== Location ==
== Location ==
[[File:Teatro Nacional CRI 07 2019 8963.jpg|thumb|left|Teatro Nacional, San José – host venue of the OTI Festival 1998.]]
[[File:Teatro Nacional CRI 07 2019 8963.jpg|thumb|left|Teatro Nacional, San José – host venue of the OTI Festival 1998.]]
The {{lang|es|[[Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana]]|i=no}} (OTI) designated [[Repretel]] and [[Teletica]] as the host broadcasters for the 27th edition of the [[OTI Festival]]. The broadcasters jointly staged the event in [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]]. The venue selected was {{lang|es|[[National Theatre of Costa Rica|Teatro Nacional]]|i=no}}, the country’s national theatre, that was opened in 1897 and has a capacity for 850 people.
The {{lang|es|[[Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana]]|i=no}} (OTI) designated [[Repretel]] and [[Teletica]] as the host broadcasters for the 27th edition of the [[OTI Festival]]. The broadcasters jointly staged the event in [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]]. The venue selected was {{lang|es|[[National Theatre of Costa Rica|Teatro Nacional]]|i=no}}, the country’s national theatre, that was opened in 1897 and has a capacity for people.
== Participants ==
== Participants ==
27th OTI Song Festival
The OTI Festival 1998 (Spanish: Vigésimo Séptimo Gran Premio de la Canción Iberoamericana, Portuguese: Vigésimo Sétimo Grande Prêmio da Canção Ibero-Americana) was the 27th edition of the OTI Festival. It consisted of a semi-final on 13 November and a final on 14 November 1998, held at Teatro Nacional in San José, Costa Rica, and presented by Maribel Guardia and Rafael Rojas. It was organised by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI) and host broadcasters Repretel and Teletica.
Broadcasters from twenty-three countries participated in the festival. The winner was the song “Fin de siglo, éste es el tiempo de inflamarse, deprimirse o transformarse” performed by Florcita Motuda representing Chile; with “Sin amor” by Alicia Vignola representing Argentina placing second; and “Quem espera, desespera” by Beto representing Portugal placing third.
The Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI) designated Repretel and Teletica as the host broadcasters for the 27th edition of the OTI Festival. The broadcasters jointly staged the event in San José. The venue selected was Teatro Nacional, the country’s national theatre, that was opened in 1897 and has a capacity for 1,140 people.
Broadcasters from twenty-three countries participated in this edition of the OTI festival. The OTI members, public or private broadcasters from Spain, Portugal, and twenty-one Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries of Ibero-America signed up for the festival. All the countries that participated the previous edition returned, joined by the Netherlands Antilles which returned after being absent since 1995.
Some of the participating broadcasters, such as those representing Chile, Cuba, and Mexico, selected their entries through their regular national selections. Other broadcasters decided to select their entry internally.
Two performing artists had previously represented the same country in previous editions: María Elisa had represented Uruguay in 1974, and Florcita Motuda had represented Chile in 1978 and 1981.
The festival consisted of a semi-final on Friday 13 November and a final on Saturday 14 November 1998, beginning at 19:00 CST (01:00+1 UTC). It was presented by Maribel Guardia and Rafael Rojas. The musical director was Álvaro Esquivel, who conducted the orchestra when required. The twenty-three participating entries were performed in the semi-final, of which only twelve advanced to the final. The final featured a guest performance by Marta Sánchez.
The winner was the song “Fin de siglo, éste es el tiempo de inflamarse, deprimirse o transformarse” performed by Florcita Motuda representing Chile; with “Sin amor” by Alicia Vignola representing Argentina placing second; and “Quem espera, desespera” by Beto representing Portugal placing third.
Winner
The members of a single jury selected their favourite songs in a secret vote. In the final only the top three places were revealed. The members of the jury were:
The festival was broadcast in the 23 participating countries where the corresponding OTI member broadcasters relayed the contest through their networks after receiving it live via satellite.
Known details on the broadcasts in each country, including the specific broadcasting stations and commentators are shown in the tables below.
