:: Eurovision 24 :: Oslo 2010

With San Marino out of 2009 and Latvia nearing withdrawal, is there other countries withdrawing from 2009 due to financial reasons. As we all know, the list of participants has traditionally been made public in early December. The delay in revealing the final list of countries taking part in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest suggests that there are still countries that have yet to confirm that they will procede with their participation. Lithunaian national broadcaster LVT has claimed that not competing in the Eurovision Song Contest could be a cost saving measure. Monaco may not compete in 2009 for the same reason. Who knows what will happen, but the list of participates for 2009 will make interesting reading. Read: Article from ESCTIME -

What were rumours is now fact, San Marino will not participate in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. The Broadcaster has informed the EBU that despite wanting to participate, it will not be able to meet all of the necessary criteria for entering the competition in Moscow. San Marino's withdrawal from the competition after just one year of particiaption. Initally, the national broadcaster of San Marino, SMRTV, had applied to enter the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. This sad news today comes as the EBU maintains discussions to keep Latvia in the competition. Reports in the last two days have confirmed that the Baltic state is looking to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest. Source: ESC Today. -

Oikotimes.com has reported that despite their original decision that they will reply to the EBU on December 8th with a very positive mind towards their participation in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, sources have told the website that both Monaco and San Marino will be absent from Eurovision 2009. If this is true, the number of countries confirmed for 2009 will be 42. Of course this is not confirmed, although we will get a clearer view of participates on the 8th December.

At this year's Eurovision National Final, Little Tony was a key part of the jury that decided on who to represent San Marino at Eurovision. Now Little Tony would like to celebrate 50 years in the music industry by representing San Marino at Eurovision 2009. When talking to SMTV, Little Tony said that he would be happy to represent San Marino in Russia and has already asked artists to submit songs for him to represent. With a career spanning almost 50 years, Little Tony has released 29 albums and been a star in many films. His greatest hit was "Un Cuore Matto" in 1967. He marked his comeback by competing in this year's San Remo contest. Commenting on the presentation of his calendar he was quoted as saying "I am very happy. I will celebrate 50 years in music by having a great song for me that will represent San Marino". Source: Oikotimes

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

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

Sanmarinese broadcaster TRSM enters the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time. An internal selection chose the entry, and on March 11th it was announced that the band Miodio, which comprieses of two members from San Marino and three from Italy. Their song which was written by the band is titled "Complice" (Accomplice).

The popular website ESC Today has received confirmation that San Marino will participate the contest in Belgrade. The Sammarinese public broadcaster SMTV has applied to take part in the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest. More information and reaction here

San Marino, one of the world's smallest states, may be about to make it's Eurovision Song Contest debut. The news was given to OGAE Italy by email, in which a representative from San Marino Television claims that the broadcaster is seriously considering participation in 2008. All countries planning to participate at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest must summit an application to the European Broadcasting Union by November 15th 2007, 3 days from now. [ESC Today]

Although more famous for its Formula 1 grand prix race track, San Marino is one of the last European countries never to have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. However, it seems that this could change in the next few years - Sammarinese broadcaster SMRTV has confirmed to esctoday.com that they are watching the Eurovision project with a possible participation in mind. SMRTV considered joining in 2007, but its stockholders, many of whom are related to Italian broadcaster RAI, decided not to support the idea. Whether they will have changed their minds in a year seems unlikely, but SMRTV is aiming to participate at some point over the next few years, according to a spokesperson for the broadcaster. San Marino is a tiny country surrounded entirely by Italy, and is often reported as being the world's oldest republic. Success for microstates has happened in the past - Monaco won in 1971, for example, and Malta has had 4 top 3 placings to date, the most recent coming in 2005 when...