There was a 3 minute delay. A friend was there and I saw snaps of Performances 3 minutes before they went to air.
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That explains it.
Now, how did the scoring work? Kate MH got 87 points in the viewers vote. What is 87 points? How did they come to that number?
Australia decides: Kate Miller-Heidke is going to Eurovision 2019
Nothingās holding her down now: Kate Miller-Heidke is set to represent Australia at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, having topped both the Jury and Popular vote for Eurovison - Australia Decides.
Kate Miller-Heidke has been crowned the winner of the first ever Eurovision ā Australia Decides during the Live TV Final on SBS on Saturday 9 February.
Kate took to the stage to perform her song Zero Gravity , alongside some of Australiaās biggest artists and the scores of the viewing public and jury were combined for the official results.
After winning over the Australian public with 87 points and a jury of industry experts with 48 points, an impressive 135 points overall, Kate has been selected to represent Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, to be held in Tel Aviv, Israel and broadcast exclusively on SBS in May.
Electric Fields took out second place with their song 2000 and Whatever being awarded 114 points overall, while Sheppard came in third place with On My Way on 87 points.
Kate Miller-Heidke said:
āIām totally overwhelmed! This has been a peak experience already, and Iām dying with excitement at whatās to come. Thanks to everyone who voted, and to all the other artists who provided such a brilliant, eclectic and stiff competition. Iāve had a ball, and Iām so grateful and thrilled that I get to represent Australia at Eurovision in 2019.ā
SBS Commissioning Editor Josh Martin said:
āThis could seriously be the year that Australia wins Eurovision! Kateās performance tonight was quite simply breathtaking and the response from the Australian public has been overwhelming. All of us here at SBS are so thrilled that the whole country has embraced this truly diverse and inclusive show and I know that Eurovision fans will adore Kate as much as we do when we get to Tel Aviv in May!ā
Creative Director of Eurovision ā Australia Decides Paul Clarke said:
āItās a win for out of the box brilliance, which Eurovision devours. Itās a standout song with mesmerising staging. Kate is a total original and Eurovision will love her. Electric Fields delivered a stellar performance, and came so close, but it was Kateās night. I want to thank all the artists who made the first ever selection show a spectacular success and all the fans who got behind them. The road to Eurovision 2019 has begun!ā
Hosted by comedian Joel Creasey and music buff Myf Warhurst , Eurovision ā Australia Decides showcased the best of Australian music and brought the nation closer to the Eurovision action.
Are the contestants given a budget for their performance or do they pay for everything themselves? Some of the acts seemed to have spent a lot more than others on their costumes etc.
For the actual Eurovision their staging and costume are financed by SBS and whichever record label the artist is with. Not sure for the national selection.
Australia Decidea did great for SBS, rating about the same as Eurovision proper last year. Their share was also up a massive 3.4% (5.1 to 8.5%) on last Saturday and they managed to beat Channel Ten.
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This whole competition was great. I liked quite a number of the acts, but my two standouts (who I also voted for) were Sheppard and Kate. For me Sheppard had the catchiest song and I have no doubt it will be a radio hit in Australia, however Kate definitely had the full Eurovision performance so I was over the moon to see her get both the public and jury vote. I wasnāt expecting such public support behind her but it was well deserved. This is my fave entrant that we have put into Eurovision so far so lets hope it does well!
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I agree about Kate. I think sheās got the best chance of doing well with that song.
Personally the Shepperd song didnt grab me at all. I was really expecting to like it more but didnt rate it at all.
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Letās all hope the federal election isnt called for the same weekend as Eurovision. Itās looking like it will be the following weekend but not confirmed as yet.
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That wouldnāt affect the Eurovision coverage though as assuming they do the same as last year other than the morning live broadcasts it will air semi-final 1 Wednesday night, semi-final 2 Friday night and the finale Sunday night.
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I loved Kate too. She was my 2nd pick behind Electric Fields. I am surprised that we are now getting so much hate all over social media for choosing her given that out of the 8 songs selected to compete in Eurovision so far hers is the one thatās the most interesting and stands out the most.
We have also fallen from 3rd favourites to win Eurovision to 6th in the betting odds. Just donāt understand it.
I actually think she could win. I also think Courtney Act would have had a chance considering she is known throughout Europe. But her song wasnāt as good as many of the others.
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Think all of that is due to the strong (& deserved) support for Electric Fields. Thatās not a criticism of KMH - it was just a lot of people (from what I saw) thought EF would be the winning entrant from between when voting opened & the televised performances happened
Australia to remain in Eurovision until at least 2023.
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Australia will compete in semi final 1 in Tel Aviv. Kate Miller-Heidke will perform Zero Gravity in the second half of the show.
Cue more Brit outrage 
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And more wins against them. 
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The winner of Swedenās Melodifestivalen, or Melfest, was John Lundvik. Heāll represent the country at Eurovision in Israel with Too Late for Love. But Lundvik already had a seat at the Eurovision table, being one of the co-writers of the UKās entry, Bigger Than Us, which will be sung by Michael Rice.
Have SBS confirmed airdates and times for Eurovision yet? Iām guessing the prime time screenings of the semi finals will be the Wed and Fri nights like last year?