“The Hit” – New RTE show in Spain. Photograph courtesy of Facebook

‘The Hit’ to be used for Eurovision 2015 selection? The show that was created by Irish National Broadcaster RTE has become a success as the programme has been picked up by many broadcasters abroad. However it is now potentially being used as a vehicle to select entries for Eurovision.

Spanish broadcaster TVE have expressed an interest in using the format to find their successor to Ruth Lorenzo. José Ramón Díez, Director at TVE, said the broadcaster are considering using “The Hit – La Canción” to select the Spanish Eurovision entry saying

“We are analysing the possibility to use it to choose our Eurovision entry”

The concept of the show is where each week 2 known singers are put in competition against each other. New songwriters submit original songs that they get the opportunity to perform to the singers in an acoustic version for short periods of time. Each singer picks 2 songs and spends a week recording and producing them. They then reveal on a live show which song they have decided to release.

Then the following week the songs (in Ireland) were promoted on RTE Radio and were available to download. The song that charted highest that week went on to the Grand Final where a televote selected the winner.
The last season of ‘The Hit’ in Ireland saw Eurovision Winner Johnny Logan score a Top 3 hit in Ireland and make the final of the contest along with ‘Gotta Tell You’ singer Samantha Mumba.

In Spain the show will be hosted by Jaime Cantizano. We will wait for TVE to complete their analysis and decide if ‘The Hit’ will be used for Eurovision selection. Other broadcasters we believe are also looking at the potential of using ‘The Hit’ for Eurovision 2015.

Author/Editor in Chief Garrett Mulhall

Source : Festval and ESCxtra