The participation of the Dominican Republic in the OTI Festival began at the first OTI Festival in 1972. The Dominican participating broadcaster was Telesistema Dominicano, which was member of the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI). The broadcaster participated in twenty-six of the twenty-eight editions, only missing the 1976 and 1981 festivals. Its best placing was second, achieved in 1977 and 1983.
The Dominican Republic never managed to get a victory in the OTI Festival, but had a successful participation during the most of its history and ended several times in the top 10 places of the classification.
Fernando Casado was the first Dominican representative in the contest and placed seventh with his song "Siempre habrá en la luna una sonrisa".[1] In 1973, it recorded one of its greatest successes in the contest with Niní Cáffaro and his song "El juicio final", which placed third with 9 points.[2] In 1977, Fernando Casado was selected again to represent the Dominican Republic in the contest with the song "Al nacer cada enero" which placed second and became a hit in the island.
After some other successful participations, Telesistema Dominicano selected the singer Taty Salas with her ballad "Olvidar, Olvidar" which achieved second place again. Salas was selected again in 1988, and although she didn't repeat the success of her previous entry, she placed third with the song "De tu boca".
In 1989, Telesistema Dominicano, determined to record a Dominican victory once for all, contacted the prominent singer Juan Luis Guerra, who composed the power ballad "Te ofrezco" which was sung by Maridalia Hernández.[3] Although the song placed third and didn't win, this entry was widely acclaimed both by the jury and by the audience to the point that today, it's considered to be one of the best entries in the history of the OTI Festival.
The following Dominican entries were not as successful as before but the country managed to place respectably in the last years of the contest.
