:: Eurovision 24 :: Oslo 2010

ESC Today reports that Montenegro is the latest country to announce its withdrawal from the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. The state television of the republic, RTCG, have claimed financial reasons for this decision. Montenegro will miss the 2010 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. According to their national broadcaster, in a brief announcement, the decision has been taken in order to reach financial consolidation after three years as an independent state. -

Esctoday.com reports... Peter Kölbel of Liechtenstein's broadcaster 1FL has stated that the country will not make its debut at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. The station is said not to aim for EBU membership in December, when the admission window will open. Liechtenstein has been strongly rumoured to take part next year in the Eurovision Song Contest owing to the broadcaster 1FL's intention to become a full member of the European Broadcasting Union. Now it seems that the station has decided to postpone these plans due to financial reasons, so that the principality will not make its debut until 2011 at the earliest. Now, the broadcaster will look into all the possible options to fund the costs of the EBU membership, after ruling out an application in December.

Finally, and after strong indications that Estonia would be very likely to withdraw from the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest due to financial reasons, the country's broadcaster ERR has confirmed that Estonia will be in Oslo next year esctoday.com reports. This is thanks to a 1.5 million EEK (around 95,900 euro) loan from the foundation Enterprise Estonia (EAS), while the broadcaster will cover up to 300,000 EEK (19,170 euro) of the costs of the national selection process. -

The Irish broadcaster RTÉ has confirmed to esctoday.com that it will particpate in the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest in 2010. Speculation had arisen that RTÉ may withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 given the current economic financial climate in Ireland as too other countries. With numerous countries' broadcasters having withdrawn or facing a consideration to withdraw due to financial strain, esctoday.com contacted RTÉ for an update. RTÉ have confirmed to esctoday.com that, this week that it has just submitted its' application to the EBU for its participation in next May's contest to be held in Oslo, Norway. With regarding a format for selecting a song, RTÉ are looking at a set of possible options and hope to reach a final decision shortly. SOURCE: ESC TODAY -

ESC TODAY REPORTS The Reference Group of the Eurovision Song Contest, the governing body of the competition, have announced moments ago that the 2010 contest will see an important novelty: viewers will be able to cast their votes from the performance of the first song. Once more, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest proves to be a testing ground for the senior competition. This change will be introduced to both the semifinals and the grand final. Phone lines will remain open from the performance of the first entry until 15 minutes after the end of the last song. This means that televoting via phone call and SMS will be enabled for nearly one or two hours depending on the show. Some reasons are argued from the EBU to support this change. The total amount of votes cast throughout the three shows will be higher and will not arrive in a bulk in just 15 minutes between the last song is performed and the results start to be announced. It is also intended to prevent telephone companies from get...

ESC TODAY REPORTS. Hungarian public broadcaster, MTV, have announced that Hungary will not participate at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, to be held in Oslo. Budget limitations are said to be the reason for this decision. Hungarian broadcaster explained that financial difficulties are behind the country's withdrawal from the competition next year. MTV’s budget is expected be cut down by more than fifty percent in 2010, therefore the company's management has already taken several radical steps, for instance, they have reduced their programs, and fired many of their employees. Hungary was represented by Ádok Zoli this year in Moscow with the song Dance with me, not reaching the final stage of the competition. -

The Eurovision Song Contest's Reference Group of the EBU (the governing body of the contest) has decided that the professional jury in each country will not just decide on 50% of the votes in the Final, but also in the two Semifinal's, in next year's contest in Oslo, Norway. Last year, EBU members, journalists and fans, saw the introduction of the juries to the final in a positive way. The Reference Group, who meets four to five times a year, developes the future format of the Contest. They decided to introduce the juries in the Semifinals too, and not just in the final: The juries will decide upon 50% of the Semifinal votes and the televotes and SMS-votes will make up the other 50%. The top ten countries in the combined results, will qualify to the final, where they will meet the Big 4 countries (Spain, United Kingdom, France and Germany) and this year's host, Norway. The two semifinals will be held in Telenor Arena in Oslo, the capital city of Norway, on 25 (Semifinal...