2009 New Cambria National Song Contest

The 2009 New Cambria National Song Contest will the the sixth running of New Cambria Television's popular annual music competition. It will likely take place over six successive Saturdays in November and December 2009, with the proposed date of the Grand Final set at 12 December. Charles W. Frazier, Executive Director for NCT, commented that preparations for the 2009 edition of the contest would begin in January 2009. Frazier also stated that a number of changed to the contest's format were being discussed, including increasing the number of songs selected to participate and the way the finalists are selected.

Prospective Timetable

 * 30 January: New Cambria Television and the contest's organizing committee will formally begin preparations for the 2009 edition with a press conference. At the conference, most of the major changes to the contest's format will be announced, and the official rules will be made available to the public.
 * 2 March - 20 March: NCT announced that they will accept submissions during these dates from the public to select the contest's logo and theme, in addition to commissioning designs.
 * 17 April: The winning logo and theme will be announced.
 * 22 May: The venues for the Semi-Finals, Wild Card Semi-Final and Grand Final Gala will be announced.
 * 29 June: NCT will begin accepting song submissions.
 * 7 August: Song submissions deadline.
 * 28 August: Organizing committee will select approximately 100 songs to present to the judging committee.
 * 22 - 25 September: Semi-Final songs will be announced.
 * 2 October: Semi-Final performers will be announced.
 * 2 October: Starting positions draw.
 * 7 November: Semi-Final One.
 * 14 November: Semi-Final Two.
 * 21 November: Semi-Final Three.
 * 28 November: Semi-Final Four.
 * 5 December: Wild Card Semi-Final.
 * 12 December: Grand Final Gala.

Format
A number of rumours have circulated regarding the format of the 2009 contest, and several sources have indicated that major changes may be made. Charles W. Frazier, Executive Director of NCT, stated in an interview that the 2009 contest would be the largest to date, but did not elaborate. Others have expanded on this statement, and it is likely that the number of songs selected to participate in the Semi-Finals, which has traditionally been 24, may increase.

Another component under significant debate is the role the jury plays in the contest. In 2007, the jury's influence in the result was lowered from 50% to 40%, rendering it virtually irrelevant with respect to determining the placings in the Semi-Finals and Grand Final. In 2008, the contest's rules stated that four of the eight jurors must be non-entertainment industry professionals, thus giving results strikingly close to the televoting results. Song contest fans are split on the issue: some want to return to the 50%/50% split between the professional jury and the televotes, while others want to abolish the jury altogether.

The National Indoor Arena (NIA) in Southport is expected to be completed in April 2009, and will be the nation's largest indoor venue, with nearly 17,000 seats in its basic configuration. Many believe the Grand Final should be moved from its traditional venue, the Brock Carter Memorial Arena (BCMA) in Arvant to the NIA. Arguments for the move include the state-of-the-art facilities at the NIA compared to the aging BCMA, which is due for a remodeling in 2010; and more seating, thus more ticket revenue to generate. Arguments for keeping the Grand Final in Arvant include more available hotel rooms for out-of-town visitors; better access to intra- and inter-island transport, and international air travel; and more tourist activities and services for visitors.

The 2008 Grand Final was broadcast live to most of Atlantic Canada for the first time, and NCT received approximately 500 televotes from viewers in Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, despite the televote numbers not being transmitted in the Canadian television broadcast. NCT is considering the possibility of allowing the Canadian audience to cast votes in the Grand Final, paying the 15c toll just as any other viewer would, plus the regular long-distance fee.