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Greece: ERT has confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2024 | EXCLUSIVE

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Since today, September 15, is the final day for countries to confirm their participation in Eurovision 2024, all supporters of the contest in Greece have been wondering if their nation has done so. Eurovisionfun can announce that Greece will participate in Malmö, marking 50 years of participation in the music competition!

Greece is the 32nd country to confirm for Eurovision 2024

Therefore, in accordance with information we obtained exclusively from ERT, the national broadcaster recently sent the necessary documentation to the EBU to confirm Greece’s participation in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. There is currently no certainty about the selection procudure, but further information is anticipated to be disclosed in the near future.

Greece is the 32nd country to confirm its participation in Eurovision 2024. Therefore, the following nations have thus far indicated in some form that they will compete in Malmö on May 7, 9, and 11:

  • Greece
  • Albania
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Belgium
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Moldova
  • The Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Serbia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Which countries are yet to confirm?

The Eurovision 2024 entry puzzle still has a few gaps to be filled in. The biggest question mark among the nations that competed in Liverpool but have not yet publicly announced their participation for next year is Romania, which is very likely to withdraw due to the serious financial difficulties the nation’s public broadcaster is currently experiencing.

While Bulgaria, Montenegro, and North Macedonia are anticipated to make a comeback to the competition after their absence this year, Czechia, Armenia, Poland, and Georgia are expected to take part in 2024.

A special case is that of Monaco, as it recently established a new television station and is a member of the EBU, has the ability to participate, and has not yet made clear its plans.

The ultimate number is expected to be relatively similar to this year’s total of 37 participants.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun to stay up to date on all the latest news about the world’s largest music competition!

 

EXCLUSIVE: Teleconference between ERT, RIK and EBU for the conflict solution!

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The updates are rapid on the issue regarding the conflict between ERT and RIK because of the hosting of the Fame Story reality show by the latter, in collaboration with PANIK Records, STAR Channel and Barking Well Media. The gap remains open and for this reason, according to our exclusive information, a teleconference is about to be held by the EBU the coming days, in order the situation to be discussed by the two sides and a solution to be found.

The story

The conflict between the two public broadcasters emerged after RIK decided to collaborate with Barking Well Media company of Nikos Koklonis, the Star Channel (private broadcaster) and the PANIK RECORDS for the organisation of the reality show named Fame Story, which will be broadcast simultaneously in Greece by Star Channel and in Cyprus by RIK.

The relevant trailer of the aforementioned show, in which despite that Eurovision is not mentioned as the award but Europe’s biggest music contest, was the last straw for ERT, which considers that their exclusive rights on the competition in Greece are violated.

The EBU after the request of the current ERT’s administration by Mr Constantinos Zoulias proceed with an update of the regulations regarding the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest which were sent to all members.

Fame Story’s complicity?

The new regulations enacted by the EBU, after ERT’s intervention, impede the realization of the talent show, at least as far as the representation of Cyprus at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest as the award, just as it is implied by the relevant trailer still broadcast by the Star Channel.

EBU’s intervention

After the publication of the relevant trailer, the EBU, in a letter, asked RIK to clarify the details regarding Fame Story and whether the realization of this show in Greece, by a private television station, violates the above mentioned regulations of the upcoming music competition .

Of course, this intervention was not accidental at all, just like the revision of the competition regulations, but it came after the protests of ERT, whose exclusivity in the television and commercial exploitation of Eurovision in Greece is being violated, an exclusivity for which it spends approximately 360,000 Euro per year.

RIK “announces” national selection in Nicosia

As you first read from Eurovision Fun (here), RIK sent a reply letter to the EBU in which it claims that Fame Story is not a national final, but a talent show, which it will integrate into its entertainment program.

It is also reported that for Eurovision 2024 RIK will choose its representative through internal selection, as it has been doing in recent years. The artist selection will be done through new talent that will emerge from both Fame Story and other young and talented artists.

Finally, it is emphasized in this letter, that the final selection of the song will take place in January 2024 through a televised show, which will take place in Nicosia. All of this, of course, as you understand, contradicts what Nikos Koklonis revealed on air, in his various interviews, and is also included in the Fame Story promo trailer.

In this way, the RIK considers that it can overcome the legal issue that has arisen after the update of the Eurovision 2024 regulations, and now they are awaiting the EBU’s response.

Teleconference for a solution

All the same there is still hope for a possible solution. Representatives of ERT and RIK will meet in a teleconference organized by the EBU in order to discuss the essence of the dispute and to seek some point of contact.

The above means that at least by the time of writing of this very article, both sides are sticking to their positions. The possible representation of Cyprus by the winner or an artist from Fame Story and the refusal of ERT to accept the television and commercial exploitation of the competition by a private television station in Greece.

The aforementioned teleconference is expected within the next days.

Stay tuned on the Eurovision Fun for all the updates around the conflict between ERT and RIK!

 

ERT Vs RIK: The Eurovision controversy continues | RIK’s response to EBU!

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The “civil war” that has broken out between ERT and RIK on the occasion of the Fame Story, which will be broadcast on STAR Channel in Greece and through which Cyprus intends to choose its representative for Eurovision 2024 continues, without defusing the crisis at least so far.

What has happened.

RIK’s decision to collaborate with Nikos Koklonis’ Barking Well Media, STAR Channel and PANIK Records for the production of Fame Story, which will be broadcast simultaneously in Greece (by STAR) and Cyprus (by RIK), has brought the two public broadcasters into conflict.

The trailer of the talent show, which although the word Eurovision is not mentioned as a trophy, but Europe’s biggest music competition, was the straw that broke the camel’s back for ERT, which believes that the exclusive rights to exploit the contest, which it has in Greece, are being violated.

Thus, according to what is reported today in the newspaper PARON, the EBU, at the request of ERT’s administration and Mr. Constantinos Zoulas, the EBU has proceeded to update the Eurovision 2024 regulations, sending them to all its members.

Fame Story controversy?

These new regulations, which seem to have been introduced by the EBU, after ERT’s intervention, bring obstacles to the talent show, at least having as its trophy the representation of Cyprus in the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, as it is implied in the relevant trailer, which continues to play on STAR’s frequency.

The new Eurovision 2024 rules

The new regulations state the following:

The organisation of the national selection of each EBU member must not violate the exclusivity of the rights of the participants of the other participating broadcasters of the other countries. Each national selection of a representative for Eurovision should be undertaken and organised under the exclusive control of each participating broadcaster. The organisation and production may not be subcontracted, except with the prior approval of the EBU. The national selections must be organised and televised nationally in the participating broadcaster’s country and on the participating broadcaster’s own EBU member channel.

EBU intervention

Following the publication of the trailer, the EBU wrote to RIK asking it to clarify the details of Fame Story and whether the production of this show in Greece by a private TV station violates the above mentioned regulations of the upcoming music competition.

This intervention was of course not at all accidental, as was the revision of the contest’s regulations, but came after ERT complained that it was violating its exclusive TV and commercial exploitation of Eurovision in Greece, an exclusivity for which it spends around 360,000 euros per year.

The letter from RIK to the EBU

According to information available to Eurovisionfun, RIK has sent a letter of reply to the EBU in which it claims that Fame Story is not a national final, but a talent show which will be included in its entertainment programme.

It is also stated that for Eurovision 2024, RIK will select its representative for Eurovision 2024 by direct award, as it has done in recent years. The artist will be selected from new talent that will emerge from both Fame Story and other young and talented artists.

Finally, it is emphasized in this letter that the final selection will take place in January 2024 through a TV show, which will be held in Nicosia. All of this of course as you can understand is contrary to what Nikos Koklonis (producer of Fame Story) revealed on air, in various interviews, and also included in the promo trailer of Fame Story.

Pending the EBU’s final decision

We now await with interest the final settlement of the issue by the EBU and whether or not it will finally allow, after the explanations of RIK, to be used as a method of selecting the artist that will represent Cyprus in Eurovision 2024. However, according to what has seen the light of publicity in the previous days, in any case, the people of RIK have prepared an alternative plan, since in no case they do not wish to disturb their relations with the EBU, but also to endanger the Cypriot participation in the contest.

Stay tuned to Eurovision for all the latest news!

Sources: Eurovisionfun, Paron, Real News

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

Greece: Antigoni reveals one of the songs she submitted for Eurovision 2023!

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Antigoni was one of the artists who submitted their entries to ERT for Eurovision 2023.

Earlier today, the singer posted part of one of the songs she submitted to the ERT selection process for Eurovision 2023 through her personal instagram account.

The title of the song is “Nervous” and it combines the modern pop sound of the artist with traditional Greek elements such as the bouzouki that we hear in the song’s instrumental.

According to exclusive information she shared with EurovisionFun, the song was written by Antigoni, Connor Mullaly and Amira El-Shafie in her sister’s room during a writing camp early last summer, produced by Seik Beats and Trey Qua, and it’s about a true story of a boy who made her feel nervous!

She also states that it was the first track she decided to submit for the Contest as, as she says, it has that Greek-Cypriot flavour and some Greek lyrics at the beginning!

However, she adds that they then wrote another song which she liked even more and it was the one she wanted to win as, in her opinion, it fits perfectly in the Contest and she will try to submit it again in the selection for Eurovision 2024!

Below you can listen to the snippet of Nervous that was shared by Antigoni and will be released on July 11th:


What is your opinion about Nervous? Would you like to see Antigoni on the Eurovision stage? Let us know in the comments below!

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

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RIK will not file an objection to the Greek jury even though its establishment appears to be invalid!

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Invited to ALPHA’s show, Super Katerina, was the director general of RIK, Mr. Thanasis Tsokos, who was asked to comment on everything we revealed yesterday from our website regarding the formal obstacles we identified in the ERT’s  jury for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

We have no intention of filing an objection but…

Mr. Tsokos, when asked by Katerina Kainourgiou if RIK intends to file an objection for the Greek jury, stated that there is no such intention, and the final score could only be changed if ex officio the EBU, which has already been informed of the issue, proceeded to cancel the rating of the ERT committee. Nevertheless, Mr. Tsokos expressed his bitterness over the fact that Greece did not give Cyprus the 12 points this year, since by all accounts it was a good entry and with the 4 points it finally gave, it deprived his country of a top ten finish. At the end, the general director of RIK gave a piece of advice to ERT, which we think they should take very seriously, after everything that happened this year.

ERT itself should rationalize its committee!

We remind you that the problem with the establishment of the ERT committee is that it includes two members who have a working relationship with Greek public television, which is prohibited by the EBU regulations. Another point is that all its members are radio producers, which does not ensure the diversity requested by national juries.

According to the regulation in force at Eurovision 2023, in case of cancellation of a jury, the televoting vote of that country is valid twice.

The members of the Greek jury are:

Christos Giakoumopoulos
Fotis (Takis) Giannoutsos
Nikolaos Nikolakopoulos
Claudia Matola
Evanthia Theotokatu

 

We will follow the matter with interest and bring you any further developments.

Follow us in all our social media, so that you’ll not lose a thing of what’s happening Eurovision:

 

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

EXCLUSIVE: Listen to Joanne’s Eurovision 2022 song for the first time!

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Joanne’s bid for last year’s Eurovision on behalf of Greece is bound to be released by the Greek record company MINOS EMI on April 28th.The song’s title is “Remedy” and you can listen to it for the first time exclusively on Eurovisionfun,after the kind permission of Joanne’s record company.

“Remedy” is a dynamic, pop, modern and ethnic song. Remedy means: antidote, drug, treatment. The song talks about balance in our lives and embracing uncertainty.Our differences are often the real antidote that bring us into balance and shape us. The song is inspired by the 21 year old singer’s own life as a young girl with a vision,who lives life to the extreme and fulfills her dreams without being limited by her “differences”.

The song is signed by familiar faces, some of whom have already been involved in the Eurovision Song Contest, such as ARCADE. The rest of the producers are DJ Michalis Tsausopoulos, as well as popular singer and composer Sarah De Warren, who has collaborated with big DJs such as Kaskade, Martin Jensen and Mike Perry,with her songs exceeding 50 million streams. You can listen to Remedy exclusively on Eurovisionfun,through our official TikTok account, the most popular account related to the Eurovision contest in Greece, with 6,500 followers!

https://www.tiktok.com/@eurovisionfn/video/7224096166722506010

What is your first impression of “Remedy”?Do you think that it would make the ideal Greek entry?

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Greece: Watch Victor Vernicos perform “What They Say” live for the first time!

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Earlier today, the Greek national broadcaster ERT hosted a meet-and-greet event where we got the chance to meet Victor Vernicos and watch him perform live a couple of past Eurovision entries as well as this year’s Greek entry “What They Say“!

Watch Victor perform “What They Say” live, for the first time in front of audience down on the video below:

Victor Vernicos with his song “What They Say” hopes to continue the Greek top-10 streak and the positive results of recent years! As of now, Greece is placed  9th in the odds for qualifying to the final.

Victor is competing eighth at Second Semi-Final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, in May 11, 2023.

You can watch the reaction of the editors of Eurovisionfun, reacting and commenting on the Greek entry for Eurovision 2023 below:

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Greek participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, in Liverpool!

Greece: The ERT’s budget for Eurovision 2023!

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Today, the budget of Greece’s participation in the 67th Eurovision Song Contest was posted in cooperation of ERT and the Greek Ministry of Digital Goverance. The Greek National Broadcaster is asked to pay 227,365 Euros for all the expenses to participate in this year’s contest.

Although, an additional 150,000 Euros should be added to the amount, which are the participation fee for this year’s competition. Therefore, the total amount that ERT will pay for Eurovision 2023 is 377,000 Euros. In a separate fund, an amount of 12,000 Euros was approved in the previous days for the rental of the two TV commentators.

In total, the final amount for Greece’s budget comes to 399,000 euros, which is slightly lower compered to the budget of the National Broadcaster the past two participations. This seems very reasonable since there are no longer restrictions due to the pandemic with the hotel rooms and the recording of the “live on tape” video.

You can find the relevant decision in Greek here

Down bellow, you can watch EurovsionFun’s reaction for this year’s Greek entry:

Stay tuned on EurovisionFun for all the news regarding Greece’s participation in Eurovision 2023!

Greece: Listen to “What They Say” by Victor Vernicos!

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The moment that every Greek eurofan waited for, is finally here! “What They Say”, Greece’s song for Eurovision 2023, by Victor Vernicos, was released just a while ago!

The video clip of“What They Say” premiered through the ERT’s show “Dio sti 1”. After the release of the videoclip on “Dio sti 1”, the song was directly available on the ERTflix platform. Later it was available on every music platform, while the videoclip can be watched on ERT’s YouTube account.

You can watch it in the video below:

Who is Victor Vernicos?

Victor Vernicos is a proposal of PANIK Records. As he mentioned the theme of his participation is human anxiety, while he characterized his song as a festive, atmospheric ballad.

Victor has been involved in music since he was 4 years old. He has taken vocal and guitar lessons, while he has also attended music technology seminars.

In 2021 he released his first song in which he wrote music, lyrics but also produced it himself. At the moment he is taking vocal and performance lessons with Nina Lotsari.

What do we know about Victor Vernicos’ song?

As Victor Vernicos told us, in an exclusive interview back in autumn, his song is an English ballad and can be characterized as emotional but also energetic.

The music video was directed by ERT Director, Giannis Georgioudakis. Kostas Kalimeris, Steve Sovolos and vaggelis Gialamas, have all taken part in the production of the song.

The stage director of Greece for Eurovision 2023, will be Konstantinos Rigos. This will be his third time in the contest, having previously directed Loukas Yiorkas (Greece 2011) and Eleftheria Eleftheriou (Greece 2012).

What do you think about the Greek song for Eurovision 2023? Write us in the comments below!

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Greek participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, in Liverpool!