AUSTRIA – ORF will announce Austrian Eurovision 2019 act in the new year. "The next act from Austria will be announced in the next year, not before," says the ORF to Eurovision.de. "Twice we were in the final after an internal selection, which gives us the feeling that we are doing well with this procedure," says ORF.
ISRAEL – In the interview to Israel Hayom Expo Tel Aviv CEO Tamir Dayan and marketing director Iris Mazal have described works ongoing in the complex in order to help to create one of the best Eurovision editions ever.
The Rokach Bridge, which leads to the Tel Aviv expo, will be designed for the Eurovision Song Contest, so that the color and branding will start outside the event. Some 100 lighting fixtures will be replaced in the area so that they are more energy-efficient.
HUNGARY – The sixth edition of Sztárban Sztár (the Hungarian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar) finished last night. After a total of 10 shows, where a total of 16 contestants took part (singers, actors, composers), the public have chosen the winner of the show – Freddie!
AZERBAIJAN – Maryam Shabanova is among the singers being revealed by Azeri media as having taken part in the casting round for Eurovision 2019 at iTV.
SWITZERLAND – Is Luca Hänni the chosen singer for Tel Aviv? SRF started following the artist's account on Twitter and the web speculations began. Although Sebalter is a much wanted choice by the fans, it's still unknown how SRF will proceed in its internal selection. After all Luca won in 2012 the German Idol (Deutschland sucht den Superstar).
ROMANIA – Iasi will host second semifinal of the Romanian national preselection SNESC. The show will take place on 27 January in Sala Polivalentă.
SLOVENIA – Happy news for RTVSLO as the broadcaster received 103 songs for the 20019 edition of EMA, through which the country will decide its participation in Tel Aviv.