Geneva, 8 July, 2008 – The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Eurovision TV* are proud to announce that the second Eurovision Dance Contest will take place this year 
in the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) 
in Glasgow, on Saturday, 6 September.

The two-hour and fifteen minute European co-production is organised by the EBU, and will be hosted by its British Member, the BBC, and produced by two UK production companies, Splash Media and Sunset+Vine**, with assistance from the International Dance Sport Federation (IDSF). The show will be broadcast live on television across Europe via the Eurovision Network at 21:00 CET, in the 5,000m² SECC Arena Hall, where up to 2,000 spectators will be able to witness this event live.

The Eurovision Dance Contest (EDC) is the newest addition to the Eurovision family of events. Fifty three years after the launch of the Eurovision Song Contest and the creation of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, this new show brings together the best of both worlds: the glitz and glamour of ballroom dancing and the Song Contest's live and unpredictable drama, with a scoreboard, foreign hosts, and of course – the "douze points".

The 15 EBU broadcasters will be represented by a couple***, each dancing a freestyle choreography inspired by the country they represent. In addition to being judged by a panel of experts in the arena, the European audience at home will cast their vote by televoting and text voting to determine this year's winner of the Grand Prix Dancing title.

As was the case in 2007, the show will be hosted by one of the BBC's most popular talents, Graham Norton, and co-hosted by Claudia Winkleman.

Note to editors:
*Eurovision TV is a brand of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EBU is the largest association of national broadcasters in the world- 75 active Members in 56 countries, 45 associate Members around the world. The organisation operates the Eurovision and Euroradio networks. The EBU offers its Members technical, operational and legal services, and coordinates a growing supply of quality content for radio, television and new platforms. It works to secure recognition of the crucial role of public service broadcasters in the digital audiovisual landscape. More information on: www.ebu.ch

** While working in BBC Entertainment, Jane Lush and Fenia Vardanis of Splash Media were the two main creators of the BBC's highly-successful format Strictly Come Dancing; Sunset + Vine is the UK's leading independent sports production company specialising in live events.

*** Each participating broadcaster will present one qualified, mixed dancing couple (two dancers, one man and one woman) to represent its country in the EDC. According to the competition rules, one of the dancers must be a professional dancer, while the other, a non-professional dancer, known in a field other than dance. The couples were nominated by a selection process, in most cases a televised National Selection, organised by the respective participating broadcaster.

Please note that press accreditation is not yet finalised, and will not open until nearer the time of broadcast. All information will be posted on the EDC web site.

For more information, please contact:

Tal Barnea
Executive Supervisor
Eurovision TV
Tel: +41 22 717 2426
E-mail: barnea@ebu.ch

Sietse Bakker
Manager Communications & Public Relations
Eurovision Family of Events
Tel: +372 712 00 20
E-mail: sietse.bakker@eurovision.tv