Eurovision Song Contest 1974 for Sweden), Bucks Fizz (winner in 1981 for the United Kingdom), and Celine Dion (winner in 1988 for Switzerland), all of whom launched successful careers. Based on the Sanremo Music Festival held in Italy since 1951, Eurovision has been broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1956, making it the longest-running annual international television contest and one of the world's longest-running television programmes. It is also one of the most watched non-sporting events, with audience figures of between 100 million and 600 million internationally. It has been broadcast in several countries that do not compete, such as the United
Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest Austria has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 51 times since its debut in . The country has won twice, in and , and currently holds the record for the longest gap between wins, with 48 years between victories. The contest is broadcast in Austria by ORF. Vienna was the host city on both of the occasions that the contest was held in Austria, in and . Having finished sixth at the contest and fourth in , Udo Jurgens won at his third attempt in with the song "Merci Chérie". This was Austria's only