Malta announce details of 2014 selection

Gianluca Malta's representative in 2013.

 

Valletta, Malta - PBS the Maltese broadcaster responsible for the nation's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, have published the regulations for the selection of their entry for 2014. 20 songs will be initially performed in a qualifying round on a live television show early next year, with 14 of them going through to the national final.

Authors and composers, who can be of any nationality, have until the end of October to submit their entries to PBS in Malta. The artist(s) however have to be of Maltese nationality or hold dual citizenship. One exception is Gianluca Bezzina (pictured), who as winner of the 2013 contest in Malta is not permitted to defend his title.
At the end of November, the 20 songs that have been selected will be announced. Any artist can perform up to two songs in this qualifying round of the competition.

The Judging

The songs will be judged in a live television show, in January or February 2014, by six judges, and televoting will make up the votes of a seventh judge. 14 songs will then progress forward to the final. Artists however will only be allowed to perform one song in the final.
In the live final, the winning song will also be determined by the votes of six judges and televoting will make the votes of a seventh judge, In the event of a tie, the votes of the judges (therefore excluding televoting) will be used to ascertain the order of tied songs.
The winning song will go forward to represent Malta in the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen.

History

Malta have yet to win Europe's Favourite TV show since their debut in 1971, though they have come close on several occasions, finishing as runners up in 2002 and 2005, and in third place in 1992 and 1998. Last year Gianluca finished in eighth place in the Grand Final with the song Tomorrow for the island nation.

What has been your favourite entry from Malta?