Slovenia: Official statement from RTVSLO regarding Eurovision 2024!

In the wake of, perhaps, the most controversial Eurovision Song Contest to date, RTVSLO, Slovenia’s national broadcaster sent out a list of questions to the EBU regarding everything that occured during this year’s Contest. This document has gone public at its full form.

RTVSLO demands answers from the EBU

Via a public statement, the Slovenian national broadcaster RTVSLO presented its questions towards the EBU in relation to some concerning events that took place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. In the document, RTVSLO puts the televoting process and the ROTW voting’s purpose (the voting of the countries which do not take part in the Contest, yet they vote in the semifinals and in the final as one country) in doubt. Moreover, they request an explanation about the Netherlands’ disqualification from the Grand Final and question the anti-booing technology. Lastly, they raise concerns regarding the ban of certain flags inside the arena. Overall, RTVSLO is putting pressure on the EBU for a more potent and democratic policy regarding decision-making.

Slovenian RTV asked some of the most urgent questions to the EBU leadership due to the events and consequences of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. RTV Slovenia had already called for an official debate before the contest.

We point out that the Eurovision Song Contest is an extremely important project for Slovenian television, it is an event with a high spectatorship in our country and among our musicians, and that RTV Slovenia is pleased to be part of it. Therefore, after this year’s controversial Eurovision week, Slovenia is asking for concrete answers to the most pressing questions and would like these questions to encourage a broader debate on the future and development of the Eurovision Song Contest, which unfortunately has been marked by a number of controversial issues this year.

Therefore, Slovenian TV is asking the EBU for information on the Slovenian public’s vote, not only the number of votes, but precise information on how the Slovenian public voted. The overall result raises some doubts, in particular about the large number of “new” voters in the online vote, who have never been counted before.

Slovenian TV is demanding, among other things, further clarification from the EBU on the exclusion of the Netherlands; the report by some media that the actual sound image of what is happening in the hall was replaced by technical means; on the ban on the EU flag; on the possible influence of the sponsor on the content of the event…

Slovenian TV invites the EBU to discuss the “Rest of the World” vote. What is its purpose and why should the outcome of the contest be influenced by citizens of countries not participating in the Eurovision Song Contest?

Finally, Television Slovenia also asks to consider ways in which the views of EBU members can be more effectively integrated into the selection process and key decision-making or how to create a more democratic decision-making system in the future.

RTVSLO

For the time being, the EBU has not responded to the abovementioned requests submitted by RTVSLO. What is certain is that the discussion will broaden, while the EBU is receiving backlash from all sides.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the updates!

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