OTI Festival, often known simply as La OTI, was an international song competition, organised annually between 1972 and 2000 by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI), featuring participants representing primarily Ibero-American countries. Each participating OTI member broadcaster submitted an original song primarily in Spanish or Portuguese to be performed on live television and transmitted to all OTI broadcasters via satellite. It was preceded by the Festival Mundial de la Canción Latina, held in 1969 and 1970 in Mexico.
Augusto Algueró Dasca was a Spanish composer, arranger and music director. He wrote more than 500 songs and about 200 musical scores for films and television.
The participation of Cuba in the OTI Festival first began at the twentieth OTI Festival in 1991 held in Acapulco and continued continuously until the last edition in 2000 held also in Acapulco. The Cuban Institute of Radio and Television, member of the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI), was responsible for the Cuban participation. It was the very last Ibero-American country making its debut in the festival.
Bolivia debuted in the OTI Festival in 1972 and since then, the country participated uninterruptedly till the last edition of the show in 2000. Bolivia is one of the least lucky countries participating in the event. In fact, Bolivisión and Televisión Boliviana, the two Bolivian OTI full member stations only managed to enter the top 10 on two occasions: The first one in Madrid 1972 with Arturo Quesada and his entry "No volveré a pasar por allí" composed by the Spaniards Manuel De la Calva and Ramón Arcusa,. Their second and last top 10 position came in 1994 in Valencia with Gilka Gutierrez and her song "Para poder hablar de amor" which got the 8th place in the contest.
Colombia debuted in the OTI Festival in the first edition of the show which was held in Madrid. This country took part in the festival since 1972 to 1998 but in the 27th edition of the festival in 2000, the Colombian broadcasters decided to withdraw from the event due to the bad results from 1992 on.
This Central Américan country made its debut in the OTI festival in 1974 when the contest was being held in the Mexican tourist city of Acapulco.
The participation of Puerto Rico in the OTI Festival first began at the inaugural OTI Festival in 1972 held in Madrid and continued continuously until the last edition in 2000 held in Acapulco. Telemundo Puerto Rico, member of the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI), was responsible for the Puerto Rican participation.
Panama and its OTI member station, TVN started participating in the OTI Festival in the very first show, which was held in Madrid in 1972. Since then, the national broadcaster of this Central American country participated in every contest until the last, held in Acapulco in 2000.
The participation of Peru in the OTI Festival first began at the inaugural OTI Festival in 1972 held in Madrid and continued continuously until the last edition in 2000 held in Acapulco. Panamericana Televisión and América Televisión, members of the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI), were responsible for the Peruvian participation.
The Dominican Republic with its OTI member station Telesistema 11, was one of the founding countries of the OTI Festival and participated in the very first edition of the show in Madrid in 1972. Since then, the country participated almost uninterruptedly in the event. The Caribbean country only withdrew from the event in 1976, but one year later, the broadcaster rejoined the show and participated till the last edition in 2000 in Acapulco.
Paraguay and its member station Canal 13 Paraguay, debuted in the OTI Festival in its seventh edition, which was held in Santiago in 1978. The first Paraguayan representative in the contest was the veteran Rolando Percy, who got a disappointing 18th place with zero points. The same singer would return to the event in 1990 and 1995 with disappointing placings.
Honduras as the most of the Central American countries, took part for the first time in the OTI Festival in the edition of 1974, which was held in the Mexican coastal city of Acapulco. TNH, the OTI member broadcaster of that country selected Moisés Canelo as their first entrant, who achieved a respectable ninth place. After a withdrawal in 1975, the Honduran broadcaster rejoined the event and participated every year till the last show, which was held again in Acapulco.
El Salvador and its OTI member station Telecorporación Salvadoreña (TCS) debuted in the OTI Festival in 1974 in Acapulco with many of their Central American neighbours. The first Salvadorean performer in the song contest was Félix Lopez with his song "Todo será de nosotros", which placed 10th with three points in a tie with México, Honduras and the Netherlands Antilles. Since then, the country took part in every edition of the festival till the last edition which was held again in Acapulco.
The OTI Festival 1972 was the very first edition of the annual OTI Festival and was held in Madrid, Spain. Organised by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI) and host broadcaster Televisión Española (TVE), the contest was held at the auditorium of the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos on Saturday 25 November 1972 and was hosted by Rosa María Mateo and Raúl Matas.
The OTI Festival 1975 was the fourth edition of the annual OTI Festival. It took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, following the country's victory at the 1974 contest with the song "Hoy canto por cantar" by Nydia Caro. Organised by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI) and host broadcaster Telemundo, the contest was held at Telemundo television studios on Saturday 15 November 1975 and was hosted by Marisol Malaret and Eddie Miró.
The OTI Festival 1976 is the fifth edition of the annual OTI Festival. It took place in Acapulco, Mexico, following the country's victory at the 1975 contest with the song "La felicidad" by Gualberto Castro. Organised by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI) and host broadcaster Televisa, the contest was held at the Ruiz de Alarcón Theatre on Saturday 30 October 1976 and was hosted by Raúl Velasco and Susana Dosamantes. It was the second time that Raúl Velasco had hosted the event, as he also hosted the 1974 contest at the same venue, making him the first person to host the contest twice.
OTI Festival 1977 was the sixth edition of the annual OTI Festival. It took place in Madrid, Spain, following the country's victory at the 1976 contest with the song "Canta cigarra" by María Ostiz. Organised by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI) and host broadcaster Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE), the contest was held at the Centro Cultural de la Villa de Madrid on Saturday 12 November 1977 and was hosted by Mari Cruz Soriano and Miguel de los Santos.
The OTI Festival 1978 was the seventh edition of the annual OTI Festival. It was held in Santiago, Chile, who offered to stage the event after Nicaragua, who won the previous contest, was unable to organize it due the outbreak of the Nicaraguan Revolution. Organised by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI) and host broadcasters Televisión Nacional de Chile (TVN), Canal 13, UCV Televisión and Canal 9, the contest was held at the Municipal Theatre of Santiago on Saturday 2 December 1978 and was hosted by Raúl Matas and Raquel Argandoña. Matas had previously presented the inaugural OTI Festival back in 1972 in Madrid.
The OTI Festival 1979 was the eighth edition of the annual OTI Festival. It was held in Caracas, Venezuela after being decided in a draw. Organised by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI) and host broadcaster Venevisión, the contest was held at the National Theatre of the Military Academy on Saturday 8 December 1979 and was hosted by Eduardo Serrano and Carmen Victoria Pérez.
The OTI Festival 1980 was the ninth edition of the annual OTI Festival. It was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following the country's victory at the 1979 contest with the song "Cuenta conmigo" by Daniel Ríolobos. Organised by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI) and host broadcasters Canal 7 and Canal 13, the contest was held at the 1049-seat Martín Coronado room of the Teatro General San Martín on Saturday 15 November 1980 and was hosted by Antonio Carrizo and Liliana López Foresi.
