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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:

Source: EBU

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Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news about Eurovision 2024, which will be hosted in Sweden next May!

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

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2024!

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EBU: The Announcement on Eurovision 2020 Songs

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In a statement on social media, EBU clarified some of those suspended after the contest was canceled. EBU’s intention is to honor the songs and artists of Eurovision 2020!

The announcement

In particular, the statement mentions:

Thus, it is clear that the choice of its representative for 2021 is left to each country’s delegation . It was also clarified whether  they would compete for the same songs this year.

We look forward to the latest from EBU regarding this initiative in the coming weeks!

 

 

EBU: Reference Group meeting for Coronavirus and Eurovision 2020 tomorrow | Shots canceled for all postcards

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Tomorrow, we probably will have some interesting news regarding the  Eurovision 2020 and the impact that the spread of coronavirus has. As the Czech Public Broadcaster’s official website for the contest announced tomorrow (17\3), the Reference Group is meeting to assess the situation and the new data.

While the pandemic is spreading elsewhere in Europe faster and elsewhere and with daily cancellations or postponements of major sporting and cultural events, the fate of the Eurovision song contest remains still unknown.

According to the latest EBU official announcement, any decisions will be made in April. Based on our own information, the EBU examines various scenarios, of course considering their legal dimension as well. Postponing the competition, however easy it may be in words, is a complicated process.

We do not think that tomorrow there will be a final decision on what is to come with this year’s competition. Both the Dutch organizers and the EBU are in close contact with the relevant health services, while considering alternative scenarios that may need to be implemented.

What is certain is that the postcard shootings that would take place in different parts of the Netherlands at this time will be postponed for the time being. If all goes well, what will become of the Ukrainian model of 2017, when the postcard shooting, was the first week of rehearsals.