Chile in the OTI Festival

The participation of Chile in the OTI Festival first began at the inaugural OTI Festival in 1972 held in Madrid and continued continuously until the last edition in 2000 held in Acapulco. Televisión Nacional de Chile (TVN), Canal 13, Chilevisión, Megavisión, and La Red, members of the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI), were responsible in turn –or jointly– for the Chilean participation.

History
Chile won the contest in two occasions: in 1984 with the singer-songwriter Fernando Ubiergo with the song "Agualuna", and in 1998 with the rapper and comedian Florcita Motuda with the song "Fin de siglo, es hora de inflamarse deprimirse o transformarse".

In addition to these victories, their placed second with Alberto Plaza and the song "Canción contra la tristeza" in 1995. They also got three third places: in 1976 with José Alfredo Fuentes and the song "Era solo un chiquillo", in 1985 with Juan Carlos Duque (singer) and the song "Para poder vivir", and in 1992 with Pablo Herrera (singer) and his song "Para poder vivir".

Televisión Nacional de Chile (TVN) and Canal 13, organised jointly the event two times: in 1978, due to the refusal of the Nicaraguan broadcaster –the previous year's winner– to organise the event because of the Nicaraguan Revolution, and in 1986. Both events were held in the Municipal Theatre of Santiago.

National final
Chile was one of the few OTI Festival participating countries who organised an annual national final in order to select their participating entrant in the contest, produced in turn –or jointly– by TVN, Canal 13, Chilevisión, Megavisión, and La Red. The winner, who was elected by a professional jury, would later represent the country in the festival.

The Festival OTI Nacional, which was the official name of the selection process, was also very popular between the local audience and in fact, many famous musicians participated in the national final in order to represent their country in the main event.