WATCH VIDEO. Viewers of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be able to vote for their favourites with a new app.
Fans of the content will also be able to follow this year’s shows in Malmö, Sweden more keenly through the app developed with interactive televoting provider and official partner, Digame Mobile.
The app, which is available for iOS and Android users, provides news updates, photos and videos 365 days a year, and allows users to download their favourite songs from this year’s contest.
A further highlight is the app’s second-screen functionality, which offers viewers live updates during the shows about the contestants, their songs, opening and interval acts, as well as the results.
Once the songs have been performed, viewers will be able to vote for their favourites via telephone and SMS, as well as via the app. Votes registered via the official app will be rewarded with a video response message from the contestant backstage.
Contest Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand says the EBU has collaborated with Member broadcasters in Sweden (SVT), Germany (NDR) and the Netherlands (TROS) to offer the app in Swedish, German and Dutch, in addition to English. More languages will be offered in successive years.
“With this app, we bring the Eurovision Song Contest closer to the viewer than ever before, adding a new dimension to viewing and voting,” he said.
In a related development, the EBU has also launched a brand new Eurovision Song Contest website.
The new site, www.eurovision.tv, offers social media integration and “responsive design”, adapting automatically to the visitor’s device, be it computer, tablet or smartphone.
Sietse Bakker, Eurovision Song Contest Event Supervisor on behalf of EBU/Eurovision, said: “More and more people are browsing on mobile devices – 25% of visitors to eurovision.tv are already checking in via a smartphone or tablet. Now we have a website that follows this trend. We are proud of the fact that ours is among the first major event websites in the world to switch to responsive design.”
Thirty-nine public service broadcasters will participate in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest starting on Tuesday, May 14.
For more information and to download the app, visit: http://app.eurovision.tv.
