Slovakia: Absent from Eurovision 2024!

Slovakia will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2o24!

The head of the Department of International Relations of the national broadcaster, RTVS, Slavomira Kubickova confirmed that Slovakia will continue its absence not only from the “adult” Eurovision but also from the Junior Eurovision.

“RTVS is not considering the participation at the Eurovision or junior Eurovision in the coming future.”

Despite the renewal of the General Director of RTVS, Slovakia will remain outside the European competition.

The former General Director of RTVS was known for being against the participation of Slovakia in the Eurovision Song Contest, considering the Contest as the worst thing that has ever happened to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

In summer 2022, Mr. Ľuboš Macha was appointed as the new General Director of RTVS, however he will (at least for now)  continue the path of his predecessor, so Slovakia’s absence from the competition goes on.

RTVS claims financial reasons for their absence.

RTVS admitted that the reasons for not participating in the Eurovision Song Contest are mainly financial.

The organization acknowledges that it is impossible to cover the costs of the competition, as the participation of the country is associated with high financial costs for which RTVS currently has no resources.

The RTVS station has been mired in a financial crisis for years. However, the Slovak government intends to amend the funding of the public broadcaster in order to increase the funding of the public broadcaster by 46 million euros by 2024. If these changes are approved, RTVS will have a budget of around 160 million for the next year.

The country’s last participation was in 2012 where the central European country was represented by Max Jason Mai with the song “Don’t Close Your Eyes” taking the 18th and last place in the Second Semi-Final with 22 points.

Source: Eurofestivales

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