More broadcasters demand Eurovision reform

The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Basel, Switzerland, concluded with Austria’s JJ winning the competition. However, the event has since been overshadowed by controversy surrounding the televoting system, particularly due to Israel’s unexpected surge in public votes. This has led several European broadcasters to question the integrity of the voting process and call for a review.

Surge in Televote Support for Israel

Israel’s entry, performed by Yuval Raphael, received a significant boost from the public televote, garnering 12 points from 13 countries and a total of 297 points, despite receiving only 60 points from the professional juries. This discrepancy has raised concerns about the potential for coordinated voting efforts and the influence of political factors on the contest’s outcomes. Reports indicate that some individuals used multiple credit cards to cast numerous votes, exploiting the system’s lack of identity verification.

Broadcasters demand Eurovision answers

In response to these concerns, Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE has called for an audit of the televoting results, citing doubts about the validity of the public vote and the potential impact of geopolitical conflicts on the contest. Similarly, Belgium’s VRT has expressed skepticism about the transparency of the televoting process and has warned that it may reconsider future participation if the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) does not address these issues satisfactorily.

Finland’s Yle has also indicated plans to discuss the voting system with the EBU, highlighting concerns about the ability of individuals to cast multiple votes and the need to prevent potential abuses. Iceland’s RÚV has requested data from the EBU to better understand the voting results and has suggested that the outcomes will undoubtedly spark discussions.

Dutch AVROTROS and NPO issued a joint statement, they emphasised the importance of the contest’s apolitical and unifying nature, stating: “We see that the event is increasingly influenced by societal and geopolitical tensions.” The statement continued: “Israel’s participation confronts us with the question to what extent the Eurovision Song Contest still functions as an apolitical, connecting and cultural event. We want to make this question a topic of discussion within the EBU, together with other countries.”

Belgian VRT’s spokesperson, Yasmine Van der Borght, stated that while there is no indication of incorrect vote counting, the broadcaster seeks full transparency from the EBU to ensure the current voting system fairly reflects viewers’ opinions. Additionally, the Flemish socialist party Vooruit has urged VRT to push for an investigation into the televoting system, citing discrepancies between jury and public votes for Israel’s entry.

RTBF, responsible for Belgium’s Eurovision participation in alternating years with VRT, has also supported the call for transparency in the voting process. The broadcaster has expressed its willingness to work on improvements to the contest’s voting system and to adapt to necessary changes.

Slovenia’s RTVSLO has raised questions regarding the validity of Slovenia’s televoting results. The broadcaster is seeking a more democratic decision-making process within the Eurovision framework. This move aligns with their previous actions, including a resolution adopted by RTVSLO’s council in December 2024, which called for Israel’s exclusion from Eurovision 2025 due to ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Ireland’s RTÉ has also joined the growing chorus of European broadcasters expressing dissatisfaction with the televoting process. The broadcaster has requested discussions with the EBU regarding the voting system and Israel’s participation, following protests and an open letter signed by over 350 Irish television and film producers.
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Political Tensions and Calls for Israel’s Exclusion

The controversy has been further fueled by political tensions, with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez becoming the first European leader to call for Israel’s exclusion from the contest due to its military actions in Gaza. RTVE has also faced criticism for airing pro-Palestinian messages during the broadcast, leading to warnings from the EBU about maintaining the contest’s apolitical stance.

EBU’s Response

The EBU has defended the integrity of the televoting system, describing it as “the most advanced in the world.” Martin Green, the contest’s director, stated that the votes are reviewed by a specialised team and validated by an independent company to ensure accuracy.

Despite Green’s assurances, the EBU has acknowledged the concerns raised and has committed to engaging in discussions with member broadcasters to explore potential improvements for future editions of the contest.

The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest has highlighted the challenges of maintaining an apolitical and fair competition in the face of geopolitical tensions and the complexities of modern voting systems. As broadcasters and political leaders call for greater transparency and potential reforms, the EBU faces the task of balancing the contest’s entertainment value with the need to uphold its integrity and inclusivity.