:: Eurovision 24 :: Oslo 2010

The Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group that met in Oslo on 10th September did discuss Spain's breach of Eurovision Song Contest rules by broadcasting the semi final on a time delay, rendering a televote impossible. It has also concluded it's investigation into whether Azeri broadcaster Ictimai deliberately blocked or distorted the picture to blur out the voting number for Armenia. More from ESC Today

From ESC TODAY .... The Director General of the European Broadcasting Union has issued an official statement regarding the investigation of whether Azeri citizens were questioned by the Ministry of the Interior in Azerbaijan over their decision to vote for Armenia at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. Azeri broadcaster Ictimai has also responded to the EBU investigation. The official statement on the EBU website tonight says: The European Broadcasting Union has received responses from Azerbaijan regarding allegations that telephone voters in Azerbaijan who voted for the Armenian song in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest were interrogated by security police. Ictimai, the EBU’s Azeri Member which broadcast this year’s Song Contest from Moscow in May, has confirmed its commitment to free and fair voting. While two individuals had been invited to the Ministry of National Security, Ictimai said, the Ministry of National Security had given assurances that nobody had been questioned, either ...

The European Broadcasting Union have said that an investigation is underway regarding the questioning of Azerbaijan residents that voted for Armenia at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest by the Ministry of the Interior. Media reports claim that the 43 members of the Azeri public that voted for neighbouring Armenia were traced and taken for questioning about their actions. tensions between the two countries remain high after a war fifteen years ago. "The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is aware of the rumours and accusations made in the media and started last week to investigate the matter. The investigation will involve our technical partners and also gives our Member Broadcasters the chance to respond. Until this investigation is completed we cannot comment further on these rumours and accusations," said Svante Stockselius, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of the EBU. Source: ESCTODAY -

The European Broadcasting Union postponed the third Eurovision Dance Contest. The number of broadcasters that signed up for participation did not reach the desired level. The European Broadcasting Union aim to organise a new format to make a more attractive and financially more sustainable production next year, planning to reach larger number of broadcasters. The Eurovision Dance Contest is planned to be organised in Azerbaijan in the autumn of 2010. -

ESC Today reports that Armenian broadcaster APT accuses the broadcaster of the neighbouring country Azerbaijan to have manipulated the voting during the final of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest by obscuring the screen when the Armenian televoting number was shown. Political relations between the two countries have been tense for more than 20 years. APT launched an official complaint to the EBU claiming a severe violation of the Eurovision Song Contest rules. Like in 2008, Azerbaijan gave no points to Armenia. However, even if Azerbaijan had given 12 points to Armenia, the country would have still finished in tenth place behind Bosnia & Herzegovina. Armenia gave one single point to the representatives from Azerbaijan, AySel & Arash, who finished third. The EBU has stated that they cannot comment on the story yet as they have no proof of the accusations so far. However, they are investigating and will report about the outcome in the next two days. Armenia took part in the Eurov...

1 Lithuania 2 Israel 3 France 4 Sweden 5 Croatia 6 Portugal 7 Iceland 8 Greece 9 Armenia 10 Russia 11 Azerbaijan 12 Bosnia-Herzegovina 13 Moldova 14 Malta 15 Estonia 16 Denmark 17 Germany 18 Turkey 19 Albania 20 Norway 21 Ukraine 22 Romania 23 United Kingdom 24 Finland 25 Spain -

The Azerbaijani entry for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest was released by Warner Music. Always was composed by Arash and will be performed by the composer and newcomer AySel in Moscow. -

It has been announced that AySel, who was chosen to represent Azerbaijan in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, will perform her song Always as a duet with songwriter Arash. The decision was made by the seven-member jury that chose the entry. It is expected that the song will be presented at the end of February. -

I am a bit surprised by this decision but it has been announced an hour ago by The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that the third Eurovision Dance Contest 2009 will take place in September this year at the Heydar Aliev Sports and Concert Complex (SCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Nearly 8,000 spectators are expected to attend the show in Baku's largest concert arena. The event is organised by the EBU and will be hosted by its Azerbaijani Member, Ictimai Television (ITV). The contest is to be held on the 16th September 2009. The first two editions of the show were hosted in the United Kingdom successfully by the BBC in 2007 and 2008. Azerbaijan's public service broadcaster, Ictimai Television, then won the EBU tender to serve as host broadcaster for the 2009 edition. Participating EBU broadcasters will each be represented by a couple dancing a freestyle choreography inspired by the country they represent. In addition to being judged by a panel of experts in the arena, the European a...

It has now been confirmed by iTV that a nineteen year old RnB singer with no previous recording experience has been selected to represent Azerbaijan in their second participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Aysel Teymourzadeh was internally selected by a seven- member jury of music experts and Azeri government and TV officials. -

We don't usually talk about the Eurovision Dance Contest here as we talk about the song contest but this story has caught my attention. It is reported that two countries, Greece and Azerbaijan, have caused controversy after selecting their participants . According to the EBU rules, the couples should be one professional dancer and one local celebrity. Both countries selected completely professional celebrities. The selection had to be made before July 11 and the two countries met difficulties in selecting the proper couple. EBU therefore seems to have granted them an exception from the rules. Other issues causing a headache to the EBU is Germany not participating, and also Spain and Bosnia & Herzegovina announcing they will not air the show live. If it wasn't bad enough, the date of the contest is on the same day all Europe plays football games. The Eurovision Song Contest does not have these issues as the soccer games i.e. Euro or World Cup, is always held in June, thus av...

156 Greece 139 Armenia 135 Russia 106 Norway 104 Israel 096 Azerbaijan 094 Romania 079 Finland 072 Bosnia & Herzegovina 042 Poland 036 Slovenia 036 Moldova 027 The Netherlands 023 Montenegro 022 Andorra 022 Ireland 016 Belgium 008 Estonia 005 San Marino

Running order was decided at a press conference just now. Running Order for the Eurovision final: ROMANIA (Semi Final 1) UNITED KINGDOM From Semi Final 2 (To be decided on Thursday) GERMANY ARMENIA (Semi Final 1) BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA (Semi Final 1) ISRAEL (Semi Final 1) FINLAND (Semi Final 1) From Semi Final 2 (To be decided on Thursday) POLAND (Semi Final 1) From Semi Final 2 (To be decided on Thursday) From Semi Final 2 (To be decided on Thursday) From Semi Final 2 (To be decided on Thursday) From Semi Final 2 (To be decided on Thursday) From Semi Final 2 (To be decided on Thursday) From Semi Final 2 (To be decided on Thursday) From Semi Final 2 (To be decided on Thursday) From Semi Final 2 (To be decided on Thursday) FRANCE AZERBAIJAN (Semi Final 1) GREECE (Semi Final 1) SPAIN SERBIA RUSSIA (Semi Final 1) NORWAY (Semi Final 1)

Countries through to the Eurovision final (in no particular order): GREECE ROMANIA BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA FINLAND RUSSIA ISRAEL AZERBAIJAN ARMENIA POLAND NORWAY Remember we don't know where these countries are placed in the final. I believe the running order will be done soon.

Watch the show live here . Just looking around in the Arena before the show starts, it seems only half full. Show starts, two girls singing the Te Deum song, then a choir sing and a band is playing jazz music, "Congratulations" and "Waterloo" and "Volare". Couples painted in blue and red are dancing. Presenters appear. there is a very small audience. there are showing the countries that are singing tonight. MONTENEGRO: Great Presentation. Looks very confident on stage. Everything went smoothly, just missed a few camera shots, but a great start. Great reaction from the audience. ISRAEL: Big reaction when he starts. Crowd really love this. He starts in Hebrew and then in English. Another great reaction from the audience. ESTONIA: Muted response and a bit of booing for Estonia before they start. This better not go through. More booing at the end. MOLDOVA: Nice response from the crowd, but this is a no from me. SAN MARINO: This country makes their debut. Ni...

Entertainment reporter for BBC News, Michael Osborn gives his lowdown on some of this years songs from Ireland, Latvia, Spain, Sweden, Estonia, Portugal, Hungary, Serbia, Belgium, Bosnia - Herzegovina, San Marino, Switzerland, Romania, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Finland, Turkey & Russia. Read More. Source: BBC News UK

Three entrants contested the first ever Azeri final in Baku on 2nd February. The winner which was chosen by a combination of televoting and a jury was Elnur Huseynov featuring Samir Javadzadeh and "Day By Day" The song has since been rec-recorded for Eurovision.

Although earlier this month the Azerbaijan Public Television (iTV) proceeded with the national selection to decide the country's first representative in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest it was not until Monday, the EBU made their final decision as to whether they would be allowed to take part at all, according to Azerbaijani media. Today, Ismayil Omarov, head director of iTV received the official letter which makes possible the participation of the country in the 2008 Eurovision Song Conest to be held in Belgrade.