Posts

Greece: ERT is not returning to Junior Eurovision!

/0 Comments/in , /by

Greece is not set to return to Junior Eurovision 2024 either, continuing its long absence from the children’s song contest.

ERT’s last participation in the Junior Eurovision was in the distant 2008. Since then, for various reasons, the main one being the lack of interest, the Greek public television has not returned to the competition.

Junior Eurovision 2024 is set to take place on November 16 in Madrid. 14 countries have already confirmed their participation with more expected to be announced in the near future.

As we have already informed you with our previous exclusive article, at least one more country comeback is going to happen at Junior Eurovision 2024.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Greece: Government proposal to ERT for a national final in Eurovision 2025

/0 Comments/in , /by

According to one of the oldest and most valid journalistic columns in Greece, BIMAtodotis in the Vima newspaper, the goverment, disturbed by what happened again this year at the Eurovision contest, have suggested to ERT that the selection of the next Greek representative be made through public voting, i.e. national final.

The issue with Marina Satti’s behavior at Eurovision with her fake yawns while the Israeli singer was speaking, seems not to have ended.

As BIMAtodotis writes, the matter now moves to another level and becomes political. It is impressive that the opposition parties were not involved, but only the goverment.

So the Prime Minister’s office (as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is deeply disturbed by Marina Satti who wanted to make her own foreign policy, with the government representative Pavlos Marinakis returning to the issue and stating directly among other things: “what I want to say as a personal comment, when someone – and this has nothing to do with political positions – represents a country, even in a music competition, travels at the expense of the Greek taxpayer, she must watch her behavior. Her public image and her behavior in general.”

According to sources, the goverment does not let the matter be forgotten. In addition to transferring their discomfort to the management of ERT, they intends to suggest that the institution of approving the song should now be done by public voting and not by… direct assignment which ERT does now (that is, it does whatever it wants).

BIMAtodotis

As we also mentioned here through Eurovisionfun in 2025, ERT has the ideal opportunity to organize a national final. With the popularity of Eurovision soaring, the commercial success of the contest in recent years, and the launch of Marina Satti’s career with her participation in Malmö, the Greek representation in Switzerland is expected to be contested by many important artists.

Everything will of course depend on the new management of ERT, since both the position of the ceo and that of the president will be announced through.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Vima

ERT and RIK do not support the anonymous statement about Eurovision 2024!

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

For the past hours, an anonymous statement has been circulating the internet according which delegation members and participants of Eurovision 2024 submitted their complaints about Israel’s participation in this year’s contest. According to our exclusive information, neither ERT nor RIK have signed the following statement.

The following statement as published by ESC Gabe on their X account does not name the delegation members and artists alleged to have signed it, as they want to remain anonymous at the moment:

In recent days, we have seen a number of inaccurate reports about what happened backstage during the Eurovision 2024 contest, the alleged behaviour of artists towards the Israeli delegation, and the events surrounding EBU’s decision to move the Israeli delegation to a location backstage. 

We are concerned about the inaccuracies being reported. During the Eurovision 2024 contest, several artists and national delegations submitted complaints to the EBU for inappropriate behaviour and breach of rules from members of the Israeli delegation.

We are engaging with the EBU and expect these complaints to be duly considered, as per the commitment of EBU’s officials. While there is an ongoing process, it would be inappropriate for us to publicly comment on specific facts, but we will do so, in due course. 

Artists and members of national delegations who participated in the Eurovision 2024 contest

We are now waiting to see whether the statement that is currently circulating the internet will be disputed by other delegations this time, as it has happened before, or delegations and artists will confirm that they have signed the aforementioned statement.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Greece: ERT denies reports regarding Greece’s intentions to withdraw just before the Grand Final of Eurovision 2024!

/7 Comments/in , , /by

As we informed you earlier and according to a publication by the Norwegian newspaper VK, which was also republished by the Swedish Aftonbladet, six countries – among them Greece – threatened to withdraw from the Grand Final of Eurovision. This scenario was avoided just 25 minutes before the start of the show, as an agreement was made.

Six delegations threatened to withdraw from Eurovision 2024

According to VK, the delegations from Norway, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Portugal and Greece were negotiating with EBU threatening to withdraw from the competition. The reason behind their potential withdrawal was Israel’s participation along with Joost Klein’s disqualification. Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision 2024 participants’ list, the security measures and the behavior of members from the Israeli delegation were the main causes of the frictions that arose during the week in Malmö.

Specifically, Magnus Børmark, a member of the Norwegian band Gåte, stated that:

We were considering withdrawing until the last moment. Many of us reacted to the fact that Israel had the opportunity to use Eurovision as its own political tool. Our common point was that we did not want to participate in Eurovision to be used and stigmatized in a war propaganda machine in Israel. We participated to create a space where we can unite in music – in a political situation where everyone chooses sides and hates each other.

Ultimately, the six delegations were persuaded to compete as usual, according to VK’s article, just twenty five minutes before the Grand Final began.

ERT never considered withdrawing

According EurovisionFun’s information gathered during our stay in Malmö and today, following the publication of VK’s controversial article, ERT categorically denies the article in question.

We never discussed or considered withdrawing from the competition for any reason. The publication is inadequate at least when it comes to Greece.

Additionally, they made it clear to us that ERT receives significant financial support each year from Greek citizens for both Greece’s exclusive television rights and participation in the Eurovision Contest. As a result, they would be unable to manage our nation’s participation in the contest with the same carelessness and frivolity, just moments before the show.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Greece: Watch footage from Marina Satti’s Second Rehearsal!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Today, Marina Satti, the Greek representative in Eurovision 2024, stepped on the stage of Malmö Arena for her second technical rehearsal.

Eurovision 2024: Greece’s Second Rehearsal!

Following the conclusion of Marina Satti’s rehearsal, ERT, the Greek participating broadcaster, shared a video on its social media, displaying Luna’s rehearsal as it will be seen on TV.

 

Δείτε αυτή τη δημοσίευση στο Instagram.

 

Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Eurovision ERT (@eurovisionert)

As the technical rehearsals are over for the Greek delegation, Marina Satti will take the Malmö Arena stage again on Wednesday for her dress rehearsals upon the Second Semi-Final on May 9.

Source: ERT

Follow us on all social media, so you do not miss a moment of what is happening in Malmö:

On Facebook

On Twitter

On Instagram

On TikTok

On YouTube

On Spotify

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Greek participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!

Greece: Helena Paparizou revealed as the spokesperson for Eurovision 2024!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

It is now official. Following rumors claiming that Helena Paparizou will be the one handing out the votes of the Greek jury in Eurovision 2024, ERT has now officially confirmed it via a press release.

In a year that marks the 50th anniversary of Greece’s first participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, the internationally renowned performer—the only one who achieved a first place finish for Greece at Eurovision in 2005, in Kiev, Ukraine, with the song “My number one”—will announce the 12 points of the Greek Jury on the night of the Final, Saturday, May 11, 2024.

It will not be Helena’s first time as a spokesperson, having previously taken over in 2015, on the tenth anniversary of her win in Kiev.

Marina Satti will represent Greece in Eurovision 2024 with her entry “Zari” and will perform third in the second semi-final on May 9.

Source: ERT

Follow us on all social media, so you do not miss a moment of what will be happening in Malmö:

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news! 

EBU for what is revealed in the Cypriot Ambassador’s document: “We condemn any attempt to manipulate the vote”!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The EBU gave an answer to the issue that arose in the previous days with the official document of the Cypriot Ambassador about his meeting with the President of ERT, during which, according to the former, Mr. Zoulas announced the low score of Cyprus in the upcoming song contest Eurovision. According to what was published by the newspaper Ta Nea, which is published today, Monday 22/4, the EBU reacted to all these developments, publicly condemning any attempt to manipulate the scores of either the critical committees or the televoting.

The voting voting rules for the Eurovision Song Contest, which are known to all participating broadcasters, describe that the juries must vote independently and in a completely fair and objective manner. We condemn any attempt to manipulate either the public or the jury vote in the Eurovision Song Contest. All voting procedures are checked by an independent observer to ensure that we provide a fair and valid result throughout the competition.

EBU

The issue is again hosted on the front page of the newspaper:

The EBU document was also made public through Alpha’s show, Super Katerina.

In today’s article in Ta Nea, it is stated that there is particular concern in the EBU for the question marks that have been created, as well as that the answer given by the President of ERT did not particularly reassure the European decision-makers. We will, of course, monitor the matter and inform you of any new developments.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Cyprus: Embassy’s Response to the Article by “Nea” Newspaper

/0 Comments/in , /by

Giannis Poulopoulos of the show “Super Katerina” reached out with a relevant question to the spokesperson of the Cypriot embassy in Athens, inquiring about the veracity of the discussion between the Cypriot Ambassador and the President of ERT, as reported by “Nea” newspaper.

The Cypriot Embassy neither denied nor confirmed the article, offering a brief yet meaningful comment:

“No comment.”

As discussed on the show, the fact that the Embassy neither refutes nor confirms anything speaks volumes. Additionally, attention was drawn to the fact that ERT‘s response came through a personal statement from its President rather than from the company itself, which also carries significant symbolism.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments!

Silia Kapsis: “I Don’t Know What Happened Between ERT and CyBC (RIK), I’m Here for the Music”

/0 Comments/in , /by

Upon her return from Amsterdam, television channels awaited Silia Kapsis at the airport to gauge her reaction to the recent revelations surrounding Konstantinos Zoulas’s statements to the Cypriot ambassador, as reported by the media.

Silia Kapsis admitted she was not well-versed on the matter, revealing that both her mother and the people at RIK had shielded her from reading articles regarding the issue.

“I don’t know what happened between ERT and RIK. I’m here to sing and dance. I’m here for the music,” she stated.

Pressed by journalists, Silia Kapsis acknowledged that if such allegations were true, it saddened her as she wished for Greece and Cyprus to remain united.

“I’m half Greek and half Cypriot. I’m from Thessaloniki and Larnaca. All of this saddens me. Greece and Cyprus should be united. I will sing for both countries,” she declared.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments!

Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK): “It is a violation of the regulations what the media reports” | “It is known to the EBU!”

/0 Comments/in , , /by

In a recent segment on RIK1, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK) addressed the allegations raised by the media and clarified its stance on the matter. Andreas Anastasiou, the head of press for the Cypriot delegation, asserted that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is now aware of the situation and emphasized that any such claims constitute a violation of the competition’s regulations.

Anastasiou elaborated on the voting process of the jury committee and addressed concerns regarding statements attributed to the President of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT). He stressed that if the reports are accurate, they represent a breach of the rules governing the Eurovision Song Contest.

Highlighting the longstanding relationship between ERT and CyBC, Anastasiou underscored that these allegations may necessitate changes in their dynamic. He reiterated that the EBU has been informed of the situation.

The relations between ERT and CyBC are long-standing and not personalised. If the reports are true, you can understand that some things will change. They are known to the EBU.

Concluding his remarks, Anastasiou extended well wishes to Marina Satti and Greece, making it clear that he was speaking on behalf of CyBC (RIK).

With the matter now brought to the attention of the EBU and considering Anastasiou’s statements, it appears that RIK awaits further developments from the organizing authority. This incident underscores the need for resolution between ERT and RIK, a matter that the EBU will likely need to address once again.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates on this developing situation!