Eurovision Song Contest records
Introduction
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition, held primarily among the member countries of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Since its inception in 1956, the contest has been one of the longest-running television shows in the world and one of the most watched non-sporting events. Over the years, the Eurovision Song Contest has accumulated a variety of records, from the most wins to the most zero points received. This article delves into these records, providing a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the contest's history.
Most Wins
Ireland holds the record for the most wins at the Eurovision Song Contest. The country has won the competition seven times: in 1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1996. The Irish broadcaster RTÉ has been responsible for the country's participation in the contest.
Most Points
The record for the most points received by a country in a single contest is held by Norway. In the 2009 contest, Alexander Rybak represented Norway with the song "Fairytale", scoring a record-breaking 387 points. This record was broken in 2016 when Ukraine's Jamala won with 534 points, but this was under a new voting system that significantly increased the number of points available.
Most Zero Points
Norway also holds the unfortunate record of receiving 'nul points' (zero points) more times than any other country. This has happened on four occasions: in 1963, 1978, 1981, and 1997. Under the current voting system, it is much less likely for a country to finish with zero points, but it has still occurred.
Most Consecutive Wins
The record for the most consecutive wins is held by Ireland. The country won the contest three times in a row from 1992 to 1994. This record is considered one of the most remarkable in Eurovision history, given the increasing number of participating countries and the randomness of the voting process.
Most Participations
The record for the most participations in the Eurovision Song Contest is held by Germany. The country has participated in the contest every year since its inception in 1956, with the exception of 1996 when it failed to qualify from a pre-selection round.
Most Successful Non-Winning Country
Malta holds the record for the most successful country to have never won the contest. Despite participating since 1971, Malta has yet to secure a victory. However, the country has finished in the top three on four occasions and in the top ten on multiple other occasions.
Most Points Without Winning
The record for the most points received by a country without winning the contest is held by Russia. In the 2016 contest, Russia's Sergey Lazarev received 491 points but finished in third place. This was due to the split voting system, where a combination of jury votes and public televotes determine the final result.
Conclusion
The Eurovision Song Contest has a rich history of records, reflecting the diverse range of participating countries and the changing nature of the contest. From the most wins to the most points, these records provide a fascinating insight into the contest's history and its enduring popularity.