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Cyprus: Problems with the 2024 Eurovision selection “Fame Story”?

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CyBC, the Cypriot Public Broadcaster confirmed a few months ago that the country will take part in Eurovision 2024 and the artist will be chosen through the talent show “Fame Story“, which will be produced and broadcasted from Greece, in collaboration with Greek private broadcaster Star Channel.

However, according to an article on Politis.com, there are problems regarding the selection of the representative through the show and the broadcasting rights of the contest, which in Greece are owned exclusively by ERT, the Greek Public Broadcaster.

The problem seems to revolve around the intention of RIK (CyBC) to choose the next Cypriot Eurovision representative through Fame Story, a talent show that will be broadcasted on STAR in Greece and RIK in Cyprus. This has become a point of contention for ERT because, according to the EBU’s regulations, the exclusive rights for Eurovision in each country belong to the public broadcaster of that country.

Therefore, if ERT does not grant written permission for Fame Story (as long as it awards the prize of representing Cyprus in Eurovision 2024), there is a real risk, as mentioned in the Politis article, of Cyprus’ participation in the upcoming competition being in jeopardy.

The Cypriot Public Broadcaster is reportedly considering not using Fame Story as the national selection and choosing its representative through a different process to avoid problems in its relationship with the EBU and risking its participation in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest.

The trailer of Fame Story is still being broadcasted on Star Channel up until the moment this article is written.

Eurovisionfun will follow closely all the developments on the issue, stay tuned!

Source: Politis.com.cy

Eurovision 2024: The renewed Reference Group of the contest!

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EBU has announced the new Reference Group for the Eurovision Song Contest. There are several changes with departures as well as new appointments.

The tasks of the Reference Group are to approve the development and future format of the contest, to secure its funding, to modernize the contest’s brand and attract the public, to oversee the annual preperation ofthe country where the competition will take place.

All of the above takes place at meeting of the Reference Group, where on behalf of all Participating National Broadcasting Services they are called upon to take decisions for the general interest of the competition. Meetings do not exceed five per year.

As we reported in a previous article, Bakel Walden is the new Chairman of the Reference Group on the contest, where he stated that he is excited to participate in this iconic event.

The remaining members are divided into following categories:

  • Three elected members from among the Heads of Delegations of the countries
  • Two Executive Producers from countries that have hosted the contest in the past, as well as the Executive Producer of the current Host Broadcaster
  • Up to two invited members based on competence and experience
  • The EBU Executive Supervisor for the contest

Therefore, the new Reference Group consists of:

  • Bakel Walden (SSR SRG, Chair)
  • Ebba Adielsson (SVT)
  • Rachel Ashdown (BBC)
  • Felix Bergsson (RÚV)
  • Ana Maria Bordas (RTVE)
  • Carla Bugalho (RTP)
  • Claudio Fasulo (RAI)
  • Simona Martorelli (RAI)
  • Alexandra Wolfslast (NDR)
  • Martin Österdahl (EBU)

Ebba Adielsson and Ana Maria Bordas are new appointmets, while the following have left the Reference Group:

  • Sietse Bakker (NPO)
  • Yuval Cohen (KAN)
  • Astrid Dutrenit (NPO)
  • David Tserunyan (AMPTV)

Sweden has won the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, marking its seventh victory in the contest with 583 points. Below you can watch the performance after Loreen’s victory was announced:

https://youtu.be/Vul5zgC5Yvg

Source: EBU

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Eurovision 2024: SVT has announced the main team for the contest!

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Following the deadline for cities to submit proposals for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, which will be held in Sweden, the team behind the organisation of next year’s contest has been revealed.

Sweden’s public broadcaster, SVT, has announced the executive team that will be responsible for organising the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. Following Loreen’s historic win in Liverpool, the contest will be held in one of the four cities, as they have put in a bid to host the contest. The cities bidding to host the contest are Stockholm, Malmö, Gothenburg and Örsnköldsvik. During the summer we will know which city will host the contest.

SVT’s newly appointed executive producer Ebba Adielsson said:

“I am very proud and excited for this extraordinary mission and I can finally present the first key roles and the leadership of the main team that will be leading the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. It is impossible to find a more experienced trio in this context and it is extremely reassuring to have them together on these giant and very complex productions.”

Ebba will temporarily step down from her role as SVT’s head of entertainment to focus on the contest duties with overall responsibility for Eurovision 2024. The people who will be part of the main team are as follows:

Christel Tholse Willers is the Executive Producer responsible for communications, press, branding and the event in collaboration with the host city. Christel had a similar role when Malmö hosted the Competition in 2013 and has a solid background in Melodifestivalen, where she is the Executive Producer.

Tobias Åberg is responsible for the overall technical production as Executive Production Controller and was also part of the core team in 2013 and 2016. Since then, he has served as Head of Production or Technical Expert on Eurovision Song Contest productions for the last eight years.

Johan Bernhagen, together with Martin Österdahl, was Executive Producer for the competition in 2016 and Head of Production in 2013. This time, he will be Executive Producer and responsible for finances and overall technical production together with Tobias Åberg.

A short while ago, the EBU announced the new chairman of the Reference Group on the contest. Bakel Walden, who is currently working as Director of Development and Bidding at the Swiss state channel SGR. Bakel’s CV is quite enriched, as he has also worked as Head of Planning and Programme Development at the Greek channel Alpha TV between 2009 and 2012.

Speaking on his appointment, Bakel said:

“I am honoured to have been selected as the new President of the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group. The Eurovision Song Contest is an iconic event that has been bringing people together for nearly seven decades, and I am thrilled to join the team at a time when the contest has never been more popular and exciting. I look forward to working with the members and relevant reference group stakeholders to promote this unique event on digital media, while ensuring that the competition continues to be a celebration of music and diversity that unites the world.”

Sweden has won the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, marking its seventh victory in the contest with 583 points. Below you can watch the performance after Loreen’s victory was announced:

https://youtu.be/Vul5zgC5Yvg

Source: eurovision.tv  και EBU

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EBU to discuss changes in the voting system in January 2024!

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The European Broadcasting Union will discuss the current voting rules regarding the juries next January 2024.

The information comes from Norwegian TV2.  According to their information, the EBU will re-assess the rules concerning the voting, in particular the role of the jurors in the final results.  This information has been confirmed by NRK Project Manager for Melodi Grand Prix, Thea Flinder.

This may be a good time for the EBU to make a proper assessment of the jury system (…).  It will be the EBU the “Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group” that must be responsible for the decision on what happens to the jury system.

According to this information, the discussion will take place in January 2024.  If there is an agreement about the need to change the current voting system, the Reference Group will have to decide whether the jury system remains in the current form, changes its voting power or if its  scrapped altogether.

After the introduction of a “Rest of the World” televote, the jury vote represents a little bit less than 49,4% of the final result.

However, this proportion of the vote is significant enough to impact the results.  The current rules were put in the spotlight once again this year.  The Eurovision 2023 winner of the televote was Finland by a landslide.  However, Käärijä ended in second place after the jury ranked him in fourth place.

Source: TV2

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EBU: Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling Steps Down as Chairperson of Eurovision Reference Group

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Dr. Frank-Dieter Frieling will no longer be the Chairperson of the Reference Group for the Eurovision Song Contest.  Dr. Frieling has been the chair of the reference group since 2009.

As the chair person he has been in  the middle of some of the most significant changes in the contest including the invitation to participate for Australia and the changes in the voting system and announcement of the results that took place in 2016.

The announcement was confirmed by the European Broadcaster Union through their social media:

Eurovision Reference Group

The Reference Group for the Eurovision Song Contest is the executive Committee for all Members, its purpose being to control and guide the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).  Dr. Frank-Dieter Frieling was the Chairperson of the Reference Group from 2009 until 2023.  As the Chairperson, Dr. Frieling had a neutral role since he was the Director of International Affairs at German broadcaster ZDF which does not compete in the Eurovision Song Contest.

According to the EBU these are some of the most important functions of the reference group

  • Approving the development and future format of the ESC
  • Modernizing the brand and raising awareness of the ESC
  • Overseeing the yearly preparation by the Host Broadcaster

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Faroe Islands: plans to join EBU in the future

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As we mentioned you in a previous article,  national broadcaster for the  Faroe Islands, KVF, broadcasted the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

Last night Reiley from the Faroe Islands represented Denmark at Eurovision 2023. Therefore, the Faroe Islands believe they are one step closer to being able to participate in the contest and become a member of the EBU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVZvzZF1JOk

Minister of Social Affairs and Culture Sirið Stenberg, said that Reiley ‘s participation had a positive impact and opened doors helping the Faroe Islands to participate in Eurovision at some point. This is something that Reiley himself hopes for.

The national broadcaster of the Faroe Islands has expressed an interest in participating at the Eurovision Song Contest.  However since the Faroe Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, their full participation in the EBU has not yet been approved.

 

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Eurovision 2023: EBU refused Zelensky’s request to address the audience at Eurovision 2023!

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The 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is hosted in Liverpool after last year’s winner, Ukraine, inability to host because of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. This year’s Eurovision balances both British and Ukrainian elements. The postcards travel from Ukraine to the United Kingdom while many Ukrainian artists have the chance to take on the stage of the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

EBU has published a statement, in which is mentioned that it refused the request made from Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, to address the audience at Eurovision 2023.

More specifically, it is mentioned that:

The Eurovision Song Contest is an international entertainment show, and governed by strict rules and principles which have been established since its creation. As part of these, one of the cornerstones of the Contest is the non-political nature of the event.  

This principle prohibits the possibility of making political or similar statements as part of the Contest.  

The request by Mr Zelensky to address the audience at the Eurovision Song Contest, whilst made with laudable intentions, regrettably cannot be granted by the European Broadcasting Union management as it would be against the rules of the event.  

The best way to reflect and celebrate Ukraine’s win, as it is mentioned by EBU, is through displaying the Ukrainian culture, something that is precisely done by the British production team. Also, this year’s slogan is “United by Music” and indeed music has the power to unite us during hard times.

https://youtu.be/F1fl60ypdLs

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USA: Partners looking at options for the American Song Contest!

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The EBU provided an update on the status of the American Song Contest following its cancellation by NBC earlier this year.

The American Song Contest was cancelled after its first season on NBC due to disappointing ratings and lack of impact on the music charts. Martin Österdahl the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest commented at a press conference in Liverpool earlier today:

“Partners in America are looking at other options“

The Eurovision franchise in the US is operated by Voxovation, which holds the exclusive rights to the Eurovision brand beyond the European region.

The winner of the 2022 Contest was AleXa, from Oklahoma, with the song “Wonderland“.

Source: Eurovoix

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Kosovo: RTK pushing for full EBU membership!

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The Chairman of RTK confirmed that the national broadcaster of Kosovo continues pushing for full membership in the European Broadcasting Union.

Speaking to the Board of RTK regarding the first month of 2023, Besnik Boletini, the Chairman of the national broadcaster confirmed that organisation continues lobbying for full EBU membership, through attending EBU events and hoping for full membership and invitation for participation the Eurovision Song Contest.

In order to be eligible to participate in the Song Contest, Kosovo must become member of the International Television Union and of course a member of the United Nations. Earlier this year the broadcaster launched Festivalit të Këngës which would be used as the nation’s Eurovision selection should it be able to compete.

In the past Kosovo has been allowed to participate in other Eurovision related events. In 2011 it took part in the Eurovision Young Dancers represented by Tringa Hsya. In this year’s Eurovision Song Contest the partially recognised nation of the Balkans is somehow present as the Albanian representatives hail from Kosovo.

Source: Eurovoix

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Canada: Eurovision Canada Has Taken a Step Back!

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It seems like the launch of Eurovision Canada in 2023 is unlikely after what was said at the EBU press conference today in Liverpool.

Martin Österdahl talked about Eurovision Canada at a press conference for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. He said that ever since the contest was announced in 2022:

“We thought it would happen and it kind of took a step back, we are still hoping. The original avenue that was pursued closed, but we are hopeful”

The Eurovision franchise in Canada is operated by Voxovation, which holds the exclusive rights to the Eurovision brand beyond the European region. The announcement of the competition was made for the very first time in April of 2022.

The competition was designed to feature artists from every Canadian province and territory, who would vie for victory through a series of Qualifying rounds, Semi-Finals, and a Grand Final.

Source: Eurovoix

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