Zendari Song Contest 11

Zendari Song Contest 11 is the eleventh edition of Zendari Song Contest. It will be hosted in Xobrania, the winning country of the previous edition. The contest will consist of two semi-finals and a final.

Unlike the previous edition, this contest will not include a third semi-final, and will instead return to the format used in the previous editions.

49 countries participated in this edition, with 3 countries (officially) competing for the first time, 4 countries returning and 4 countries withdrawing from Zendari Song Contest.

Format
In the eleventh edition, the format will go back to the standard layout, with two semi-finals and international jurors. This means that there will be 11 qualifiers from each semi-final, and that everyone can vote in both semi-finals.

Pots
Starting from edition #6, pots have been used to determine the participants in each semi-final. This process has up until this point, been done by hand. In this edition, the pots were decided through a computer, and is based off of voting patterns and voting similarities. This means that the pots have significantly changed.

The program used has based the pots off of the points given/received over the past five editions.

The following factors play a role in the pots;
 * Giving points to a country
 * Receiving points from a country
 * How similarily each country votes with other participants

Location
On the 12th of January 2019, a list of venues interested in hosting the eleventh edition of Zendari Song Contest was revealed.

Bidding phase
Four venues have been announced to have shown interest in hosting the contest. The ZBA announced the conditions under which cities and venues could announce their interest in hosting the contest.


 * The host city has to be near a major airport.
 * The venue must have good connections to public transport.
 * The venue must be available for at least six weeks before the contest and one week after the conclusion of the contest.
 * The venue must not be open-air, but an air-conditioned building with a capacity of at least 10,000 and a minimum ceiling height of 15 metres (49 ft), insulated for sound and light.
 * The green room must be located as close to the arena as possible (or within it), with a capacity of 300.

Host venue

Pots
Pots for the Zendari Song Contest are based off of voting patterns and voting similarities. The pots will be used for semi final allocations for the 11th edition of Zendari Song Contest.

This edition, a new method of calculating the pots has been used. Therefore, the pots have significantly changed.

Automatic Qualifiers
Although these countries are automatic qualifiers for this edition, each country has still been assigned a pot.


 * would have been in Pot A.
 * and would both have been in Pot B.
 * would have been in Pot E.
 * would have been in Pot F.

Semi Final 1
Éimi, Rhosỳna and Sutru were randomly drawn to vote in this semi-final.

A playlist can be found here, and a recap can be found here.

Semi Final 2
Cascadia and Xobrania were randomly drawn to vote in this semi-final.

A playlist can be found here, and a recap can be found here.

Grand Final
A preview of the automatic qualifiers can be found here.

International broadcasts and voting
The contest will be broadcasted in over 60 countries.

Spokespersons

 * Shauna Sand
 * Shauna Sand
 * Shauna Sand
 * Shauna Sand
 * Shauna Sand
 * Shauna Sand
 * Shauna Sand
 * Shauna Sand
 * Shauna Sand
 * Shauna Sand


 * Heda
 * Hapax J. Legomenon
 * Doda
 * Lauv
 * Hapax J. Legomenon
 * Doda
 * Lauv
 * Doda
 * Lauv
 * Lauv
 * Lauv
 * Lauv


 * Simone Giertz
 * Kat Slater
 * GJan
 * Simone Giertz
 * Kat Slater
 * GJan
 * Kat Slater
 * GJan

Other countries
Eligibility for potential participation in Zendari Song Contest requires a national broadcaster with an active ZBA membership that is be able to broadcast the contest. All countries with an active ZBA membership have been given an invitation to join this edition.

Active ZBA countries

 * - Despite originally confirming participation in the eleventh edition of Zendari Song Contest, on the 19th of December 2018, it was revealed that Radio and Television of Nuevo Province (RTNP) failed to submit votes for the grand final of Zendari Song Contest 10. This resulted in them receiving their third strike, and to be banned from the contest.
 * - On the 7th of December 2018, Othari Television Broadcasting Corporation (OTBC) announced that they would be withdrawing in the eleventh edition of the contest, citing time commitments and change of HQ as the main reason. They have announced they plan on returning in the 12th edition.
 * - On the 27th of December 2018, Te Reo Tātaki o Pōuto (TVPO) announced their withdrawal from edition #11, citing time constraints and scheduling conflicts as the reason. A return in the future has not been ruled out.
 * - Putslopistan's participation in the eleventh edition was never officially announced, and as a result, they did not appear on the final list of participants.
 * - On the 8th of December 2018, Sosi TV announced their permanent withdrawal from the contest citing the "horrendous taste of competing nations" as the main reason for their withdrawal. Spokesperson for the delegation, Mr. Blobby stated "not enough countries vote for serious music contenders, instead voting for the plethora of troll entries edition in edition out." Sosi TV has no plans to return in the near future. As the only broadcaster on the island, a Sosij return in the contest looks impossible. On the 26th December, a new broadcaster Stellavision publicly announced it's interested in keeping Sosij in the contest. Stellavision is owned and run by national icon Stella Mwangi. She is believed to be the sole employee of the company.

Inactive ZBA countries

 * - On 29 December, during the state's formation, it is written into the constitution that "Neolinn will be an open and tolerant nation, competing in major events across Zendari such as the Zendari Song Contest". It is therefore believed that there is national interest in participating at the contest, though this requires a national broadcaster with active membership of the Zendari Broadcasting Association, which currently does not exist.
 * - On the 23rd of December 2018, National Purple Country Broadcaster (NPCB) expressed interest in returning to the contest. However, they were told that they were forced to wait in order to see if any countries withdraw from the contest, to not cause the current edition to overfill. It was later revealed that no spots were free, and that they would not be able to return to the contest in edition #11. They are welcome to re-apply in edition #12, and will be prioritized over any countries who withdrew before the tenth edition, if any of them wish to return.
 * - On the 8th of December 2018, Radio Wallainie (RW) expressed interest in returning to the contest. However, they were told that they were forced to wait in order to see if any countries withdraw from the contest, to not cause the current edition to overfill. In the end, they received an invitation to return to the contest.