New statement by EBU on hosting Eurovision 2023

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EBU has just released a follow up statement on the hosting of Eurovision 2023 which you can read below

“The EBU fully understands the disappointment that greeted the announcement that the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) cannot be staged in Ukraine, this year’s winning country.

The decision was guided by the EBU’s responsibility to ensure the conditions are met to guarantee the safety and security of everyone working and participating in the event, the planning of which needs to begin immediately in the host country.

At least 10,000 people are usually accredited to work on, or at, the Eurovision Song Contest including crew, staff and journalists. A further 30,000 fans are expected to travel to the event from across the world. Their welfare is our prime concern.

It is therefore critical that decisions made in relation to such a complex live television event are made by broadcasting professionals and do not become politicized.

The Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, that all participating broadcasters agree upon, clearly state that the event can be moved in a force majeure situation such as an ongoing war.

In response to the EBU’s security questionnaire a number of risks that would impact the immediate planning for such a large event, including the “severe” risk of air raids/attacks by aircraft or attacks by drones or missiles, which can cause significant casualties, were highlighted by the Ukrainian assessment provided to us.

Additionally, the EBU sought third-party expert security advice which clearly stated that the counter measures proposed to mitigate the threats planning the event in Ukraine were insufficient for an international public event and the risk rating of a mass casualty event due to the ongoing conflict is “high”.

Alongside the security concerns, the continued conflict in Ukraine makes delegations and participants reluctant to travel to the country. We also noted the comments made by the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, that the war in Ukraine “could take years.”

With regards to the possibility of hosting the Contest in a border location close to a neighbouring country, the specifications of suggested venues, and the lack of the necessary surrounding infrastructure, do not meet the requirements of the ESC.

When drawing its conclusions, the EBU also took note that, based on our current information, no major international concert tours are visiting Ukraine throughout 2023.

All this contributes to the EBU’s overall assessment that in terms of security and operational guarantees, the necessary requirements for hosting, as set out in the Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest are not met.

Taking all of this into account the EBU, with regret, made its decision to move the event to another country and will continue discussions on finding a suitable location for next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. We are happy to engage further with our Ukrainian Member UA:PBC on all these issues.”

After Boris Johnson, UK Culture Secretary also wishes Ukraine hosts Eurovision 2023

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After the EBU announcement that Ukraine is not able to host Eurovision 2023, talks began with BBC about hosting next year’s contest with Glasgow being the favorite to host the contest. However, there have been UK government officials who spoke against this decision, expressing their wish to see Ukraine being the host country.

During his arrival to UK after a meeting with the Ukrainian Prime minister, British prime minister Boris Johnson stated:

“Of course I would love it to be in this country but the fact is they won and they deserve to have it and I believe they can have it and I believe that they should have it (…) I believe that Kyiv or any other safe Ukrainian city would be a fantastic place to have it. It is a year away, it is going to be fine by the time the Eurovision Song Contest comes round and I hope the Ukrainians get it”

On Saturday, the UK Secretary of State for Culture Nadine Dorries joined the list of UK politicians who want Ukraine to host the contest. After a meeting with her Ukrainian counterpart Oleksandr Tkachenko, she tweeted:

 

EBU is currently in talks with BBC and there is yet a decision to be made as for the hosting country for 2023. Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Source: wiwibloggs

Cyprus: Is “All Together Now” cancelled?

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Days after this year’s Grand Final, it was reported that Cyprus public broadcaster RIK, had already made an agreement with Panik records to use the BBC format All Together Now as the national selection show for Eurovision 2023. However, it seems that this project is cancelled.

The show would be produced by BarkingWell Media and aired both on Alpha Tv in Greece and RIK in Cyprus. Contestants would perform in front of 100 judges and the winner of the show would represent Cyprus in Eurovision 2023, while the song would be chosen at a later stage. However, as it seems from Alpha TV programming, All Together Now will not be aired this fall, while Just the 2 of us, another BarkingWell Media production, is being prepared which was confirmed during today’s episode of the Alpha Tv morning show, Super Katerina. In addition, there has been no trailer aired calling for participants, while on the channel’s website, the applications link redirect to another Alpha TV project, Total Black Out. Given the time needed for pre-production of such a TV format, it is unlikely that it can be aired this fall.

While there are no information available yet as to how will Cyprus choose its Eurovision 2023 entry, it seems that the partnership with Panik records will remain, and an artist will be chosen internally.

 

How should Cyprus choose its next entry? Tell us in the comments!

Norway: Submissions for Melodi Grand Prix 2023 are open!

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NRK , Norway’s national broadcaster, has started accepting submissions from artists wishing to compete in the Melodi Grand Prix 2023 . From now until September 18th 2022, artists can submit their songs to NRK.

The rules are as follows:

  • Registered entries are encouraged to have at least one Norwegian songwriter, as MGP wants to prioritize and promote Norwegian music.
  • Each producer / songwriter can sign up for a maximum of three songs.
  • Anyone can sign up for songs, but artists must be 16 years old to enter the Eurovision Song Contest.
  • The songs must be over three minutes long and cannot be released commercially before September 1st.

The Melodi Grand Prix will follow a similar format to previous years, with the competition consisting of several semifinals and a final . All results are expected to be decided by public voting alone. The exact details of MGP format will be announced later.

Subwoolfer represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with ” Give That wolf a Banana ” and finished in 10th place in the final with a total of 182 points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adCU2rQyDeY

Source: NRK

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

Finland: UMK 2023 Rules Released

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Yle, the Finnish national broadcaster, has released the rules for UMK 2023.

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) will be used for the 12th time to select the Finnish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Yle published the rules for the 2023 edition of the contest.

Some of the rules include:

  •  The demo must be delivered to Yle between the 1st and the 5th of September 2022. Only demos that arrive on time and comply with these rules are accepted in the
    competition.
  • The lead singer(s) may participate in the competition with a maximum of three (3) songs although only one (1) song is eligible for continuation. Band members can participate in more than one song and composers, lyricists and arrangers (hereafter ‘songwriters’) may participate in the competition with several songs.
  • The singer(s) or the band performing the song on the demo must be the final performer of the song.
  • At least one songwriter and one lead singer must be a Finnish citizen or have permanent residence in Finland.
  • Entries must comply with EBU rules (no longer than three minutes, no insulting lyrics etc).
  • An expert panel will choose the UMK 2023 entries. Any chosen entrants must send in the final version of their song by November 3.

The final of UMK 2023 will be held in February 2023. The winner will be decided by a combination of jury voting and public voting.

You can read the full set of rules here in Finnish and English.

The Rasmus represented Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with “Jezebel”. They came 21st in the final with a total of 38 points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSi9nfr65FE

Source: Yle

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

 

 

Eurovision 2023: Glasgow named bookies’ favourite to host competition

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The European Broadcasting Union confirmed they will now “begin discussions” with the BBC over the UK hosting next year’s event. Speculation has amped up that Glasgow could be the city chosen to host the iconic competition.

Glasgow has been named the bookies’ favourite to host the Eurovision Song Context next year.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) yesterday released a statement confirming that they will now “begin discussions” with the BBC over the UK potentially hosting next year’s event – which will be the 67th edition of the contest.

Since then, speculation has amped up that Glasgow could be the city chosen to host Europe for the iconic competition in the Ovo Hydro.

Nicola Sturgeon was quick to offer up the city as a potential venue, tweeting: ‘We wish @Eurovision could be in Ukraine but understand that in circumstances this isn’t possible. However, I can think of a perfect venue on banks of the River Clyde!!

Now William Hill has made Glasgow 4/7 to favourites to take on the huge extravagant event, the Daily Record reports.

London and Birmingham make up the second and third favourites for the contest respectively by the bookmaker.

The odds of Edinburgh hosting the competition is 33/1.

William Hill spokesperson Tony Kenny said: “The UK looks like it could be hosting next year’s Eurovision and we’ve opened a market on which city might be chosen if the decision is made.

“Glasgow is the 4/7 favourite to be given the hosting duties, with London, perhaps unsurprisingly, another leading contender at 10/3.”

Eurovision 2023: The first minister of Scotland is ready for the contest in Glasgow!

As winner of this year’s event in Turin back in May, Ukraine, was being lined up to host the competition next year as per tradition, which dictates that the winning country traditionally hosts the following year’s event.

However, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the UK is being given the opportunity to play host to the 2023 event after finishing in second place thanks to Sam Ryder’s ‘Space-Man’ track.

The EBU statement reads: “The Eurovision song contest is one of the most complex TV productions in the world, with thousands working on, and attending, the event and 12 months of preparation time needed.”

It said, after a lengthy investigation, the required guarantees could not be provided by Ukraine’s public broadcaster and expressed “sadness and disappointment” that next year’s contest could not be held in Ukraine.

“As a result of this decision, in accordance with the rules and to ensure the continuity of the event, the EBU will now begin discussions with the BBC, as this year’s runner-up, to potentially host the 2023 Eurovision song contest in the United Kingdom.

“It is our full intention that Ukraine’s win will be reflected in next year’s shows. This will be a priority for us in our discussions with the eventual hosts.”

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Eurovision 2023: Will the contest with the blessings of the European Union be held in Brussels?

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The British media report that the European Union is working in an effort for Brussels to host Eurovision 2023, in an attempt to hold the competition in the capital of Europe, since it can not take place in Ukraine.

With the EBU announcing that Ukraine will not be hosting Eurovision 2023 and that the EBU will begin discussions with the United Kingdom, many cities across the country have expressed interest in hosting the competition.

Eurovision 2023: London, Manchester, Liverpool and Belfast among cities interested to host!

However, the Guardian reports that the European Union is working on an effort to host the 2023 contest in Brussels. This choice would symbolize that the Belgian capital, the capital of Europe, hosts the competition on behalf of Ukraine as a gesture of solidarity from all Europeans, who gave victory to Ukraine, with the record of votes in televoting.

On Friday, the European Commission recommended to the Council of the European Union that granting candidate status to both Ukraine and Moldova be an important step for both nations on their path to full EU membership.

Boris Johnson: Ukraine can and should host next Eurovision Song Contest!

Brussels previously hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1987. At present, Brussels has two possible venues if this offer goes ahead. The first is the Forest National / Vorst Nationaal in Forest / Vorst in the southern suburbs of the capital Brussels. The venue can accommodate up to 8,000 spectators. The second part is Palais 12 / Paleis 12 in Heysel in the north of the city. Originally built in 1989 but renovated in 2013, the venue can accommodate up to 15,000 spectators and is one of the largest interiors in Belgium.

So far no one from the EBU, the EU, the Belgian government, the VRT or the RTBF has commented on these reports.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

Source: The Guardian

Poland: Deputy prime minister opposes EBU’s decision for Eurovision 2023!

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After the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture of Poland Piotr Glinski, opposes the decision of the EBU to remove the organization of Eurovision 2023 from Ukraine.

In an official statement signed by the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, the President of the country’s Public Television and the member of its Board of Directors stressed that they support the request of Ukraine for more time before the EBU makes its final decision. from all parties involved to ensure a model for Eurovision 2023, in which the participation as much as possible is made by Ukrainian producers, artists and of course the public.

The Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland and the TVP (Telewizja Polska) Management Board express their regret over the fact that the European Broadcasting Union decided to take away the right to organize the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 from the Ukrainian public broadcaster UA:PBC and started talks on the organization of this event with BBC.
We support the position of UA:PBC and the Ukrainian authorities, in which they call for negotiations on the organization of the competition with the participation of representatives of the winning country of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
We declare our continuous support for the Ukrainian public broadcaster in the search for such an organizational model for next year’s Eurovision 2023 competition, which will take into account the largest possible participation of Ukrainian artists and producers as well as the audience from Ukraine.
Piotr Gliński – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland
Jacek Kurski – President of the Management Board of TVP
Mateusz Matyszkowicz – Member of the Management Board of TVP
The announcement, another high-ranking third-country politician, adds to the pressure on the EBU, which has begun negotiations with the BBC and while Glasgow seems to be the big favorite to host Eurovision 2023.
We look forward to similar statements for which we will inform you.
Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Boris Johnson: Ukraine can and should host next Eurovision Song Contest!

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Ukraine can and should host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday, after the organisers said they were in talks to hold it in Britain instead due to the war.

While decades-long tradition dictates that the winner of the contest gets to host it the following year, organisers said the security guarantees required to hold the competition in Ukraine meant discussions would be held with the runner up, Britain.

UK: First odds for Eurovision 2023 hosts!

“Of course I would love it to be in this country but the fact is they won and they deserve to have it and I believe they can have it and I believe that they should have it,” Johnson told reporters on arrival back in Britain after a visit to Kyiv.

“I believe that Kyiv or any other safe Ukrainian city would be a fantastic place to have it,” he added. “It is a year away, it is going to be fine by the time the Eurovision Song Contest comes round and I hope the Ukrainians get it.”

The comments by organiser the European Broadcasting Union on Friday that it was in discussions with British broadcaster the BBC to host the next event was greeted with disappointment in Kyiv, which demanded further negotiations.

Source: Reuters

UK: First odds for Eurovision 2023 hosts!

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It may be just a few hours after the United Kingdom actually “took over” the organization of Eurovision 2023, but already the first bets for the host of the contest have seen the light of day. Read more