it's Eurovision Song Contest time again

[Jim S.]

3PM EDT (if I got it right) on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Probably airing on the usual suspects on 97W Ku (RTP, RTS, TVR, BVN) although some may have it live and some may delay it to NA evening (usually BVN.)

 

[Martyn]

It says 5pm PDT on BVN:

Eurovisie Songfestival 2018 finale | BVN

Live on RTPI, TVRI and RTS Satellit at 9pm CET, which is 3pm EDT and noon PDT:

Festival Eurovisão da Canção 2018
Program TV
RTS :: Televizija

I haven't checked other channels. It's on air in the U.S., but on a channel I've never heard of and don't receive.

 

[Jim S.]

Saturday is on Logo. I didn't check whether they're running the semifinals also, but they never did before.

I can't decide whether RTPI or RTS Sat have the better picture. BVN looks good as long as there isn't a lot of motion or flashing lights -- which rules out most of Eurovision! They just don't have enough bandwidth for that. I had hoped that the version on 97W instead of 113W would be OK since it looks sharper in normal programming, but I saw a sports report on it yesterday and it was still horrible...

 

[Tampa8]

Thanks for the reminder I watch the semi and final every year though not on Sat.

 

[N5XZS]

Wish they have better video conversion from 50Hz to 60Hz.

Surly, must be in HD 1080I as for 720p is rarely used in Europe.

Is there real 576i or 1080i 50 Hz in NA?

 

[kofi123]

The RTS Sat feed on Galaxy 19 is on a six hour delay, or at least it has been in the past.

Other options on Galaxy 19 are Public Television of Armenia and Belarus 24. Both usually air the shows live.

Surly, must be in HD 1080I as for 720p is rarely used in Europe.

Actually, 720p was originally the EBU's preferred HD format, so several EBU members chose that for their HD broadcasts. But, yes, the contest is produced in 1080i.

 

[Jim S.]

It says 5pm PDT on BVN:

Eurovisie Songfestival 2018 finale | BVN

Live on RTPI, TVRI and RTS Satellit at 9pm CET, which is 3pm EDT and noon PDT

That must be for the finale only. The first semifinal wasn't live today on RTPI or RTS, which of course were the ones I was recording. It was on Belarus 24, and I didn't check Romania. It wasn't on the Lithuanian channel, although I'm not sure whether they usually carry it.

I guess I'll have to try 8PM EDT on BVN.