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Eurovision 2008

Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Confluence of Sound
ESC Belgrade 2008.png
Dates
Semi-final 1 20 May 2008 (2008-05-20)
Semi-final 2 22 May 2008 (2008-05-22)
Final 24 May 2008 (2008-05-24)
Host
Venue Kombank Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
Presenter(s)
Director Sven Stojanović
Executive supervisor
Executive producer Sandra Šuša
Host broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia (RTS)
Opening act
Interval act
Participants
Number of entries 43
Debuting countries
Returning countries None
Withdrawing countries  Austria
Vote
Voting system Each country awarded 12, 10, 8–1 points to their 10 favourite songs.
Nul points None
Winning song
Eurovision Song Contest: Belgrade 2008
ESC 2008 album cover.jpeg
Compilation album by Eurovision Song Contest
Released 12 May 2008
Genre Pop
Length
  • 62:49 (CD 1)
  • 66:10 (CD 2)
Label EMI, CMC
Eurovision Song Contest chronology
Eurovision Song Contest: Helsinki 2007
(2007)
Eurovision Song Contest: Belgrade 2008
(2008)
Eurovision Song Contest: Moscow 2009
(2009)

The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Contest. It was hosted in Belgrade, Serbia after Marija Šerifović won the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, Finland. This year was the first time there were three contests; two semi-finals which were held on 20 and 22 May, and the traditional grand final which was held on 24 May 2008. The shows were hosted by Jovana Janković and Željko Joksimović at the Belgrade Arena which had a total capacity of 25,000 seats. The host broadcaster was RTS.

After a total of 272 points, Dima Bilan representing Russia (for the second time) was declared the winner, with the song "Believe" written by American Jim Beanz and Bilan himself. So far this has been the only time Russia has won the contest. Russia came third in the semi-final, making it the winner with the worst semi-final result.

Ukraine were runners up for the second year running, with 3rd place going to Greece, 4th to Armenia seeing their best result so far and 5th to Norway.

2008 also saw, for the first time ever, Eurovision.tv streaming national finals live on ESCTV with broadcasters' permission.

On 30 January 2008, Eurovision.tv revealed the theme of the Contest: "The Confluence of Sound", which was inspired by Belgrade's location at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.


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Wikipedia

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