Eurovision. The name that either brings musical terror or bliss each spring, but, as you'll discover, brings much more than that.....

What is Eurovision?

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was set up in the early 1950's by public service broadcasters throughout the continent, and was used to promote harmony between countries, after the harm the war torn decade before had done. The first broadcast via Eurovision as it became known, was from Rome by the Pope, in 1954. Since then, programme exchanges have taken place on regular intervals, which included religious services, sports and international competitions, of which 2 stand out "Jeux San Frontiere" and, of course "The Eurovision Song Contest", an annual event since 1956.

In Ireland, I'm fortunate that RTÉ seem to relay almost all major Eurovision events. Over the last decade, I have captured a lot of Eurovision stuff, and here is the result, my page of homage to Eurovision. Enjoy.

Some of the images of Song Contests past have been given to me by Damian McCaughran. Many thanks.

Firstly,

The Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision Song Contest, Palais des Festuvals, Cannes, France, 1959.

Eurovision Song Contest, Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom, 1968.

Eurovision Song Contest, Teatro Real, Madrid, Spain, 1969.
(Apologies for VT Clock)

Eurovision Song Contest, Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 1971.

I can get rid of the homemade ones as here are the originals. Thanks Damian.
In order of appearence: RTÉ Eurovision caption. Outside the Gaeity Theatre, the presenter come in by horse drawn carriage. The host, Bernadette Ni Gallicoir, and the winner, Monaco.

Eurovision Song Contest, Nouveau Theatre, Luxembourg, 1973.

Eurovision Song Contest, Congresgebouw, The Hague, Netherlands, 1976.

Eurovision Song Contest, Palais de Congres, Paris, France, 1978.

       Eurovision Song Contest, RDS, Dublin, Ireland, 1981.
In order of appearence: RTÉ Eurovision caption. Programme caption. The host, Doireann Ni Bhrain, and the winner, the United Kingdom with the scoreboard .

Eurovision Song Contest, Conference Centre, Harrogate, United Kingdom, 1982.

Eurovision Song Contest, Rudi Sedlmayer Halle, Munich, West Germany, 1983.

Eurovision Song Contest, Theatre Municipal, Luxembourg, 1984.

Eurovision Song Contest, Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden, 1985.

Eurovision Song Contest, Greighallen, Bergen, Norway, 1986.

Eurovision Song Contest, Palais de Centenaires, Brussels, Belgium, 1987.

Eurovision Song Contest, Palais de Beaulieu, Lausanne, Switzerland, 1989.

Eurovision Song Contest, Vatroslav Liskinki Hall, Zagreb, Yugoslavia, 1990.

Eurovision Song Contest, Cinnecitta Studio 15, Rome, Italy, 1991.

Eurovision Song Contest, Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, Co. Cork, Ireland, 1993.

The last Song Contest to be greeted by the old halo. Can you spot the difference?
This logo was also used in the 1988 Contest in the RDS, Dublin.

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Eurovision Song Contest, Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 1994.

These pictures are a bit bright, apologies. This was the first appearance of the new Eurovision logo, launched to mark the EBU's 40th anniversary. Quite a shock to see the old halo go at the start of this years contest, after all, the halo had stood for those 40 years. But over time, I have grown to like it.

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Eurovision Song Contest, Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 1995.

The 40th Eurovision Song Contest, and the logo was slightly darkened. Over the years this version has become the standard version.

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1996 Contest from Oslo to come....

Eurovision Song Contest, Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, 1997.

A bit of a cock up by RTÉ, the new station logo (see RTÉ 1 page) did not appear here. Very unusual. The last of RTÉ's productions of the Song Contest, in which they hosted it FOUR times in 5 years, and 5 times in 9. A record to be proud of?

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Eurovision Song Contest, National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 1998.

After years of slagging it from on high, Terry Wogan hosted the show with Ulrika Jonsenn. A quality production, and we wouldn't expect anything less from the BBC.

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Eurovision Song Contest, International Conference Centre, Jerusalem, Israel, 1999.

A return to Eurovision's of old, rough beginning, dodgy links, lost presenters... This one had it all, including a commercial break for the first time. This one will live long in the memory!

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Religious Services

At certain times through the year, the EBU has some Religious Services broadcasted throughout the network. Here are some of them in recent years.

This is pretty unusual. In 1998, UTV and RTÉ did a co-production with Northlands of a Mass in Belfast for the Eurovision Network. Is this the only case of an ITV company being involved in a Eurovision venture? Write and tell me!

From June 1994, when the new logo was first broadcast in that years Song Contest, RTÉ went back to using the halo, with a variation on the ones shown above.

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From August 1999, from the Swiss network TSI, before a mass for the Feast of the Assumption.

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Childrens Programmes

Now, the EV logo with Network 2's Den2 DOG in the corner, before an episode of the animated adventure, "Noah's Island" This was a follow-up to "The Animals of Farthing Wood" or in Ireland, "Cairde na Coile."
Along side this, is end caption of that programme.

Start (309 kb)  Closing credits, with list of companies names (404 kb)

Other Music and Arts Concerts.

An oddity here, Damian writes: "There's also an unusual Eurovision halo.  This comes from a ESC documentary shown on German television.  As they explained the history of the Eurovision link, there was an old animation which ended with this halo, presumably introducing a BBC programme.  Interestingly all the participating TV companies get a mention."

From 1994, TVP of Poland produced the Eurovision Final for Young Musicians.  Watch here for an unusually long airing of the Eurovision Theme.

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From France 3, The 8th Eurovision Grand Prix for Young Dancers in Lyon, in 1998. There was no company logo in the main logo shot, like RTÉ in 1997, but at the bottom of the picture on the right, you should see
"© UER - France 3 / EBU - France 3"

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More images to come. If there is anything more that you could contribute to this page, in the way of earlier logos than the ones shown here, please e-mail me and your picture could appear on this page.

All images are copyright of The European Broadcasting Union and of the various broadcasters and are shown here for information purposes only.