National selections for the Mearthvision Song Contest

National selections refer to the processes in which the broadcasters of the countries participating in the annual Mearthvision Song Contest select the artist and song that will represent them in the contest. The two principal ways for broadcasters to select their entries are open selections (national finals) and closed selections (internal selections).

## National finals

National finals are the process in which the public of a country can choose the artist with their song, often combining public televoting with the vote of an expert jury.

Organised by the broadcaster, these national finals (consisting of one or more shows) can be televised or non-televised, however most of the time they are televised as prime-time television shows. Oftentimes the artist is selected internally and the public of the country chooses a song for them with the national final. Alternatively, the broadcaster can select a song and make the public choose the artist that will perform the song through a national final.

Possibly the most known national final is *The Song of Lincly*, which features four quarter-finals, two semi-finals, a Second Chance show and a final. Lincon have always used a mixed internal selection and national final format, where the singer is internally selected by TV Lincon, then their song is decided by a national final.

Lincly and Yelsiva have participated and have opted to use their respective national finals in every edition. Since their debut in 215, Fernit has used their national final *Mearthvision: The Voice of Fernit*. Noda began the Nodavision Song Contest in 205, which is often considered the second most known final after *The Song of Lincly*, and is one of the most successful television competitions in Noda.

## Internal selections

Internal selections are the process in which the broadcaster of a country selects internally both the artist and the song, without holding a public vote. Bisini has always used this option. BBC usually allows singers to apply, however they are never chosen by a national final. Jolivan used an internal selection from their début in 202 until 217, when they decided to use a national final for the first time, known as Mearthvision: Jolivan Decides. Porta has used an internal selection in every edition since their début in 215.

## Participants

*Main article: List of countries in the Mearthvision Song Contest*

As of the 216 contest, 22 countries have participated among the potential list of 22 members of the EBU, and a record 22 countries participated in 216.

**Table key**
     *Inactive* – Countries that have participated in the past, but have not recently participated.
     *Former* – Former countries that have been dissolved.

## References and notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lincon has always used the "Amhrán na..." national final but their artist has always been determined by internal selection.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rinasine has used two different national selections to determine their artist and songs since 213.
3. ↑ PÉPPD and PEF alternate responsibilities for the contest (between 206 and 213, this went PEF, PEF, PÉPPD, PÉPPD, etc., in 214 PEF, in 215 and 216 PÉPPD, in 217, 218 and 219 PEF, and PÉPPD, PEF, PÉPPD, PEF from then onwards)