Editing Eurovision Song Contest (section)

== Rules ==
{{Further|Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Martin_Österdahl_söndag_lunch_i_Storängen_2016.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Photo of Martin Österdahl|right|[[Martin Österdahl]], the contest's executive supervisor since {{Escyr|2021||2021}}]]

The contest is organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), together with the host broadcaster in co-production with all the participating broadcasters. The event is monitored by an [[Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest#Scrutineers and executive supervisors|executive supervisor]] appointed by the EBU, and by the [[Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest#Reference group|Reference Group]] which represents all participating broadcasters, who are each represented by a head of delegation.<ref name="Organisers">{{Cite web |date=12 January 2017 |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Organisers |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> The current executive supervisor is [[Martin Österdahl]], who took over the role from [[Jon Ola Sand]] in May 2020.<ref name="Österdahl">{{Cite web |date=20 January 2020 |title=Martin Österdahl announced as new Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2020/01/martin-osterdahl-announced-as-new-eurovision-song-contest-executive-supervisor |access-date=25 July 2020 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> A detailed set of rules is written by the EBU for each contest and approved by the reference group. These rules have changed over time, and typically outline, among other points, the eligibility of the competing songs, the format of the contest, and the voting system to be used to determine the winner and how the results will be presented.<ref name="Rules" />

=== Song eligibility and languages ===
{{further|List of languages in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

All competing songs must have a duration of three minutes or less.<ref name="Rules" /> This rule applies only to the version performed during the live shows.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Muldoon |first=Padraig |date=30 March 2018 |title=Italy: Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro release three-minute Eurovision 2018 version of 'Non mi avete fatto niente' |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2018/03/30/italy-ermal-meta-fabrizio-moro-release-three-minute-eurovision-2018-version-non-mi-avete-fatto-niente/220657/ |access-date=27 February 2021 |website=wiwibloggs.com}}</ref> In order to be considered eligible, competing songs in a given year's contest must not have been released commercially before the first day of September of the previous year.<ref name="Rules" /> All competing entries must include vocals and lyrics of some kind; [[a cappella]] songs and purely instrumental pieces are not allowed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 March 2013 |title=Eurovision: Rules, facts and controversies |work=[[The Scotsman]] |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/eurovision-rules-facts-and-controversies-1586799 |access-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> Competing entries may be performed in any language, be that [[Natural language|natural]] or [[Constructed language|constructed]], and participating broadcasters are free to decide the language in which their entry may be performed.<ref name="Rules" />

Rules specifying in which language a song may be performed have changed over time. No restrictions were originally enacted when the contest was first founded; however, following criticism over the {{Esccnty|Sweden|y=1965|t=1965 Swedish entry}} being performed in English, a new rule was introduced for the {{Escyr|1966||1966 contest}} restricting songs to be performed only in an official language of the country it represented.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=28–29}}<ref name="Naples 65">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Naples 1965 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/naples-1965 |access-date=4 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref name="Luxembourg 66">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1966 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1966 |access-date=4 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> This rule was first abolished in {{Escyr|1973}}, and subsequently reinstated for most countries in {{Escyr|1977}}, with only {{Esccnty|Belgium|y=1977}} and {{Esccnty|Germany|y=1977}} permitted freedom of language as their selection processes for that year's contest had already commenced.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=68–71}}<ref name="Luxembourg 73">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1973 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1973 |access-date=4 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref name="London 77">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1977 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1977 |access-date=4 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> The language rule was once again abolished ahead of the {{Escyr|1999||1999 contest}}.<ref name="Jerusalem 99" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}

There is no restriction on the national origin, country of residence or age of the songwriter(s). Furthermore, unlike performers who may only represent one country in any given year, songwriters are free to enter multiple songs in a single year sung by different acts. For example, in the 1980 edition, both {{Esccnty|Germany|y=1980}}'s and {{Esccnty|Luxembourg|y=1980}}'s entry were (co-)written by [[Ralph Siegel]], who – in a career spanning over 40 years – was involved in some form in the writing of dozens of entries — both advancing to the final and failing to make it past the national selection, including "{{lang|de|[[Ein bißchen Frieden]]|i=no}}" the winning entry for {{Esccnty|Germany|y=1982|t=Germany in 1982}}.

=== Artist eligibility and performances ===
[[File:Domenico Modugno (1958), Bestanddeelnr 909-4001 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Black and white photograph from the 1958 contest held in the AVRO Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands; an orchestra seated to the left of a small stage, with Italian singer Domenico Modugno singing on the stage platform in front of a wall.|The orchestra was an integral part of the contest until 1998 ([[Domenico Modugno]] performing at the {{Escyr|1958||1958 contest}}).]]

The rules for the first contest specified that only solo performers were permitted to enter;<ref name="Lugano 56" /> this criterion was changed the following year to permit duos to compete, and groups were subsequently permitted for the first time in {{Escyr|1971}}.<ref name="Frankfurt 57" /><ref name="Dublin 71">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1971 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1971 |access-date=19 March 2021 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> Currently the number of people permitted on stage during competing performances is limited to a maximum of six, and no live animals are allowed.<ref name="Rules" /> Since {{Escyr|1990}}, all contestants must be aged 16 or over on the day of the live show in which they perform.<ref name="Lausanne 89">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Lausanne 1989 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lausanne-1989 |access-date=4 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> [[Sandra Kim]], the winner for {{Esccnty|Belgium|y=1986|t=Belgium in 1986}} at the age of 13, shall remain the contest's youngest winner while this rule remains in place.<ref name="Bergen 86">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Bergen 1986 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/bergen-1986 |access-date=4 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=104–107}} There is no limit on the nationality or country of birth of the competing artists, and participating broadcasters are free to select an artist from any country; several winning artists have subsequently held a different nationality or were born in a different country to that which they represented.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}}<ref name="Winners" /> No performer may compete for more than one country in a given year.<ref name="Rules" /> There is no restriction regarding performers who have participated in past events competing again – whether for the same country or a different one. It is even possible for a winning performer to try and defend their title in the next edition, as happened when [[Lena Meyer-Landrut|Lena]], who won for {{Esccnty|Germany|y=2010|t=Germany in 2010}}, competed again {{Esccnty|Germany|y=2011|t=in 2011}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Brenner |first1=Andreas |last2=Bowen |first2=Kate |date=2011-05-13 |title=Lena looks back |url=https://www.dw.com/en/its-time-for-a-vacation-lena-tells-dw/a-6525745 |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |language=en}}</ref> However, in the history of the contest only two individuals have won more than once as a performer{{Snd}}[[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] for {{Esccnty|Ireland|y=1980|t=Ireland in 1980}} and {{Esccnty|Ireland|y=1987|t=1987}}, and [[Loreen]] for {{Esccnty|Sweden|y=2012|t=Sweden in 2012}} and {{Esccnty|Sweden|y=2023|t=2023}}.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-13 |title=Eurovision: Sweden's Loreen wins again, but UK's Mae Muller is second from last |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65585413 |access-date=2023-05-15 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The orchestra was a prominent aspect of the contest from 1956 to 1998.<ref name="Facts & Figures" /> Pre-recorded backing tracks were first allowed for competing acts in 1973, but any pre-recorded instruments were required to be seen being "performed" on stage. In 1997, all instrumental music was allowed to be pre-recorded, although the host country was still required to provide an orchestra.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} In 1999, the rules were changed again, making the orchestra an optional requirement; the host broadcaster of {{Escyr|1999||that year's contest}}, the [[Israel Broadcasting Authority]] (IBA), subsequently decided not to provide an orchestra, resulting in all entries using backing tracks for the first time.<ref name="99 Rules" /><ref name="Jerusalem 99" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}} Since then all instrumental music for competing entries has been pre-recorded.<ref name="Rules" /><ref name="15 Rules">{{Cite web |title=Public Rules of the 60th Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/press-downloads/2015/2014-09-02_2015_ESC_rules_EN_PUBLIC_RULES.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430201605/http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/press-downloads/2015/2014-09-02_2015_ESC_rules_EN_PUBLIC_RULES.pdf |archive-date=30 April 2015 |access-date=4 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>

The main vocals of competing songs must be performed live during the contest.<ref name="Rules" /> Previously live backing vocals were also required; since {{Escyr|2021||2021}} these may optionally be pre-recorded{{Snd}}this change has been implemented in an effort to introduce flexibility following the cancellation of the 2020 edition and to facilitate modernisation.<ref name="Back for good">{{Cite web |date=18 June 2020 |title=Changes announced to ensure Eurovision comes 'back for good' |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/changes-announced-to-ensure-eurovision-comes-back-for-good |access-date=4 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Katsoulakis |first=Manos |date=25 August 2022 |title=The rules of Eurovision 2023 are released: Pre-recorded backing vocals permitted again |url=https://eurovisionfun.com/en/2022/08/the-rules-of-eurovision-2023-are-released-pre-recorded-vocals-permitted-again/ |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=EurovisionFun}}</ref>

=== Running order ===
Since {{Escyr|2013}}, the order in which the competing countries perform has been determined by the contest's producers, and submitted to the executive supervisor and reference group for approval before public announcement. This was changed from a random draw used in previous years in order to provide a better experience for television viewers and ensure all entries stand out by avoiding instances where songs of a similar style or tempo are performed in sequence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 November 2012 |title=Running order Malmö 2013 to be determined by producers |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/running-order-malmoe-2013-to-be-determined-by-producers |access-date=9 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>

Since the creation of a second semi-final in 2008, a semi-final allocation draw is held each year.<ref name="Semi-Final Allocation" /> Countries are placed into pots based on their geographical location and voting history in recent contests, and are assigned to compete in one of the two semi-finals through a random draw.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 January 2008 |title=All you need to know for Monday's draw! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/all-you-need-to-know-for-monday-s-draw |access-date=21 March 2021 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> Countries are then randomly assigned to compete in either the first or second half of their respective semi-final, and once all competing songs have been selected the producers then determine the running order for the semi-finals.<ref name="allocation 2018">{{Cite web |last1=Zwart |first1=Josianne |last2=Jordan |first2=Paul |date=29 January 2018 |title=Which countries will perform in which Semi-Final at Eurovision 2018? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/results-of-the-semi-final-allocation-draw-2018 |access-date=9 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref name="2013 semi order">{{Cite web |date=28 March 2013 |title=Eurovision 2013: Semi-Final running order revealed |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2013-semi-final-running-order-revealed |access-date=9 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> The automatic qualifiers are assigned at random to a semi-final for the purposes of voting rights.<ref name="Semi-Final Allocation" />

Semi-final qualifiers make a draw at random during the qualifiers' press conference to determine whether they will perform during the first, second half, or a producer-determined position in the final, while the automatic finalists randomly draw their competing half or  producer-determined position in the run-up to the final, except for the host country, whose exact performance position is determined in a separate draw.<ref name="2013 semi order" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Groot |first=Evert |date=6 May 2018 |title=Portugal and 'Big Five' rehearse for the second time |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/portugal-france-spain-italy-united-kingdom-second-rehearsal-2018 |access-date=9 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-16 |title=Malmö 2024: Producers to get more "choice" in deciding Grand Final running order |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/malmo-2024-producers-choice-running-order |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Eurovision.tv |publisher=EBU |language=en}}</ref> The running order for the final is then decided following the second semi-final by the producers. The running orders are decided with the competing songs' musical qualities, stage performance, prop, and lighting set-up, and other production considerations taken into account.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 May 2017 |title=How is the Running Order being decided? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/exclusive-running-order-producers-decide-2017 |access-date=9 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>

=== Voting ===
{{further|Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[File:Eurovision 2004 Scoreboard.jpg|right|thumb|alt=A screenshot from the 2004 contest showing the electronic scoreboard: video footage of Johnny Logan is superimposed onto the scoreboard; the name and flag of the country giving its points is shown at the bottom of the screen, and the flag and country name of the finalists, the number of points being given by the giving country, and the total number of points received is shown in two columns, with the sorting order updated to place the country with the highest score at the top.|The electronic scoreboard used at the {{Escyr|2004||2004 contest}}, with [[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] announcing the votes from Ireland]]

The results of the contest are determined by a [[positional voting system]], with its most recent version implemented in 2023.<ref name="2023 voting change">{{Cite web |date=22 November 2022 |title=Voting changes announced for Eurovision Song Contest 2023 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/voting-changes-announced-eurovision-song-contest-2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122131325/https://eurovision.tv/story/voting-changes-announced-eurovision-song-contest-2023 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref name="jury semi scrapped">{{Cite web |date=22 November 2022 |title=Eurovision scraps jury voting in semi-finals |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63716398 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122131409/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63716398 |archive-date=22 November 2022 |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> Each country awards 1–8, 10, and 12 points to the ten favourite songs as voted for by its general public or assembled jury, with the most preferred song receiving 12 points. In the semi-finals, each country awards one set of points, based primarily on the votes cast by that country's viewing public via [[televoting|telephone]], SMS, or the official Eurovision [[Mobile app|app]], while in the final, each country awards two sets of points, with one set awarded by the viewers and another awarded by a jury panel comprising five music professionals from that country.<ref name="Voting">{{Cite web |date=3 May 2017 |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Voting |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/voting |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref name="2023 voting change" /> Since 2023, viewers in non-participating countries have also been able to vote during the contest, with those viewers able to cast votes via an online platform, which are then aggregated and awarded as one set of points from an "extra country" for the overall public vote.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 November 2022 |title=Voting changes (2023) FAQ |url=https://eurovision.tv/voting-changes-2023-faq |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122133421/https://eurovision.tv/voting-changes-2023-faq |archive-date=22 November 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 May 2023 |title=Eurovision 2023: Votes from 144 countries |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/eurovision-2023-votes-from-144-countries |access-date=30 May 2023 |website=Eurovisionworld |language=en-gb}}</ref> This system is a modification of that used since 1975, when the "12 points" system was first introduced but with one set of points per country, and a similar system used since 2016 where two sets of points were awarded in both the semi-finals and final.<ref name="Change to voting">{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Paul |date=18 February 2016 |title=Biggest change to Eurovision Song Contest voting since 1975 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/biggest-change-to-eurovision-song-contest-voting-since-1975 |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2016 |title=Eurovision Song Contest overhauls voting rules |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35602473 |access-date=5 July 2020 |website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> National juries and the public in each country are not allowed to vote for their own country, a rule first introduced in 1957.<ref name="Voting" /><ref name="Frankfurt 57">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Frankfurt 1957 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/frankfurt-1957 |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>

Historically, each country's points were determined by a jury, consisting at various times of members of the public, music professionals, or both in combination.<ref name="Luxembourg 66" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}} With advances in telecommunication technology, televoting was first introduced to the contest in {{Escyr|1997}} on a trial basis, with broadcasters in five countries allowing the viewing public to determine their votes for the first time.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} From {{Escyr|1998}}, televoting was extended to almost all competing countries, and subsequently became mandatory from {{Escyr|2004}}.<ref name="Birmingham 98" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rules of the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc2004.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050525073534/http://www.myledbury.co.uk/eurovision/pdf/esc2004.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2005 |access-date=22 March 2021 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> A jury was reintroduced for the final in {{Escyr|2009}}, with each country's points comprising both the votes of the jury and public in an equal split; this mix of jury and public voting was expanded into the semi-finals from 2010, and was used until 2023, when full public voting was reintroduced to determine the results of the semi-finals.<ref name="jury semi scrapped" /><ref name="Jury 09 final">{{Cite web |date=14 September 2008 |title=Televoting/jury mix in 2009 Final voting |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/televoting-jury-mix-in-2009-final-voting |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref name="2010 jury semis">{{Cite web |date=11 October 2009 |title=Juries also get 50% stake in Semi-Final result |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/juries-also-get-50-stake-in-semi-final-result |access-date=2 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> The mix of jury and public voting continues to be used in the final.<ref name="2023 voting change" /><ref name="jury semi scrapped" />

Should two or more countries finish with the same number of points, a tie-break procedure is employed to determine the final placings. {{as of|2016|post=,}} a combined national televoting and jury result is calculated for each country, and the country which has obtained more points from the public voting following this calculation is deemed to have placed higher.<ref name="Voting" />{{failed verification|date=May 2024}}

==== Presentation of the votes ====
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1958 - Scoreboard.png|thumb|right|alt=Black and white photograph of the scoreboard in 1958; the running order numbers and song titles of the competing entries are printed on the left-hand side of the scoreboard, and rotating numbers on the right-hand side show the allocation of points to each song as each country's jury is called, and a total of all points received; song titles are sorted by order of appearance, with the first song to be performed appearing at the top of the scoreboard.|The scoreboard at the {{Escyr|1958||1958 contest}}]]

Since 1957, each country's votes have been announced during a special voting segment as part of the contest's broadcast, with a selected spokesperson assigned to announce the results of their country's vote.<ref name="Voting" /> This spokesperson is typically well known in their country; previous spokespersons have included former Eurovision artists and presenters.<ref name="2016 spokespersons">{{Cite web |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |date=14 May 2016 |title=The 42 spokespersons for the 2016 Grand Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-42-spokespersons-for-the-2016-grand-final |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> Historically, the announcements were made through [[telephone line]]s from the countries of origin, with [[satellite link]]s employed for the first time in {{Escyr|1994}}, allowing the spokespersons to be seen visually by the audience and TV spectators.<ref name="Dublin 94" />

Scoring is done by both a national jury and a national televote. Each country's jury votes are consecutively added to the totals [[scoreboard]] as they are called upon by the contest presenter(s).{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=152}} The scoreboard was historically placed at the side of the stage and updated manually as each country gave their votes; in {{Escyr|1988}} a [[computer graphics]] scoreboard was introduced.<ref name="Dublin 88">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1988 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1988 |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 September 2016 |title=Milestone Moments: 1988 – When Celine was crowned Queen |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1988-when-celine-was-crowned-queen |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> The jury points from 1–8 and 10 are displayed on screen and added automatically to the scoreboard, then the country's spokesperson announces which country will receive the 12 points.<ref name="2016 spokespersons" /> Once jury points from all countries have been announced, the presenter(s) announce the total public points received for each finalist, with the votes for each country being consolidated and announced as a single value.<ref name="Change to voting" /> Since {{Escyr|2019}}, the public points have been revealed in ascending order based on the jury vote, with the country that received the fewest points from the jury being the first to receive their public points.<ref name="Voting" /> A full breakdown of the results across all shows is published on the official Eurovision website after the final, including each country's televoting ranking and the votes of its jury and individual jury members. Each country's individual televoting points in the final are typically displayed on-screen by that country's broadcaster following the announcement of the winner.<ref name="Change to voting" />

=== Broadcasting ===
Participating broadcasters are required to air live the semi-final in which they compete, or in the case of the automatic finalists the semi-final in which they are required to vote, and the final, in its entirety; this includes all competing songs, the voting [[Abstract (summary)|recap]] containing short clips of the performances, the voting procedure or semi-final qualification reveal, and the [[reprise]] of the winning song in the final.<ref name="Rules" /><ref name="15 Rules" /><ref name="Broadcasting Rights">{{Cite web |date=12 January 2017 |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Broadcasting Rights |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/broadcasting-rights |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> Since 1999, broadcasters who wished to do so were given the opportunity to provide [[Television advertisement|advertising]] during short, non-essential hiatuses in the show's schedule.<ref name="99 Rules" /> In exceptional circumstances, such as due to developing emergency situations, participating broadcasters may delay or postpone broadcast of the event.<ref name="Decade Stockholm 2000">{{Cite web |date=21 December 2009 |title=The end of a decade: Stockholm 2000 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-stockholm-2000 |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 May 2012 |title=Albania to broadcast tonight's Semi-Final deferred |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/albania-to-broadcast-tonight-s-semi-final-deferred |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> Should a broadcaster fail to air a show as expected in any other scenario they may be subject to sanctions by the EBU.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Royston |first=Benny |date=15 May 2009 |title=Spain to face sanctions over late broadcast |url=http://esctoday.com/14060/spain_to_face_sanctions_over_late_broadcast/ |access-date=5 July 2020 |website=esctoday.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Escartín |first=Javier |date=15 May 2009 |title=Los problemas de Soraya en Eurovisión |trans-title=Soraya's problems at Eurovision |url=https://www.abc.es/play/abci-problemas-soraya-eurovision-200905150300-92916354130_noticia.html |access-date=5 July 2020 |website=[[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]] |language=es}}</ref> Many broadcasters that are unable to compete have aired the contest in their markets.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 April 2020 |title=Here's where to watch Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/heres-where-to-watch-eurovision-europe-shine-a-light |access-date=3 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.bbcnewzealand.com/shows/eurovision/ |access-date=3 July 2020 |website=[[BBC UKTV]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 July 2019 |title=Netflix Picks Up U.S. VOD Rights To Eurovision Song Contest 2019 & 2020 |url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/netflix-eurovision-song-contest-2019-2020-picks-up-us-vod-rights-1202648894/ |access-date=3 July 2020 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

As broadcasters join and leave the [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision]] feed transmitted by the EBU, the EBU/Eurovision [[Station identification|network logo ident]] (not to be confused with the logo of the song contest itself) is displayed. The accompanying theme tune is the Prelude ''(Marche en rondeau)'' to [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]]'s ''[[Te Deum (Charpentier)|Te Deum]]''.<ref name="GoldenJubilee" /> Originally, the same logo was used for both the Eurovision network and the EBU, but they now have two different logos; the latest Eurovision network logo was introduced in 2012, and when the ident is transmitted at the start and end of programmes it is this Eurovision network logo that appears.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 November 2012 |title=Stage Set for Animated Eurovision Logo |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2012/11/stage-set-for-animatedeurovision |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517232922/https://www.ebu.ch/news/2012/11/stage-set-for-animatedeurovision |archive-date=17 May 2019 |access-date=22 February 2021 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|stZDkX2Xzow|EUROVISION Animated logo}}</ref>

The EBU now holds the recordings of all but two editions of the contest in its archives, following a project initiated in 2011 to collate footage and related materials of all editions ahead of the event's 60th edition in 2015.<ref name="Eurovision Again BtS" /> The only footage available of the 1956 contest is a [[Kinescope]] recording of Lys Assia's reprise of her winning song.<ref name="Lugano 56">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Lugano 1956 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lugano-1956 |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=8–9}} No full recording of the {{Escyr|1964||1964 contest}} is known to exist, with conflicting reports of the fate of any copies that may have survived.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=348–358}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grønbech |first=Jens |date=2 May 2014 |title=BT afslører: Her er DRs største grandprix-brøler |trans-title=BT reveals: DR's biggest Eurovision groan |url=https://www.bt.dk/melodi-grand-prix/bt-afsloerer-her-er-drs-stoerste-grandprix-broeler |access-date=6 July 2020 |publisher=[[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]] |language=da}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dohrman |first=Jan |date=20 March 2019 |title=Billeder: I denne uge er det 55 år siden, Danmark holdt sit første Eurovision i Tivoli |trans-title=Pictures: This week marks 55 years since Denmark held its first Eurovision at Tivoli |url=https://www.dr.dk/om-dr/nyheder/billeder-i-denne-uge-er-det-55-aar-siden-danmark-holdt-sit-foerste-eurovision-i-tivoli |access-date=6 July 2020 |publisher=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] |language=da}}</ref> Audio recordings of both contests do, however, exist, and some short pieces of footage from both events have survived.<ref name="Lugano 56" /><ref name="Copenhagen 64">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Copenhagen 1964 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-1964 |access-date=5 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=24–25}} Until 2004, the host broadcaster owned the copyright of the contest that they produced, with the EBU owning the copyright of all subsequent editions.<ref name="Eurovision Again BtS" />