E1. The Eurovision Song Contest 1997
May 3, 1997 · 190m
Ireland hosted the Eurovision Song Contest for the fourth time in five years, a record for broadcaster RTÉ.
25 countries participated. The audio preselection from the previous year was replaced by a new system determining participation based on a country's average results over the last five contests. Israel withdrew voluntarily, allowing Bosnia & Herzegovina to take their place, while Belgium, Finland, Romania, and Slovakia were absent.
For the first time, televoting was introduced as a trial in five countries: the United Kingdom, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. It would be expanded to most participating nations the following year.
The show aimed to attract a younger audience, with Irish boy band Boyzone performing as the interval act and their lead singer, Ronan Keating, co-hosting the event. The opening sequence featured video messages from past contestants, including Céline Dion.
