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Kosovo: Positive statement by a senior official of the EBU!

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Kosovo‘s hopes for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest seem to be boosted.

The reason for this boost was the statements of the senior official of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Ratka Batcheva, regarding the national broadcaster of Kosovo, RTK, as published by the official Kosovo Eurovision account on X.

Ms Batcheva stated that:

“RTK is part of our family as it participates in our activities, as the current director of RTK, Mr. Hysen Honduzi, is invited to the General Assembly. The participation of Mr. Honduzi, the head of RTK, in the EBU Assembly, which will be held on December 4 and 5 this year in Lausanne, demonstrates that this Kosovar media is de facto a member of our organization. However, to be de jure a full member, there are porcedures and criteria set by the EBU, for example, Kosovo’s memberhsip in one of the two organizations like the ITU and the Council of Europe. We remain hopeful that Kosovo will soon become a member of one of these organizations and will automatically be a member and participate in Eurovision.”

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Eurovision 2025: Novartis is the official sponsor for the competition in Basel!

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A few hours ago the EBU announced its official sponsor for the Eurovision 2025 contest that will take place in Basel next May. The pharmaceutical company Novartis will be the “official partner” of the competition!

Martin Österdahl, head of the organisation of the 2025 contest, said specifically:

‘We are thrilled to announce Novartis as an official partner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025! With their headquarters in next year’s Host City, it’s great to have Novartis, a global leader in healthcare, supporting the Contest in Basel. This partnership marks an exciting collaboration between two iconic brands known for their commitment to innovation and excellence. Together, we stand for a vision of unity, hope, and the belief that through collaboration, we can achieve extraordinary things.’

The choice of Novartis was made in the unifying spirit promoted by Eurovision and is closely linked to the company’s identity, which is based in the city that will host the contest. Novartis actively promotes diversity and a sense of belonging as an employer of people from all countries of the world. Through this commitment, it fosters cultural diversity and creates an environment where all employees feel accepted and respected.

Rob Kowalski, Chief People & Organization Officer at Novartis, said:

‘Novartis is honoured to be an official partner of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel – our home city. Both our organisations were born in Switzerland and believe deeply in the power of collaboration and bringing people together.’

 

Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler, executive producers of SRG, said of the partnership:

‘We are delighted to welcome Novartis on board and are excited about their commitment and engagement. Their support will play a key role in helping us reach our goals and make a meaningful impact.’

The city of Basel will host the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in May 2025 after Nemo’s victory with The Code.

Source: Eurovision.Tv

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Turkey: The country almost made a return in Eurovision 2017!

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Turkey remains absent from the Eurovision Song Contest since 2013. However and according to “The Euro Trip” podcast, Turkey was very close to making a return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017.

According to Paul Jordan, who served as the Director of Digital Communications at Scrn from 2015 to 2018, a company previously outsourced to run some Eurovision brand services, there were continuous talks between the EBU and the Turkish broadcaster TRT.

Specifically, Paul Jordan noted that:

In 2017 they [the EBU] were very close to having Turkey come back. They were in talks with the Turkish broadcaster, and it fell apart. There was an eagerness for a time for them to return. Maybe the door isn’t shut.

They got so close that Jon Ola Sand was engaging in talks with the broadcaster, so it could have very nearly happened. Then time went on… I don’t know if they changed their mind, or they ran out of time, or if there was an embargo from the government.

There was definitely a desire from the broadcaster and from the EBU to make this happen, and it nearly did happen. It would have been a great surprise, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.

Turkey in Eurovision

Turkey has not participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for 12 years, with its last appearance in 2012 during the event held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Since 2013, Turkey has refrained from entering the contest, initially voicing objections to certain regulations, including the status of the Big-Five countries and the introduction of juries that account for 50% of the final results. Additionally, Turkey expressed concerns about the representation of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly referencing the comments made by the then-director of TRT regarding the drag artist Conchita Wurst, who won the contest for Austria in 2014.

Moreover, TRT was unhappy with the country’s results under the 50/50 voting system. When this voting format was fully implemented for all three shows in 2010, Turkey placed second overall. The public ranked the entry “We Could Be The Same” second, while the juries placed it eighth.

Turkey failed to qualify for the Grand Final for the first time in 2011. However, in 2012, Can Bonomo’s song “Love Me Back” experienced a significant disparity, ranking 22nd with the juries while achieving fourth place with the televoting.

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Source: The Euro Trip

Liechtenstein: Not much hope for a debut in the contest!

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Voters in Liechtenstein voted in favour of privatising Radio Liechtenstein, ending hopes of a possible debut in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The initiative by the Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL) to repeal the law governing the country’s public broadcaster was approved with 55.4% of the vote and a turnout of 59.3%. The law will take effect on December 31, 2025, making Liechtenstein the only country in Europe without a national broadcaster.

Radio Liechtenstein has received about 70% of public media funding annually, totaling around 4 million CHF. The Liechtenstein government urged voters to reject the initiative, expressing concerns that it could lead to the end of radio broadcasts in the country. Questions have also been raised about how a private broadcaster can operate with an audience of only 40,000 residents.

The privatization means that Radio Liechtenstein will no longer meet the membership criteria of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). In June 2024, the broadcaster began exploring the possibility of joining the EBU, in the hopes of Liechtenstein debuting in the competition.

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

Source: Εurovoix

Netherlands: No decision regarding Eurovision participation taken yet!

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Despite the hopeful news that were published yesterday in many different media, the Dutch public broadcaster, stated through the channel’s Director, that they have yet to make a decision regarding their participation in Eurovision 2025.

Taco Zimmerman, chairman of AVROTROS, gave an interview to “Spreek Buis”, and he said that there is no decision regarding the Dutch participation in Eurovision 2025.

“You will hear about that soon, but we would not have asked for a postponement if it was not a serious consideration.”

There are many rumours in recent days in Dutch press, saying that AVROTROS intends to take part in the Contest in Basel, and that they have already selected Joost Klein as their representative.

Going on with his interview, the chairman was asked why isn’t the Dutch broadcaster more open, regarding they way they will make this decision:

“It is a delicate matter. We are in talks with the EBU about the fact that things have to change there. We want guarantees first, before we decide to participate again. Leaving the contest was the feeling present within the company at one point. It applied to the upcoming edition, but we never considered quitting for good.”

The EBU has given AVROTROS a further deadline to confirm their entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, until November 1.

The deadline of the Netherlands is in a few days, and that means that we will soon have news regarding the country’s participation!

https://youtu.be/IiHFnmI8pxg

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

Source: spreekbuis.nl

EBU: Code of Conduct for Participants with Mandatory Political Neutrality

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During the Eurovision Song Contest, set to take place in Basel, artists are expected to have a specially designated space where they can retreat and relax without being filmed or recorded, as stated by the head of the competition, Bakel Walden, to the newspaper Sonntagsblick. Additionally, the EBU is expected to implement a code of conduct for participants, requiring political neutrality while they are on stage.

These actions are part of a broader effort to protect the well-being of participants and maintain calm among the delegations during the competition.

Walden emphasized that the organization has a duty to ensure the mental and physical health of the artists, something that will be taken seriously in the future.

Referring to the 2024 contest in Malmö, Walden noted that although the event was successful, certain issues must not be repeated, particularly regarding communication before, during, and after the competition. He also stressed the need to keep Eurovision as neutral as possible from political matters, stating that Eurovision cannot solve global conflicts and wars.

In Malmö, the contest was overshadowed by protests and calls for a boycott against Israel, due to the war in Gaza following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. Israeli artist Eden Golan mostly stayed in her hotel room for safety reasons and faced exclusion by other artists.

Finally, Walden addressed the importance of adhering to a code of conduct for participants, stressing mutual understanding and respect among the contestants. While he asked participants to maintain a neutral stance on stage, outside of performances, they are free to express their views.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: zeit.news

Eurovision 2025: Martin Green appointed in a new Director role!

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The Eurovision Song Contest sees its biggest growth in its almost seventy-years history. The brand now attracts hundreds of millions of viewers around the globe making it a global phenomenon. As  the growth and the complexity extends, the EBU has appointed broadcasts events leader Martin Green in a new role as Director overseeing the world’s biggest entertainment show.

Having a rich background as an executive producer of major television events and according to Jean Philip De Tender, the EBU’s Director of Media and Deputy Director-General, Martin’s choice is justified as following:

Martin’s experience, strategic thinking and creative energy will be invaluable to the song contest as we get set for the 2025 event and evolve into the future.

The creation of this senior role and Martin’s appointment reflect how we’re building on the history and the strengths of a unique platform that celebrates the power of music to bring people together.

Who is Martin Green?

Green’s track record as an executive producer of major events includes the ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Hull UK City of Culture 2017, the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 and the BAFTA-winning Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Liverpool in 2023 on behalf of Ukraine.

Green, who was made CBE in the 2017 UK Queen’s New Year Honours List, is currently Vice President of global live events at the entertainment company TAIT. He will start as Director of the ESC in November.

Regarding his new role, Martin Green mentions:

The Eurovision Song Contest captures the imaginations of people across generations, countries and cultures. It remains a beacon of joy, artistry and diversity – and a testament to the inclusive power of public service broadcasting.

Being asked to lead the event is a dream come true and I look forward to working with everyone involved to take the project and the brand into an exciting future.

Eurovision 2025

So far, thirty three countries have publicly confirmed their participation in Eurovision 2025:

  • Albania – RTSH
  • Austria – ORF
  • Azerbaijan – İctimai
  • Belgium – RTBF
  • Croatia – HRT
  • Cyprus – CyBC
  • Czechia – ČT
  • Denmark – DR
  • Estonia – ERR
  • Finland – YLE
  • France – FT
  • Georgia – GPB
  • Germany – NDR
  • Greece – ERT
  • Iceland – RÚV
  • Ireland – RTÉ
  • Israel – IPBC
  • Italy – RAI
  • Latvia – LTV
  • Lithuania – LRT
  • Luxembourg – RTL
  • Malta – PBS
  • Montenegro – RTCG
  • Norway – NRK
  • Portugal – RTP
  • San Marino – San Marino RTV
  • Serbia – RTS
  • Slovenia – RTVSLO
  • Spain – RTVE
  • Sweden – SVT
  • Switzerland – SRG SSR
  • Ukraine – Suspilne
  • United Kingdom – BBC

The participating countries’ list for Eurovision 2025 is expected to be revealed until the end of 2024.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: EBU

EBU Director General Praises ERT During Official Visit to Athens

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The Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Government Spokesperson, Pavlos Marinakis, met with the Director General of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Noel Curran. Mr. Curran was accompanied by ERT’s CEO, Katerina Kaskanioti, and the company’s President, Yiannis Papadopoulos. During his first official visit to Athens, the EBU’s Director General spoke highly of the Greek public broadcaster.

Deputy Minister Pavlos Marinakis highlighted the significant upgrades that Greek Public Television has undergone over the past five years, as well as its innovations, such as the launch of ErtFlix and its investment in continuous and objective news coverage through ERTNews.

The Director General of the EBU congratulated ERT for its programming, stating that it ranks among the top in Europe in terms of viewership among younger audiences and within the top ten among older viewers. He also expressed the EBU’s satisfaction with Greece’s improvement in the areas of the rule of law and media transparency, referring to the recent European Commission Rule of Law report, which noted progress from the Greek side.

The Deputy Minister, the EBU’s Director General, and ERT’s President and CEO committed to further collaboration between the organizations, with the aim of improving the services provided by Public Broadcasting and modernizing production through Artificial Intelligence.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Dutch public broadcaster granted extension by EBU to decide on Eurovision 2025 Participation

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The Dutch public broadcaster, AVROTROS, has been granted an extension by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to decide whether it will participate in the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place next May in Basel, Switzerland.

This announcement followed the first meeting between the EBU and AVROTROS, which was requested by the Dutch side to discuss what happened behind the scenes at the contest in Malmö. Among other issues, these events led to the exclusion of the Dutch representative from the final for non-competition-related reasons.

As a result, the Netherlands will not have until September 15th, like other countries, to confirm its participation in the EBU, but will have until November 1st. This timeframe is considered reasonable to allow the dialogue between the EBU and AVROTROS to be completed and any misunderstandings to be resolved.

Cornald Maas, the commentator for AVROTROS at the contest, expressed his support for Dutch participation, stating that he believes the most appropriate response to this year’s events would be a strong entry in Switzerland rather than an absence.

“I believe the best response is to participate and have a good entry. It’s a better answer than staying home, complaining, preaching, and amplifying your own annoyance for another year,” Maas said.

Meanwhile, 29 countries have already confirmed their participation in Eurovision 2025 in one way or another, and the remaining question marks can now be counted on the fingers of two hands.

How many countries will ultimately participate in Eurovision 2025?

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

EBU: Heads of delegation meet in Croatia to discuss Eurovision 2025!

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The Heads of Delegation are meeting in Dubrovnik, Croatia to discuss about the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

During this week, Heads of Delegation will start shaping next year’s Eurovision to be held in Switzerland.  As the deadline for countries to announce if they are participating in Basel approaches, the HoD reviews the procedures and EBU governance.

The attending broadcasters will find out more about the EBU’s plans for the competition during this week’s meeting.  Last summer a report was released for the delegations on the incidents that took place during the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.  Therefore, the recommendations of this report could be one of the topics of interest for the HoD.

We are looking forward to see what innovations and suggestions this first meeting will bring to the competition.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will be held in Basel, Switzerland on May 13, 15 and 17.

Source: Eurovoix.

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