|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Just this weekend, the initial deadline for broadcasters to register their interest in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest passed by. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) set 15 September as the deadline for initial registration of interest.
Who might be in, and who might be out?
Whilst 31 broadcasters have already confirmed their participation, a number of long-time players have yet to RSVP.
Top of that list is The Netherlands. AVROTROS has yet to forgive what they saw as unfair treatment of their 2024 entrant Joost Klein in Malmo. In a show of prime EBU-baiting, the broadcaster has suggested the chances of their taking part remain slim. One sticking point was their call for changes in how future events are managed during the two weeks of rehearsals and performances.
Undecided
Other countries who have yet to make public any decision include Romania, Poland, Croatia, Armenia and Moldova, though most have hinted they’ll be along for the ride. We’re less likely to see a return from North Macedonia or Bulgaria. Montenegro is set to return after a two-year absence.
Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovakia have all said they’re washing their hair that night, so they’ll most likely not be in Basel. As always speculation is rife around Kosovo making its debut – though that’s seeming less likely by the day. That other fan fave Kazakhstan has been less talked about this time around.
New Eurovision management team
The EBU announced a restructure of the Eurovision Song Contest management structure at the start of July. Two new positions have been created: ESC Director and Head of Brand and Commercial. The position of Executive Supervisor (held by Martin Österdahl) has been changed to Show Supervisor and demoted to report (along with Head of Brand) into the Director.
The next deadline is 10 October 2024. After this date, the EBU may impose a penalty on any broadcaster that ticked the ‘yes’ box then changed their mind. But given AVROTROS has said they won’t be rushed and will make up their mind in early November, it’s one of those EBU deadlines with room for flex.
We’ll be doing our level best to keep you informed as the season moves from dormant into wide-awake.
Keep coming back. You know we’ll report it eventually.