Second Semi-Final result: All 25 Eurovision Song Contents Finalists chosen

Düsseldorf, Thursday 12 May 2011 – The second batch of 10 countries qualified for the Final of the 56th Eurovision Song Contest tonight. The second Semi-Final was broadcast live over the Eurovision network in the 19 countries taking part this evening plus Germany, France and Italy.

The following 25 countries will compete in Saturday’s Final, given in the running order (second Semi-Final qualifiers in bold):

1. Finland
2. Bosnia & Herzegovina
3. Denmark
4. Lithuania
5. Hungary
6. Ireland
7. Sweden
8. Estonia
9. Greece
10. Russia
11. France
12. Italy
13. Switzerland
14. United Kingdom
15. Moldova
16. Germany
17. Romania
18. Austria
19. Azerbaijan
20. Slovenia
21. Iceland
22. Spain
23. Ukraine
24. Serbia
25. Georgia

All the qualifiers were determined in a mixed vote by televoters and juries (comprising 5 music industry professionals) in all of tonight’s 19 participating countries as well as viewers and juries in Italy, France, and Germany.

On Tuesday 10 May, the first batch of 10 countries qualified (in order of announcement): Serbia, Lithuania, Greece, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Switzerland, Hungary, Finland, Russia and Iceland. Under the rules, five countries automatically qualify for Saturday's Final: Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and France, plus the host country Germany.

Saturday’s winner will be chosen in a mixed vote by juries and televoters in all 43 countries to have taken part in the three events. It will be broadcast by all 43 participating broadcasters, as well as in several other countries around the world. Last year more than 110 million people tuned in to watch Europe’s favourite TV show, held in Oslo.

For more details please refer to www.eurovision.tv.

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Note to editors:

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition for active Members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), represented by the public broadcasters in their respective countries. The first contest was held in Lugano Switzerland in 1956. Since then, the contest has become a true European tradition. In 2011, the 56th contest will be held in Düsseldorf, Germany. News and information about the Eurovision Song Contest is available on: www.eurovision.tv . Click here for the 2011 Media Handbook.

European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
The EBU serves 85 national media organizations in 56 countries in and around Europe. It promotes the values and distinctiveness of public service media in Europe and around the world. It brings news, sports, events and music to your home through the Eurovision and Euroradio networks. The EBU develops and shares best practices, media expertise and innovation. It produces and exchanges rich and diverse programmes across all media. www.ebu.ch