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Israel: The bill for the closure of IPBC/Kan was not passed! | The future of the broadcaster as a member of the EBU still in question!

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The bill to close down IPBC/Kan, Israel’s national broadcaster, was ultimately not passed. However, the question remains whether the broadcaster will meet the requirements to continue as a member of the European Broadcasting Union.

During the debate in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) Finance Committee, Chairman David Bitan announced that the committee did not approve the bill to close the Israeli broadcaster, which had already passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset plenary. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had also intervened, sending a strong letter to MK Bitan and other members of the committee, emphasizing the need for an independent broadcaster. Bitan reiterated this message in his statement:

“We need public broadcasting.”

What will be forwarded to the committee is the section that would subsume the broadcaster’s budget into the state budget. This move could potentially jeopardize the independence of “KAN” and may jeopardize Israel’s participation in Eurovision. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi responded to this decision by saying that they would find another way to pass the bill.

The proposal and its consequences

Despite the announcement by the chairman of the Economic Committee that the law to close down the broadcaster will not be advanced, some sections that the coalition wanted to advance will proceed as normal. Among them is the section that would submit the broadcaster’s budget to the state budget, requiring annual government approval. This still jeopardizes the broadcaster’s independence and, consequently, Israel’s participation in Eurovision.

The European Broadcasting Union has already warned committee members that the country’s participation in the international contest is at risk if the law is passed. If enacted, the broadcaster’s budget would become vulnerable, as it would require government approval every year. Even if “KAN” is not closed, its independence would be at risk and the EBU could decide that “KAN” no longer meets the criteria for membership of the Union.

The Journalists’ Organization stated that it will continue to fight against MK Bitan’s decision, arguing that it will politicize the broadcast and ultimately destroy public broadcasting in Israel.

Source: euromix

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Liechtenstein: Plans to participate in Eurovision currently on hold!

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Liechtenstein seems to have stopped any procedure in order to debut in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The president of Liechtensteinischer Rundfunk (Radio Liechtenstein) confirmed on the website vaterland.li that plans for a future participation are currently on pause.

Liechtensteinischer Rundfunk is a public radio station that could serve as the gateway for the small nation to join Eurovision, provided it becomes a member of the EBU. However, Mr. Bachmann stated that discussions with the EBU have been suspended until the station’s future becomes clear.

We remind you that in October, the citizens of Liechtenstein voted in favour of privatizing the station, with 55.4% of the vote, effectively ending public funding by the end of 2025. Before the vote, it was revealed that the station was considering joining the EBU as part of its plans to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Despite that, Mr. Bachmann remains optimistic about Liechtenstein’s future participation, stating that their goal of joining the EBU remains unchanged.

Would you like to see Liechtenstein make its Eurovision debut? Let us know in the comments!

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, in Basel!

Source: brudiland.li

Israel: The Response to Slovenia’s Request for Disqualification from Eurovision 2025

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As it was revealed yesterday, the Slovenian public broadcaster RTVSLO has requested the disqualification of Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, which will be held in Basel, Switzerland, from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

The decision to request Israel’s disqualification from Eurovision was made during the last session of RTVSLO’s board of directors, held between December 9 and 11. The EBU has not yet responded to the Slovenian request but published the list of the 38 countries that will participate in the upcoming competition – including Israel – on December 12.

At this stage, no operational decision has been made in Slovenia, despite two additional proposals in case the EBU does not respond to the request: either Slovenia’s withdrawal from Eurovision 2025 or, contrary to competition rules, blacking out of the broadcast during Israel’s performance.

Israel’s Response

In response to Slovenia’s request, the Israeli public broadcaster referred to the words of lawyer Alon Galert in the Knesset’s Economic Committee earlier this week:

We are all familiar with the efforts made by anti-Semitic bodies and Palestinian actors to distance Israel from international institutions… The State of Israel fights against these attempts with all its might and invests tremendous efforts to prevent its removal from these international institutions. And now, the greatest slanderers of Israel in the world are about to get their way, not because they managed to convince the EBU to distance Israel but because we ourselves are about to cause our removal from an important international body with significant influence.

Anyone who thinks that this will end here is mistaken. The demand to distance Israel recurs and rises in many additional international bodies such as sports bodies, academic institutions, and cultural institutions… Israel’s removal from the EBU would be the first domino to create a domino effect and harm its membership in many additional bodies.

In any case, we are now awaiting the official response from the EBU and Slovenia’s reaction to the development of the issue, as the request for Israel’s disqualification from Eurovision 2025 remains open.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: euromix

Monacο: A New Public Broadcaster debuting in 2025!

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The Government of Monaco has announced that it will merge its existing channels to launch a new public broadcaster in September 2025.

Monaco will merge its two existing public broadcasters, TV Monaco and Monaco Info. The decision was made due to the challenges posed by having two channels with a high level of overlapping content. As part of the changes, TV Monaco will also withdraw from TV5 Monde.

During the National Council Assembly on December 16, Monaco’s Minister of State, who is leading the project, confirmed that a new professional and financially sustainable television channel with advertising revenue will be created in the Principality.

This channel will be independent of government communication, managed by a professional board of directors, and funded through a mix of public and private resources.

The development of the new channel will begin in January 2025 under the leadership of Geneviève Berti, Monaco’s current Director of Communication. She has been tasked with preparing for the transition, which includes managing Monaco’s exit from TV5 Monde, an international network in which the Principality holds a 5.3% stake.

The channel, which has not yet been named, is expected to launch on September 1st 2025. It will make use of the extensive technical resources of TV Monaco.

It is not yet known whether the new broadcaster will seek to acquire membership in the EBU, as TV Monaco currently holds, which gained its EBU membership in March 2024.

Monaco last participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006, represented by Séverine Ferrer with the song “La Coco-Dance” but failed to qualify for the Grand Final. The country also won once, in 1971, with Séverine’s “Un banc, un arbre, une rue”

Would you like to see Monaco return to the contest?

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the latest updates!

Source: Monaco Life

EBU concerned over privatization of Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation

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The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organizer of the Eurovision Song Contest, has sent a letter to lawmakers in Israel expressing “deep concern” about government plans to privatize the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC).

“Such a move would not only threaten the media landscape in Israel but could also have serious implications for the democratic foundations of the country and its international reputation,” the letter to the Knesset’s Economic Affairs Committee states.

The EBU emphasizes that “shutting down the IPBC, government intervention, or reducing its budget would represent a departure from the standards upheld by democratic nations worldwide and could undermine both domestic trust and international credibility.”

The letter further notes that the broadcaster’s participation in the EBU offers significant benefits to Israel. These include participation in major international events, such as the Eurovision Song Contest – which was the most successful television program in Israel last year – and securing broadcasting rights for significant sports events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, ensuring free access for all Israeli citizens. Additionally, it highlights Kan’s contribution to showcasing Israeli culture, talent, and innovation on a global stage.

The EBU warns that privatizing the IPBC could jeopardize this relationship, likely leading to Kan’s exclusion from the Union and limiting Israelis’ access to key events and content.

The letter also recalls Kan’s vital role in covering the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which was widely distributed through the EBU’s international news network.

“Weakening or dismantling this institution could create a vacuum in reliable news dissemination, both domestically and internationally,” the EBU warns.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Source: Times of Israel

France: ARTE Becomes a Member of the European Broadcasting Union!

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The cultural television channel ARTE is the newest member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

The Franco-German public broadcaster dedicated to culture, ARTE, has joined the European Broadcasting Union after being elected as a member at the EBU General Assembly in Lausanne earlier this month.

ARTE was established in 1990 as a cultural collaboration between France and Germany and now broadcasts in six languages. It is available in eight countries through television and online throughout Europe.

The broadcaster has been collaborating with EBU members on content for several years, and currently has agreements with: ZDF, ARD, RTBF, ORF, SSR SRG, ČT, RTÉ, Rai, Yle, and ERT. These collaborations enable content exchange and joint production of programs, enhancing cultural exchange and the variety of content offered to the public.

EBU Director General, Noel Curran, said:

ARTE’s commitment to high-quality, cross-border cultural programming complements our shared mission to strengthen and promote public service media across the continent. Their participation in the EBU will enhance our ability to drive innovation and create deeper ties across borders, enabling public service media to continue enriching the lives of audiences across Europe.

Bruno Patino, President, and Heike Hempel, Vice President of ARTE GEIE, said:

Joining the EBU aligns fully with ARTE’s European identity and development strategy. ARTE has been open to Europe since its inception, with the mission of bringing Europeans together through culture. We support the EBU’s ambitions to provide strong public broadcasting services across Europe, and we look forward to exchanging views on the current challenges in the sector, as well as sharing our knowledge.

Joining the European Broadcasting Union means that ARTE is now eligible to participate in EBU-organized competitions.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the latest updates!

Source: EBU

Eurovision 2025: 38 countries will join the 69th Eurovision Song Contest!

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The Eurovision season has officially kicked off! The European Broadcasting Union has just unveiled the list of participants for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in Basel, Switzerland, from May 13-17, 2025.

32 of the 38 participating broadcasters will compete in semi-finals on Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 May, while the 10 best from each will qualify for the grand final on Saturday 17 May based on public votes. The draw, which will determine which semi-final they will appear in, will take place in Basel on Tuesday 28 January.

The remaining five broadcasters from France, Germany, Italy, Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom qualify for the Grand Final along with Switzerland, which will host the competition.

Each participating broadcaster will select the competing song and artist in the coming months according to the rules of the competition. All songs must be submitted by mid-March 2025.

The complete participants’ list

Eurovision 2025 will see a small increase in participants. A total of 38 countries will compete in what promises to be another exciting edition of Europe’s most-watched music competition.The following countries have confirmed their participation for Eurovision 2025:

  • Albania – RTSH
  • Australia – SBS
  • Armenia – AMPTV
  • Austria – ORF
  • Azerbaijan – İctimai
  • Belgium – RTBF
  • Croatia – HRT
  • Cyprus – CyBC
  • Czech Republic – ČT
  • Denmark – DR
  • Estonia – ERR
  • Finland – YLE
  • France – FT
  • Georgia – GPB
  • Germany – ARD/NDR
  • Greece – ERT
  • Iceland – RÚV
  • Ireland – RTÉ
  • Israel – IPBC/Kan
  • Italy – RAI
  • Latvia – LTV
  • Lithuania – LRT
  • Luxembourg – RTL
  • Malta – PBS
  • Moldova – TRM
  • Montenegro – RTCG
  • Netherlands – AVROTROS
  • Norway – NRK
  • Poland – TVP
  • Portugal – RTP
  • San Marino – SMRTV
  • Serbia – RTS
  • Slovenia – RTVSLO
  • Spain – TVE
  • Sweden – SVT
  • Switzerland – SRG / SSR
  • Ukraine – UA
  • United Kingdom – BBC

Notable Returns

One of the most notable events is the return of Montenegro to the competition. After two years of absence, Montenegro returns to Eurovision with a sense of optimism. The country opted for a national selection process, Montesong 2024, to choose its entry. The winner, ΝinaŽižić, has been chosen to represent Montenegro with the song “Dobrodošli”.

Meanwhile, The Netherlands have also confirmed their participation in 2025. Earlier, the country had made waves by hinting at a possible withdrawal from the competition. However, following reassurances regarding participant safety and the appointment of Martin Green as the competition’s executive producer, AVROTROS, the Dutch broadcaster, has reversed its decision. Despite this, Joost Klein, who was disqualified just before the Grand Final in Malmö, has declined the opportunity to perform at Eurovision again. Furthermore, the Dutch act for Eurovision 2025 will be chosen internally by AVROTROS.

Countries that remain off the contest

North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Romania will be sitting out of Eurovision 2025, citing financial reasons as the cause for their absence.

Eurovision is a significant financial commitment for many countries, and the rising costs of participation, including the production of national selections, are undoubtedly a factor in these decisions. It remains to be seen whether these countries will return for future editions of the contest.

The 69th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Basel, Switzerland, following Nemo’s victory in Malmö at Eurovision 2024. The competition is set to take place on May 13-17, 2025, with the Grand Final scheduled for the final night.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

EBU: New mandatory code of conduct for accredited individuals and other changes to the Eurovision Song Contest

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The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is introducing new initiatives and changes aimed at improving the experience of Eurovision Song Contest participants and reinforcing the values of community, respect, and equality. These changes seek to create a more positive and supportive environment and will be implemented for the first time at the 2025 contest in Basel.

Code of Conduct and Duty of Care Protocol

For the first time, adhering to a Code of Conduct will be mandatory for accreditation at the contest, fostering a culture of professionalism and respect. The Code will include compliance with local laws, a ban on political statements, and guidelines for responsible communication and behavior.

Additionally, the Duty of Care Protocol will ensure the safety and well-being of participating artists, encouraging collaboration between the EBU, the Host Broadcaster, and participating broadcasters to prevent unnecessary physical or emotional strain.

Changes to Event Organization and Participant Experience

To better support artists, the EBU has announced the following measures for Eurovision 2025:

  • Camera-free zones in key artist preparation areas.
  • More closed-door rehearsals to allow artists to focus without distractions.
  • Optimized rehearsal schedules to provide artists with more time for rest and to explore the host city.
  • Appointment of a Welfare Officer to act as a key point of contact for supporting artists and staff.

Commitment to Unity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Eurovision Song Contest continues to stand as a symbol of unity and diversity. In 2025, the EBU will introduce the Eurovision Pledge, reaffirming its commitment to community, respect, and equality.

Statements from the Leadership

Martin Green, the new Director of the Contest, emphasized:

“We are united through music – and it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the Contest remains an event that promotes unity, diversity, and inclusion. The changes we are introducing for Basel 2025 aim to offer the best possible experience for participants, staff, and audiences alike.”

Bakel Walden, Chair of the ESC Reference Group, added:

“The new measures to be implemented for Eurovision 2025 represent an important first step in the responsible development of this iconic music event, tailored to modern needs.”

The Catalyst for Change

The behavior of many accredited individuals during Eurovision 2024 appears to have been the tipping point that prompted the EBU to take these decisions. It is time for those attending the contest in a journalistic capacity to recognize that while they may also be fans, they are professionals within the press center and must act accordingly.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Source: EBU

Junior Eurovision 2024: 23 million viewers for the children’s contest!

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The European Broadcasting Union published a report for this year’s Junior Eurovision 2024!

The 22nd Junior Eurovision Song Contest, broadcast live on Saturday, November 16, proved extremely popular with young audiences worldwide, reaching 23 million viewers in 15 measured television markets and many more millions through the event’s official digital channels.

The spectacular 2-hour event, organised by the Spanish public broadcaster, RTVE, in Madrid under the slogan “Let’s Bloom”, achieved a 15.7% audience share among children aged 4 to 14, more than three times the channel’s average (4.9%). It also surpassed last year’s share of 14%.

The Contest also achieved an 8.1% audience share among people aged 15-24, significantly exceeding the average of 5% usually achieved by the same group of broadcasting channels.

Furthermore, 43% of those who watched the event on the official Junior Eurovision YouTube channel were under 24 years old, with the largest number of viewers for the live broadcast being recorded in the host country, Spain, followed by Poland, Armenia, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and Greece.

Significant online growth

The online viewing of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest has also seen significant growth each year.

On Instagram, content featuring talented artists from 17 countries reached 5.6 million accounts, marking a third year of year-on-year growth. TikTok also saw massive growth with 46 million post views, up from 28 million in the same period in 2023. On Facebook, 6 million accounts were reached, up by 4 million compared to the 2023 contest.

The Executive Supervisor of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest Martin Österdahl stated:

“We’re thrilled to see the huge success of the 22nd Junior Eurovision Song Contest, capturing the hearts and imaginations of millions of viewers worldwide with unprecedented engagement and growth among younger audiences.”

“From record-breaking digital interactions to massive TV viewership in participating countries, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest has once again solidified its place as a global celebration of young talent, creativity, and unity. Our thanks go once again to RTVE for hosting such a memorable edition for everyone involved.”

In this year’s Junior Eurovision there was an increase in the number of the participating nations, since 2021, thanks to the return of Cyprus and San Marino, raising the participating countries number to 17, from 16 that there were in the 2022 and 2023 editions.

It was also the first time since JESC 2015 that the contest took place on Saturday.

Rating Success

On television, the host country, Spain, saw its third largest audience for the Contest with 1.1 million viewers on channel La 1. An annual increase of over 200,000 viewers year-on-year.

France and Poland attracted the largest television audiences, with around 1.3 million viewers each. For France, the winner of the previous two Contests, this marks the second highest audience ever recorded.

In Portugal, the audience increased significantly in relative terms, doubling in size to become the fourth largest ever recorded for the event. On average, more than 500,000 viewers watched their participation, with Victoria Nicole, who finished in 2nd place in the contest (being the big favorite to win the trophy).

Junior Eurovision 2024 had an average audience share of 8.4%. 10 out of 15 markets delivered a better audience share than the broadcaster typically achieves.

Armenia achieved the highest audience share of all broadcast markets by a significant margin. At almost 40%, this figure is four times the channel’s typical primetime performance.

In the winning country of Georgia, tens of thousands tuned in to watch Andria Putkaradze’s victory with “To My Mom.” The broadcast nearly doubled the channel’s typical primetime viewership share.

Andria’s victory gave his country a record-breaking 4th victory in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest – all with songs written by Giorgi Kukhianidze.

Finally, as far as the 2025 edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, the official announcement for the host country is expected by the EBU within the new year.

Source: EBU

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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EBU elects new executive board: Hopes rise for Monaco’s return to Eurovision 2025?

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Members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have elected a new Executive Board composed of eleven senior public media executives from across Europe during the 93rd General Assembly in Lausanne.

Nine new members were elected, joining six returning members, including President Delphine Ernotte Cunci (France Télévisions) and Vice-President Cilla Benkö (Swedish Radio). New members include Simona Agnes (Rai), Nathalie Biancolli (TV Monaco), and Roland Weissmann (ORF).

Nathalie Biancolli, Director General of TV Monaco since 2023, sparks optimism for Monaco’s potential return to Eurovision in 2025. The Board will serve from January 2025 to December 2026.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: EBU