The American Song Contest

I’m sure there are differences in music tastes with country being more dominate in the south for example, although there are probably country stations in every US state but obviously it’s more popular in certain parts of the country. My point is there isn’t going to be same culture shock as we expect to get with Eurovision.


For that matter, will they be able to run it live with the different time zones? Aren’t the American Idol style shows usually pre-recorded and broadcast over a couple nights?

I believe Dancing with the Stars has live voting - though it is delayed in each timezone. Also as it airs on a Monday night, in markets with a live NFL game on ABC (it's a required rule that NFL broadcasts must be shown OTA in the two teams markets), the show airs on a delay afterwards and thus the voting window is delayed in those markets too - down to the specific area codes in that market.

I'm not exactly sure if they air a results show or if it's just announced at the start of the next episode however.

(In addition, if this does happen, what channel do we reckon will pick it up over here?)

Seems like the sort of thing which would end up airing on Sky One... I guess it depends on what happens over there. If Netflix gets involved, which has been suggested here and elsewhere, then perhaps the answer is none?

Netflix have a pretty strict ‘no live content ever’ policy, though.

Didn't Netflix do something live for April Fools though one year?

I dont think that music variety is going to be an issue at all. I think actually that might the contests strengths for an American version. Im skeptical if it it will have the same cultural impact that is does for Europe. Who knows? This first year may not be popular. People will assume that its just another talent show, claiming to the be the biggest this or that. Across North America, Eurovision doesnt really have any wide notoriety. It will be interesting to see how this is done. Will it travel to the winning state? Or will it only be held in the usual suspected cities of NYC or LA. I hazard a guess to say yes. Even if their intention is to travel around to the winning state, i suspect if its not wildly popular, but just a mild success it will end up in LA eventually, with producers citing cost-savings. Blah blah blah.

'American music is a smorgasbord of sounds'
Analysis by William Lee Adams, BBC Minute presenter and Eurovision expert
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53695337