Omari Gates
Australia has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest ten times since its debut in 2015, making it one of the event's biggest markets outside of Europe. The Australian broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is an associated member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event. SBS has aired Eurovision in Australia since 1983, and the show first became popular among European migrants who had moved to Australia after World War II. Interest in the competition also grew among migrants from non-European backgrounds who discovered it while watching the channel. Australia's participation in the 2015 contest was initially announced as a one-off event, but it has since participated every year since, with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Popularity in Australia | Strong viewing audience, one of the biggest markets outside Europe |
| Australia's participation in Eurovision | Australia has been represented 10 times since its debut in 2015 |
| Top 10 finishes | 5 |
| Best finish | Second place in 2016 with "Sound of Silence" performed by Dami Im |
| Australian broadcaster | Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) |
| SBS membership | Associated member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |
| SBS broadcasting history | Broadcasting Eurovision since 1983 |
| Australian viewers' choice | In 2019, Australian viewers were given the opportunity to choose their Eurovision representative for the first time |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's migration history and SBS's role in national culture
Australia has a rich migration history that has been the main driver of demographic change in the country. When European settlement began in 1788, Australia's Aboriginal population was about 400,000–500,000. Today, over 20 million people live in Australia. Between 1788 and 1868, Britain transported more than 80,000–160,000 convicts from its overcrowded prisons to the Australian colonies, forming the basis of the first migration wave from Europe to Australia. From the 1830s, they were joined by small numbers of voluntary migrants, again principally from Britain and Ireland. Between 1793 and 1850, nearly 200,000 free settlers and assisted immigrants chose to migrate to Australia to start a new life. The discovery of gold just outside Bathurst in 1851 changed the nature of Australian migration completely, as people arrived in far greater numbers and from more varied backgrounds. Between 1851 and 1861, over 600,000 people came, with the majority from Britain and Ireland, 60,000 from Continental Europe, 42,000 from China, 10,000 from the United States, and just over 5,000 from New Zealand and the South Pacific.
In the later half of the 19th century, several colonies funded the immigration of skilled immigrants from Europe, starting with German vintners to South Australia. Before Federation in 1901, assisted migrants received passage assistance from colonial government funds; the British government paid for the passage of convicts, paupers, the military, and civil servants. Few immigrants received colonial government assistance before 1831. In 1901, the newly formed Federal Parliament passed the Immigration Restriction Act, often referred to as the ''White Australia policy', which aimed to restrict non-white immigration to Australia. This effectively banned Asian migration for the next fifty years.
In the years after World War II, Australia stepped up its immigration with the slogan 'Populate or perish!' The country negotiated agreements to accept over two million migrants and displaced people from Europe, offering assisted £10 passages to one million British migrants. In the 1970s, the restrictive 'White Australia' policy was repealed, and Australia began accepting refugees from countries such as East Timor and Indochina. In 1988, there was a move away from 'family reunion' towards an emphasis on skilled and business categories. In 1996, for the first time in Australia's migration history, the number of British migrants arriving fell to second place behind New Zealand. Today, people from China, South Africa, and India make up the majority of non-British new arrivals.
The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) was established in 1978 to manage multicultural radio services, with SBS Television starting in 1980. SBS is Australia's most diverse broadcaster and holds a unique place in the Australian media landscape. It inspires all Australians to explore, respect, and celebrate the country's diverse culture, contributing to an inclusive and cohesive society. SBS provides an alternative to commercial television and plays an important role in Australia's culturally diverse society. It offers a free-to-air TV portfolio spanning six distinctive channels, an extensive radio network providing over 60 communities with services in their own language, and an innovative digital offering, including SBS On Demand. SBS also provides the latest national and global news from Australia's only world news service.
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Australia's large non-European audience
Australia has been one of the largest non-European audiences of the Eurovision Song Contest. The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), a government-funded Australian broadcaster, first aired the contest in 1983 and has continued to do so every year since. SBS is an associated member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organiser of the event, which enables Australia's participation.
Initially, the show attracted the communities of European migrants who moved to Australia after World War II. In the 1990s, it became a cult hit among young people who tuned in to the channel for its foreign movies and television shows. SBS's branding as "cool" and "cosmopolitan" contributed to the contest's growing popularity in Australia.
The contest's ability to capture complex contexts, cultures, and identities, as well as its unique representation of European culture, has been cited as a reason for its popularity in Australia. Additionally, Australia's migration history and the role of SBS in the national culture have played a part in attracting viewers. SBS caters to multicultural and multilingual communities, providing a platform for diverse voices and interests.
The strong viewing audience in Australia has resulted in the country being invited to participate in the contest. Australia made its debut as a contestant in 2015, and its participation was intended as a one-off event. However, due to the popularity of the contest in Australia and the country's large non-European audience, Australia has continued to participate and has been a contestant for almost a decade.
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Australia's success in the competition
Australia has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest ten times since its debut in 2015. Australian broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is an associated member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event. SBS first broadcast the contest in 1983 and has continued to do so every year since, attracting a strong viewing audience in Australia.
Australia is the only country outside the European Broadcasting Area to have ever competed in Eurovision. In 2015, Australia's participation was announced as a one-off event, but it was later confirmed that the country would participate in 2016 as well. Australia has since participated in every contest, with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australia has had notable success in the competition, finishing in the top ten five times. In 2015, Guy Sebastian finished in fifth place with the song "Tonight Again". The following year, Dami Im achieved Australia's best result to date, finishing in second place with "Sound of Silence". This song also won the Marcel Bezençon Award for composition, as well as the jury vote. In 2017, Isaiah Firebrace placed ninth with "Don't Come Easy", followed by Kate Miller-Heidke finishing ninth in 2019 with "Zero Gravity". Australia continued its streak of top ten finishes in 2023, with Voyager placing ninth with "Promise".
Australia's participation in Eurovision has sparked interest and enthusiasm among Australians, with early broadcasts in the country featuring no commentary or borrowed BBC commentary. Over the years, SBS has assigned popular Australian figures such as comedians and TV personalities as commentators for the competition. In 2019, Australian viewers were given the opportunity to choose their Eurovision representative through a national final, showcasing the country's increasing engagement with the contest.
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Australia's participation despite not being in Europe
Australia has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest ten times since its debut in 2015. The Australian participating broadcaster in the contest, Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), received special approval from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to participate. Australia is the only country outside the European Broadcasting Area to have ever competed in Eurovision.
Although Australia's participation in 2015 was initially announced as a one-off event, it was confirmed in November 2015 that Australia would return for the 2016 contest. Australia has since continued its participation in the contest, finishing in the top ten five times.
The EBU, which organises the Eurovision Song Contest, includes broadcasters from countries across Europe and beyond. SBS is an associated member of the EBU and has been broadcasting the contest in Australia since 1983. The contest has attracted a strong viewing audience in Australia, and in 2019, Australian viewers were given the opportunity to choose their Eurovision representative for the first time.
Australia's participation in the contest can be seen as a reflection of its positive reputation internationally and its interest in engaging with European culture. Dr Kristin McGee from the School of Music at The Australian National University notes that Eurovision provides a platform for performers to represent their national identity and experiment with what it means to be part of a particular country.
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Australia's involvement in a European identity contest
Australia has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest ten times since its debut in 2015. The Australian broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is an associated member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organisers of the event. SBS first broadcast the contest in 1983 and has continued to do so every year since. The contest has attracted a strong viewing audience in Australia, with SBS catering to multicultural and multilingual communities, including European migrants who moved to Australia after World War II. In the 1990s, it became a cult hit among young people, and interest in the competition widened further.
Australia's participation in 2015 was initially announced as a one-off event, in recognition of the contest's popularity in the country. However, Australia continued to participate in subsequent years, and in 2016, SBS secured the rights to develop an Asian version of Eurovision. SBS's involvement in broadcasting the contest and its popularity among Australian viewers have played a significant role in the country's participation in Eurovision.
Australia's involvement in Eurovision also stems from its migration history and the country's representation of an "ostensibly Western broadcaster in the middle of the Asia Pacific." Eurovision has been pushing to tap into new markets, including the Asia Pacific region. Australia's inclusion in the competition provides a platform for performers to represent their nation and explore questions of national identity. Dr Kristin McGee from the Australian National University notes that Eurovision captures complex contexts, cultures, and identities, offering a unique vehicle for examining contemporary forms of voicing national identity through a European contest.
While Australia's participation in Eurovision might seem confusing given its geographical distance from Europe, it is important to note that the contest is not strictly geographic. The EBU, which organises the event, includes members from countries across Europe and beyond. Australia is the only country outside the European Broadcasting Area to have competed in Eurovision, and if it wins, it must nominate a European co-host to stage the competition on its behalf.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Eurovision has attracted a strong viewing audience in Australia. It is one of the event's biggest markets outside of Europe.
The contest was first broadcast in Australia in 1983, and it gained popularity among European migrants who had moved to Australia after World War II. Interest in the competition widened in the 1990s, becoming a cult hit among young people.
Australia's participation in Eurovision is due to its active membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event. SBS, an Australian TV network that has aired Eurovision since 1983, is an associated member of the EBU. Additionally, Australia's involvement allowed Eurovision to tap into new global markets, particularly the Asia Pacific region.
If Australia wins Eurovision, it must nominate a European co-host to stage the competition on its behalf.
