:: Eurovision 24 :: Oslo 2010

Following Ireland's worst ever Eurovision result in Helsinki in May, media attention was predictably negative, with both RTÉ's decision to selection Irish traditional band Dervish, and neighbourly voting by Eastern European countries gaining most column inches and airtime. Indeed in the aftermath of the result, Ireland's future participation in the Eurovision Song Contest was questioned by many journalists and fans, but it now appears that the competition's most successful country will be back in 2008, but the selection process may be different from the past couple of years. Among those most loudly critical of RTÉ was Louis Walsh (left), former manager of Eurovision winners Johnny Logan and Linda Martin who appears to believe that the national bradcaster needs to invest more money in the Eurovision selection, and believes that the recent choices have been old fashioned and outdated. How much coinsideration will be given to Walsh's opinion is unclear, but early rumou

I prefer the Original song myself, there is something missing in the English version.

Spanish broadcaster TVE has announced that it will be sticking by the Eurovision Song Contest despite changes to the format of the contest which are "not always positive". In the announcement - a reply to the Spanish member of parliament Macarena Montesinos' suggestion that the corporation withdraw from entering the contest - TVE states that it will not abandon an event which still draws in a global audience in excess of 100 million viewers across not only Europe, but the World; as such the broadcaster recognises its "obvious value as a public service: music and the peaceful discovery of other nations". Changes not always positiveDespite this, TVE also raised issues about recent changes such as televoting, which are "not always positive in choosing the best song". Despite developments such as the introduction of the semifinal in 2004 reflecting "the new reality in Europe", the EBU admits that the format undergoes a constant process of tweakin

Björn Verdoodt, press representative of Flemish broadcaster VRT, has reacted to the criticism and cynical reactions the broadcaster received after stating that Eurosong 2008 will be "a contest of state importance", just like in 2006. According to Verdoodt, Belgium most definitely means business, and the term "state importance" still applies. Since last week, Eén has been airing a trailer encouraging Flemish artists and songwriters to submit their songs for the Belgian selections for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. In the trailer, Eurosong host Bart Peeters used the term "a contest of state importance" to refer to the event. After the Kate Ryan disaster in 2006 when Je t'adore, a hot favourite, just failed to make the top ten of the semifinal, the statement raised the same cynicism that it did when it was used back then. "The term state importance still applies," explains Björn Verdoodt in the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. "No m

Monaco, the smallest Eurovision Song Contest nation, skipped the 2007 event in Helsinki due to a feeling that Monaco was at a disadvantage when compared to other nations, due to its size. However, a return in Belgrade is not entirely out of the question, as Télé Monte-Carlo have confirmed that the decision has not been taken yet. Monaco returned to the contest in 2004 after a 25-year break, but they failed to end outside the bottom 5 in the semi final with any of their 3 entries this decade. However, a change in the fortunes of Andorra which saw Anonymous reach the 12th position in Helsinki, only a few points away from qualification, may be a positive signal to the Monégasque broadcaster. Monaco won the competition in 1971 with Séverin's Un banc, un arbre, une rue, but another Séverine, Ferrer this time, could only manage 14 points and 21st place in the semi final in Athens after a rather tuneless performance of La coco danse. Austria also skipped a year before returning in 2007, m

“ RTS is giving Eurovision fans the chance to design the 2008 logo, the stage and also host the Eurovision Song Contest.” RTS (Radiotelevizija Srbije), the host broadcaster for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade has announced that it will be running a competition that will lead to the creation of the next Eurovision Song Contest's branding and logo, the stage, and most surprisingly, the hosts of the event. NEW LOGO This will graph and symbolisethe pictorial identity of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. It should associate with Serbia, music, youth and Europe. It will also provide the graphic symbol for medias, press and the competition's identity.Bidding is opened for 30 days and it is opened for all native and foreign persons. Bidding is anonymus. Prizes will be arwarded for the top three designs of €5000, €3000 and €2000 respectively. THE STAGE A competition to determine the ideal solution for stage for next year's Eurovision Song Contest at the Beogradska Arena