Ukrainian national broadcaster UA:PBC in collaboration with a private television channel STB have started their preparations for next year’s national selection, Vidbir 2020. After the scandal that happened at this year’s selection, the national broadcaster introduced additional rules to the competition, and opened the call for songs today for next year’s edition.

The two broadcasters started their call for songs today, and all interested artists have until the 20th of January to apply. The national selection will take part in two stages again – two semi finals will be held on the 8th and the 15th of February, whilst the Grand Final will take place on the 22nd of February. Sergiy Prytula will once again host the show, whilst Ruslan Kvinta will be the musical producer.

UA:PBC will financially support the winner of Vidbir during the preparations, trip and the participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, whilst the costs of casting and the entire organization of Vidbir 2020 are going to be covered by STB.

In addition to the rules of last year, to prevent a scandal and last-minute rule changes after Maruv’s victory earlier this year, the national broadcaster is implementing the following rule as well:

The participant of the national selection can be a performer or a team, who has not performed in a concert in the territory of the Russian Federation since 2014, and does not plan or announce it during the competition and  the Eurovision final, and who has also not entered the territory of Crimea in violation of the legislation of Ukraine.

The CEO of the Ukrainian national broadcaster UA:PBC, Mr Zulab Alasania stated:

Eurovision is a special song contest, because it is not only about music, it is about being able to represent your country in the world. That is why it is important for us, as the Public Broadcaster of Ukraine, to organize the selection together with STB in such a way that the representative of Ukraine is not only a talented and bright artist, but also one who fully understands this responsibility, shares the position and values ​​of Ukrainian society and is ready to follow the rules competition; one who can best represent our country in the international arena.

The Managing Director of the private channel STB, Ms Lyudmila Semchuk added:

After last year’s finale, we seriously considered what changes are needed to make our country present at Eurovision every year. Together with our colleagues from the Social, we held a number of meetings to develop all necessary amendments to the Rules, and this year we plan to pay special attention to the selection of the representative of Ukraine.

The full rules of the competition can be found via this link here (click), and all interested artists can apply via this link here (click).

As a reminder, Maruv won last year’s Vidbir with “Siren Song”. After her victory, the national broadcaster implemented additional “rules” which resulted in Maruv declining to sign the participation contract. Acts finishing in second, third and fourth place (Freedom Jazz, Kazka and Brunettes Shoot Blondes respectively) all declined as well, and thus Ukraine withdrew from competing in Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv.