U.S. market in cooperation with the EBU. The plan is for the first American Song Contest to be ready to air in 2021.

Jon Ola Sand, executive supervisor for ESC for the EBU, said: “For over six decades the Eurovision Song Contest, powered by public service media, has brought audiences together with its values of diversity, universality and inclusivity. It remains a unique must-see event in over 40 competing countries each year and enjoys a global audience of almost 200 million viewers. As part of the EBU’s overall strategy to grow the ESC brand it’s time for Eurovision to go Stateside to reach even more viewers. We’re delighted that this growth will be overseen by some of the people that have created some of its brightest moments.”

Peter Settman, CEO and creative director of Brain Academy, said: “The timing is perfect. Outside of sports, the Eurovision Song Contest is the biggest TV show on Earth, it unites a continent and everybody gets to vote. We can’t wait to introduce this wonderful competition to the biggest TV market in the world. TV/video audiences are getting bigger every year so this is the perfect time to bring this exciting show to the American public.”