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Finances prevent second entry
San Marino leaves Eurovision Song Contest
San Marino's withdrawal from the competition after just one year of particiaption 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 in order to save money as it battles a credit crisis.
Initally, the national broadcaster of San Marino, SMRTV, had applied to enter the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, rubbishing rumours that it would withdraw after a poor result in their debut year. However, due to increasing financial hardships, SMRTV have informed the EBU that they will not be moving to the final list of competing countries.
Lithunaian national broadcaster LVT has also claimed that the Eurovision Song Contest participation could be cut as a cost saving measure. Whilst the participation fee in recent years has remained relatively constant, the additional costs such as travel and accoomodation fees have expanded greatly.
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.
Stay tuned to esctoday.com for all the latest news regarding the possible withdrawals of Latvia and Lithuania.
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@Mario Mir:
Russian gov approved a budget of 29 million euros for ESC, that is, more than the double of Belgrade's budget."
So, if this is a REAL BUDGET, expect 97% of it to be misused, and the rest invested in some venue revamp and extras
"... because Russia is affording a really high percentage of the ESC final costs."
Do you know the REAL FIGURES?
"Maybe EBU has been caught by their own greed? It was posted in some websites that Latvian fee was 150,000 euros!!"
Last year the BBC made it public that the UK pays £10.000, so how could Latvia be so over charged???
There is a fact that I can't understand:
Russian gov approved a budget of 29 million euros for ESC, that is, more than the double of Belgrade's budget.
I had the idea that this fact would make the fees lower than 2008 (and maybe than ever before), because Russia is affording a really high percentage of the ESC final costs.
Maybe EBU has been caught by their own greed? It was posted in some websites that Latvian fee was 150,000 euros!! So what's the French or the Spanish one??? 2 milion euros???? No, no, no! I love ESC but considering the current economical situation I think these costs are scandalous!
SVANTE, HERE IS THE RECORD : IN YOUR A** XD eurovision is REALLY ABUSIVE for the money question, and many countries ( broadcasters) in Europe are not as rich as Russia
@ benji zagreb:
I am concerned about San Marino because they have potential. They entered a great song in 2008, which was totally ignored and finished last with only 5 points. In the meantime, Latvia progressed to the final with a crappy song sung by a bunch of drunkards. Most of their entries have been crap (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 and specially 2008). I'd add 2000 too, as I don't like it either (even if the fans seem to like that one). If Latvia wants to withdraw, I can't say I will miss them. It's the ESC country I like the LEAST.
EUROVISION 2008 MUSIC AWARDS: FINAL!
http://www.micropoll(...)mpview/517542-126661
too bad, it was a chance to hear italian without it being romanian or latvian trying to be cool.. anyway esc is finally changing a bit, with the juries back and all, it's normal that some of our years will be a bit different (think of esc 1970 down to 12 countries!)
don't worry and hope to see you back soon San Marino
GEORGIA IS BACK !!! - a few minutes ago they confirmed that Georgia is back in ESC so if Latvia and Lithuania solve their problems we could see 43 countries, but I will be happy with any ESC as long as it's good.
NO SONG = NO VOTE in ESC - that's what I say. Any withdrawing country should have no further part in ESC 2009.
Axel: NO that is not fair because Serbia and Montenegro even had chosen a song and was ready to participate when they withdrew.... they had gotten much further in the process than that Lithuania, Latvia and San Marino has this year.... if they do not participate they should not vote...
I do hope though, that if Latvia, Lithuania and San Marino do not participate, that those countries get the opportunity to vote in the final. This was the case with Serbia-Montenegro a few years ago. And I really considered this unfair.
thats sad...but at least its a lesson for ebu! the participation fees are ridiculus! i heard ert was also considerin a greek withdrawal...
Ten little niggers went out to dine,
one choked his little self, and then there were nine.
I'm apparently the only person who thought Miodio were boring and dull last year...well, me and the rest of Europe :-P That doesn't mean I don't want to see them again - there's been no country I have liked every entry from, but like Latvia, and possibly Lithuania, if they cannot afford to take part...unfortunate, but that's life. The people making harsh comments about Latvia's withdrawal should probably grow up a bit.
I'm finding this whole 'which countries will be in or out' thing really lame. Time was, the EBU used to publish the rules of the ESC with clear dates: the deadline for initial submissions and the deadline for withdrawals. Surely, once the December 14th deadline was over, then that should have produced a list for 2009: any country that applied in time and did not withdraw before that date should be on the official list of participants. Any withdrawals after that date should be treated like the Lebanese and Serbian-Montenegrin withdrawals in previous years. If San Marino withdrew before the deadline, why are we only finding out now? And why is Svante being all mysterious and trying to make us believe that Moscow is going to be the biggest ESC ever? And still all these rumours of the EBU being in talks with such-and-such a country (Italy? Georgia? Monaco?)... Why bother having application deadlines if they are meaningless?
Not to mention the fact that the official Eurovision website is failing to publish any of this information. The rules of the Contest aren't even on there! Rubbish.
I will be sad to see San Marino duck out; I liked their song last year and it's always good to have the micro-states in. As to Latvia, well, I think all of their entries except My Star have been pretty poor, including I Wanna, for me the worst Eurovision winner ever. If they have a year off, so be it. They'll be back in 2010.
Such a shame!!! Let us remind that the idea to quit the contest circulated since last year at the French TV’s Studios also. After Télé Monte Carlo, we are anxious about this year potential desistance of France Télévision!?…
I don't think the different reactions depend on Countries being considered as Eastern or Western. I suppose it has more to do with personal musical taste. To be honest, I'll miss any Country which should decide to leave, buf if this has to be, I can say, for example, better Latvia than Lithuania leaving ESC. But this is simply because I like the songs Lithuania has sent to the ESC until now more than the ones Latvia has sent. Nothing to do with a Country being Eastern or Western. So I suppose that a lot of people on this forum simply liked the sammarinese song more than the latvian one.
Good point Benji....
And I believe you are very close with your analysis aswell. But he that's what the contest grew into the last 5 years. A gap between the West and the East that get's bigger every year my friend. Let's hope with all the new rules, that things will all get a bit softer again...that we all grow back towards each others. Although I really do believe that the damage been done, will be very difficult to heal
I have compared your reactions concerning Latvia's and San Marino's withdrawal and I'm a bit confused. All of you seem to be extremely sorry for San Marino, while in the case of Latvia some of you have written coldly: "Well, if they don't have money, let them stay at home". What's the reason for such a biased attitude? Only because San Marino is considered to be a western country and Latvia an eastern one? Ridiculous!
OMG what is going on this days ????!!!!!!!
Very sad, that already 2 confirmed, I believe, at least another 3 to follow....
It's a pity, but I don't blame them, especially after this year' bad result... Interestingly, everyone here seems to have liked their entry (I did as well), so how come it did end up *last* in its semifinal..?!
Even if several countries pass this year due to financial problems (which is fully understandable), I'm sure it won't be a long-time thing, they (or most of them) will return, sooner or later...
I am really sad about this. We had representatives from the Italian peninsula only for one year and now nothing? Too bad...
P.S. I loved Complice!
pity
their votes were fair...............
Ben Gray
well it's also on wikipedia, so it MUST be true 
lol
No other sites have written about this... esctoday are you sure your sources are credible?
Latvia, Lithuania, San Marino - what's going on at the moment?
Very sad....maybe Italy returns now ?
Sorry, San Marino of course...
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