The United States was represented at the OTI Festival 1980 with the song "", written and performed by Rammiro Velasco. The participating broadcaster representing the country, the Spanish International Network (SIN), selected its entry through a national televised competition. The song, that was performed in position 9, placed thirteenth with 11 points, out of 23 competing entries.
The Spanish International Network (SIN) held a national televised competition to select its entry for the 9th edition of the OTI Festival. This was the third edition of the National OTIâÂÂSIN Festival. In the final, each song represented a SIN affiliate, each of which had selected its entry through a local pre-selection.
On Sunday 21 September 1980, KMEX-TV held a televised pre-selection at its studios in Los Angeles, beginning at 21:30 PDT (04:30+1 UTC). This second edition of the Los Angeles Local OTI Festival featured ten songs. It was broadcast live on Channel 34.
The jury was composed of Laurindo Almeida, Mario Alberto Milar, Rosemary Manjarez, and Pepe Rolón as chairperson.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Steve Rawitz and performed by .
On Sunday 21 September 1980, KFTV also held a televised pre-selection at the KMEX-TV studios in Los Angeles. This third edition of the Central California Local OTI Festival featured three songs. It was held on the same show as the Los Angeles pre-selection, and used the same jury. It was broadcast live on Channel 21.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Miguel Mendoza and performed by Martha del Mar.
WXTV held a pre-selection. This was the second edition of the New York Local OTI Festival.
The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written and performed by Carmen Iraida Colón; with "", written by Vilma Planas and performed by Aldo Matta, placing second; and "", written by Roberto Lozano and performed by Georgia Gálvez, placing third.
KDTV held a pre-selection. The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Jesús Estrada and performed by Thelma Aragón.
KLOC-TV held a pre-selection. The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "", written by Rodolfo Flores and performed by Brenda Thomas.
The final was held on Saturday 11 October 1980 in Miami, featuring ten songs. It was broadcast live on all SIN affiliates. The winner was "" representing WLTVâÂÂMiami, written and performed by Rammiro Velasco.
On 15 November 1980, the OTI Festival was held at the MartÃÂn Coronado hall of the in Buenos Aires, Argentina, hosted by (ATC), and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Rammiro Velasco performed "" in position 9, with Tony RamÃÂrez conducting the event's orchestra, and placing thirteenth with 11 points, out of 23 competing entries.
Each participating broadcaster assembled a jury who awarded 5âÂÂ1 points to their five favourite songs in order of preference.