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
Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 1988 Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 1988 The Netherlands participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 1988, held in Dublin, Ireland. After coming 5th at the 1987 contest with "Rechtop in de wind", Dutch broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) internally selected Gerard Joling to sing for the Netherlands at the upcoming contest in Dublin. At the Nationaal Songfestival 1988 was held on 23 March at the Congresgebouw in The Hague. Joling sang all songs in the final. The Nationaal Songfestival 1988 was held on 23 March at the Congresgebouw in The Hague, hosted by Astrid Joosten. The winner was chosen by