The Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was the first edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest, organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Radio svizzera italiana (RSI) on behalf of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. The contest, originally titled the Gran premio Eurovisione 1956 della canzone europea, was held on 24 May 1956 at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland, and hosted by Swiss television presenter Lohengrin Filipello, which remains the only time that the contest has been hosted by a solo male presenter.
It's a Knockout! is a British game show first broadcast in 1966. It was adapted from the French show Intervilles, and was part of the international Jeux sans frontières franchise.
Jeux sans frontières is an international television competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for thirty seasons, from 1965 to 1999, between members of the union who participated representing their countries. Broadcasters sent mixed teams that competed against each other in a series of games, usually funny physical games played in outlandish costumes though none-the-less technically difficult, with the most successful teams of the season from each country competing in a grand final. Each episode was hosted by one of the participating broadcasters at a location in its country and was themed around a specific topic.
Guy Maurice Lux was a French TV host and producer best known for his 1961 creation of the game show Intervilles and its numerous spinoffs. During his 40 year career, he produced, directed, hosted, and wrote more than 40 television shows.
Switzerland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 with the song "Irgendwoher", written by Lothar Löffler, and performed by Christa Williams. The Swiss participating broadcaster, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, selected its entry through a national final after having used one previously in 1956 and 1957, but choosing to internally select in 1958.
Intervilles is a French comedy game show first broadcast in 1962. The show was based on a previous Italian programme. It featured teams representing towns in France competing in a series of games, some of which involved live cows and bulls. The show was aired from July 17, 1962, on RTF, then on ORTF from 1964 to 1973. After 12 years of absence, it reappeared on July 10, 1985, on FR3, then from July 4, 1986, to September 6, 1999, on TF1 despite allegations of cheating in 1997. France 2 aired the show from July 5, 2004, then France 3 from June 23, 2006, to August 26, 2009.
Switzerland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1963 with the song "T'en va pas", composed by Géo Voumard, with lyrics by Émile Gardaz, and performed by Israeli singer Esther Ofarim. The Swiss participating broadcaster, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, selected its entry through a national final after selecting their previous entry via internal selection.
Switzerland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1964 with the song "I miei pensieri", composed by Giovanni Pelli, with lyrics by Sanzio Chiesa, and performed by Anita Traversi. The Swiss participating broadcaster, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, selected its entry through a national final.
Switzerland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1965 with the song "Non, à jamais sans toi", composed by Bob Calfati, with lyrics by Jean Charles, and performed by Greek singer Yovanna. The Swiss participating broadcaster, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, selected its entry through a national final.
Switzerland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1967 with the song "Quel coeur vas-tu briser ?", composed by Daniel Faure, with lyrics by Gérard Gray, and performed by Géraldine. The Swiss participating broadcaster, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, selected its entry through a national final.
The 2nd season of the international television game show Jeux sans frontières was held between 1 June and 14 September 1966. Broadcasters from Belgium, France, Italy, and West Germany participated in the competition coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Teams from towns from those four countries participated in a series of heats, with two cities being qualified for the international final. The team from Eichstätt, West Germany won the season, giving the country its first overall win.
The 18th season of the international television game show Jeux sans frontières was held in the summer of 1982. Broadcasters from Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Yugoslavia participated in the competition coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The different heats were hosted by each of the participant broadcasters in locations in their countries such as La Maddalena (Italy), Šibenik (Yugoslavia), Issy-les-Moulineaux (France), Tesserete (Switzerland), Funchal (Portugal), Sherborne, and Ghent (Belgium). The grand final was held in Urbino (Italy). The head international referees in charge of supervising the competition were Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi.
The 15th season of the international television game show Jeux sans frontières was held in the summer of 1979. Broadcasters from Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, West Germany, Yugoslavia and, for the first time, Portugal participated in the competition coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The different heats were hosted by each of the participant broadcasters in locations in their countries such as Ascona (Switzerland), Saint-Gaudens (France), Donji Milanovac (Yugoslavia), Chioggia (Italy), Brussels (Belgium), Bonn, St Albans, and Cascais (Portugal). The grand final was held in Bordeaux (France). The head international referees in charge of supervising the competition were Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi.
The 12th season of the international television game show Jeux sans frontières was held in the summer of 1976. Broadcasters from Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and West Germany participated in the competition coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The different heats were hosted by each of the participant broadcasters in locations in their countries such as Milan (Italy), Liège (Belgium), Bad Mergentheim, Groningen (Netherlands), Nîmes (France), Caslano (Switzerland), and Leeds. The grand final was held in Blackpool. The head international referees in charge of supervising the competition were Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi. The games were also reportedly broadcast in Latin American and Asian countries.
The 10th season of the international television game show Jeux sans frontières was held in the summer of 1974. Broadcasters from Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and West Germany participated in the competition coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The different heats were hosted by each of the participant broadcasters in locations in their countries such as Barga (Italy), Bouillon (Belgium), Bayreuth, Zandvoort (Netherlands), Aix-les-Bains (France), Avenches (Switzerland), and Northampton. The grand final was held in Leiden (Netherlands). The head international referees in charge of supervising the competition were Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi.
The 9th season of the international television game show Jeux sans frontières was held in the summer of 1973. Broadcasters from Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and West Germany participated in the competition coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The different heats were hosted by each of the participant broadcasters in locations in their countries such as Senigallia (Italy), Blankenberge (Belgium), Heiligenhafen, Arnhem (Netherlands), Chartres (France), Avenches (Switzerland), and Bristol. The grand final was held in Paris (France). The head international referees in charge of supervising the competition were Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi.
The 8th season of the international television game show Jeux sans frontières was held in the summer of 1972. Broadcasters from Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and West Germany participated in the competition coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The different heats were hosted by each of the participant broadcasters in locations in their countries such as Passariano di Codroipo (Italy), Spa (Belgium), Westerland, Delft (Netherlands), Nice (France), Bern (Switzerland), and Sheffield. The grand final was held in Lausanne (Switzerland). The head international referees in charge of supervising the competition were Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi.
The 7th season of the international television game show Jeux sans frontières was held in the summer of 1971. Broadcasters from Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and West Germany participated in the competition coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The different heats were hosted by each of the participant broadcasters in locations in their countries such as Riccione (Italy), Ostend (Belgium), Offenburg, Rotterdam (Netherlands), Vichy (France), Solothurn (Switzerland), and Blackpool. The grand final was held in Essen. The head international referees in charge of supervising the competition were Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi.
The 6th season of the international television game show Jeux sans frontières was held in the summer of 1970. Broadcasters from Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, West Germany and, for the first time, the Netherlands participated in the competition coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The different heats were hosted by each of the participant broadcasters in locations in their countries such as Como (Italy), Namur (Belgium), West Berlin, Groningen (Netherlands), Avignon (France), Lugano (Switzerland), and Cardiff. The grand final was held in Verona (Italy). The head international referees in charge of supervising the competition were Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi.
The 3rd season of the international television game show Jeux sans frontières was held in the summer of 1967. Broadcasters from Belgium, France, Italy, West Germany and, for the first time, Switzerland and the United Kingdom participated in the competition coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The different heats were hosted by each of the participant broadcasters in locations in their countries such as Vincennes (France), Pisa (Italy), Brussels (Belgium), Straubing, Locarno (Switzerland), and Blackpool. The grand final was held in Bardenberg. The head international referees in charge of supervising the competition were Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi.
