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EBU Statement
Spain to face sanctions over late broadcast
The EBU has released the following statement:
"Spanish broadcaster TVE did not broadcast the second Semi-Final (Thursday, 14th of May) of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest live, despite the fact that this is mandatory by the Rules of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. The European Broadcasting Union asked TVE for an official explanation.
The Reference Group of the Eurovision Song Contest will decide upon a sanction in its next meeting, after this year's competition. This breach will not affect this year's participation of Spain. Due to the fact that there was no televoting in Spain, only the Spanish jury vote was used."
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and just when the Eurovision preview show was scheduled to start today at 18.00 on TVE..yes you guessed it folks! They're showing a tennis match!..oh if you don't laugh about it....LOL..I just wonder if they'll actually show the final itself?!..
ok, Alaska just appeared to apologise for the delay as tenis match has gone to a final set, what a joke...poor Alaska..!
I agree with Keith. I'm a Eurovision viewer in Hong Kong, relying on TVE (sometimes RTP) International Channel to following the whole event and enjoy the show on the big flat screen TV (rather than the small laptop)! Without TVE in ESC, perhaps i can hardly enjoy the show comfortably in the future.
On a more positive note: TVE is the only international channel to broadcast Eurovision world-wide, so a big GRACIAS to our Spanish friends for that! And we don't actually want Spain to leave the contest, what we really want is for TVE to take the contest a little more seriously. Best of luck to Soraya and her lovely song and to Spain tonight! 
Too much hype for nothing.
EBU don't want to provoke another "BigCountry" withdrawal...so nothing will happen at the final. We are still waiting for the sanction to GPB for withdrawing on March...
Enough is enough! Spain should be forced into the semis next year or be disqualified all together. Evry one else has raised their game, France, the UK, anyone who does not want to be in should be out of it!
HOT NEWS,
The punishment has started.
TVE has been removed from Sky UK - the most important satellite system.
The only reason why sanctions should be put on Spain is because the back-up jury didn't even vote for Albania? I don't understand...Didn't they vote it because it would be anyway in the final, or they didn't like it...It was a catchy song...
Albania has always awarded Spain with high points (2004 - 7 points), (2005 - 6 points), (2006 - 4 points), (2007 - 12 points), (2008 - 1 point) and the songs weren't always so good in order to be voted...It's just that Albanians like spanish music...:-{
The point is TVE doesn't understand about rules... TVE does whatever it wants. So if you are unable to play a game with its rules, don't play it.
If you think that ESC s*cks don't take part! Leave like the RAI did and let the countries that love and ejoy ESC take part and fair play.
As Spaniard, I'm fed up of being represented by this unprofessional TVE. When you see our 2009 National final and compare it with the National finals taken in other countries you feel ashamed that TVE is in big 4 and Sweden or Norway (to say some) aren't!!!!
As someone said... the person who signed both conflicting contracts (tennis and ESC) should be fired... but I don't think that happens...
I hope all this mess won't affect Soraya tonight (but I am afraid it will). Anyway... Soraya winning the ESC would be the best slap on the face that TVE would get.
About punishments: If they don't withdraw, but I think this is what it's going to happen... TVE should be taken the big4 priviledge and make it go through semifinals. This way TVE would realize semifinals are also the contest and would appreciate what it takes to be in top-10 to qualify.
But again, for me, if TVE has no interest, leave the contest and let your place be taken by any other country that really appreciates and respects the contest and its rules.
Ah and before I forgot. Another news that doesn't been on the websites because it only affected my region (Catalonia). In the non-live broadcast of the 1st semifinal, TVE Catalonia showed already started. They broadcasted it from the Andorran song on. But, as I said, this only happened in Catalonia and not in the rest of Spain. This shows TVE's professionality: none.
Greets from Barcelona.
TVE thinks is all-mighty. That's the problem with us...
I hope too the big4 to be abolished. Instead of that, I would love the top5 of previous year being qualified... if all the entries are picked up from semifinals would be so boring. It's cool to see some performances in the final that you haven't seen previously.
I think it's unfair from the spanish broadcaster. There must be a hard sanction for example Spain have to go to the Semifinal next year.
I think also that the Big 4 rule is really important for the contest, but what the Spain do is without any respect to the other contestants...
Espabila, Spain is in bad situation right now.
Maybe you have job, lucky you... but don't forget the people (near to 5 million people) have lost their jobs. People is embarrased of the new situation... but it's a reality. Spain is poor nowadays. Quite poor.
Soraya is having a really hard time with TVE.
It's not fair what they are doing to her!
Er, no. Spain is far from poor (8th economy in the world)
The issue here is that TVE hates ESC, and only likes it if it provides massive profits (or audience ratings).
I dream of Soraya winning, only to annoy TVE
They would hate it with all their souls.
There are two supposed "well known facts" that don't fit together in this story. 1) Spain is one of the Big 4 because they give so much money to Eurovision/EBU. 2) Spain doesn't have money. Obviously that doesn't make sense unless TVE gives all its money away to Eurovision/EBU - which I am 100% sure is not the case. So if Spain is as poor as they claim, it would seem logical to remove their Big 4 privilege and let them qualify through the semis like the rest of us "poor" countries. Maybe a failure to qualify would be punishment enough for their pride and a welcome relief for their budget.
I wouldn't make Spain to pay more money.
I would directly take out the big4 privilege for 2010. Maybe being in the semifinal Spain could respect them... As we have never been in semifinal, it seems TVE has forgot this is a competition...
Well... it's not correct and the question is why TVE did not broadcast the second Semi-Final? We deserve wright answer and especially Spaniards.
Soraya is very good! I hope España will be even better next year!
Do you remember Azucar Moreno?
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=SzdtTjapMRo
This is real España!
The only punishment for TVEis MONEY, make them pay as too much money... in TVE1 they were broadcasting a tv serial (Aguila Negra: Horrible by the way) I had a contract, and I had to buy my flat (though I did not want it) so I hope the UER makes them pay money, a lot of money, and force them to taka part in the next 20 ESC's. and makes them belong to the big four, paying more money, and if they don't do it, make them pay billions. that is the only thing tve understands "MONEY"... and by the way, fire Mauro Canut, such useless bstrd
go soraya!! you're the best spanish singer in eurovision!
It would be a real shame to see Spain go - I always thought France would go first of any of the big 4. Sounds like TVE are indeed planning to quit but life goes on and Russia will most likely be very happy to take their big 4 place.
@mina as usual you're incapable of seeing pass your own judgement. Whethere you like it or not, the German entry is indeed professional and they did bring Dita on stage. So even if it is bad, it is quite the big guns, a big entry to Eurovision.
@ Paulo, I think France has been a better neighbour to Portugal than Spain has been!
Oh no, Spain - Portugal is counting on you guys to remain in Eurovision - the only neighbour we have! 
They should find another broadcaster in Spain for ESC. They obviously don't take it seriously and that will of course affect the public's interest negatively too. How can they get themselves bound to two conflicting contracts? Morons...
But no, but yeah, but no, but yeah... but no, but YEAH!!!
I was not very fan of Soraya, I must say, but this woman has some guts!! I love her!
Soraya, the spanish singer has just talked openly to the main Spanish EuroFans Website. Here is the link for those who understand some spanish http://www.eurovision-spain.com/
She has asked the spanish euro fans to be calm and then she has confirmed that many people in TVE(Spanish Broadcaster) is not happy with her pressence in ESC2009. ( Remember that Soraya was elected by the Public and not by the TVE, who choose another one).
She afirms that these difficulties make her stronger and that she will do her best on the stage to show them with whom they are dealing with. ( Bravo! Passion! Ambition!)
The singer has said that she feels very happy to be in this year ESC because the rest of the countries are having very good songs compering to last years.
Ladies & Gentleman, this is an artist.
@Martin
well I certainly agree with you on that, my complaint is not with Spain being in Eurovision (of course I'd love Spain to win again !), but with the attitude of TVE national broadcaster, and if it means TVE is punished and that they decide to drop out for a few years then that for me, is worth all the suffering we have to endure from them on a daily basis and especially their attitude to Eurovision since they lost contract for OT, maybe it will make them think twice (they did exactly the same with JUnior Eurovision and Eurovision dance contest, I don't give a damn about thos e contests but they disapponted a lot of people by dropping out at last minute with no official explanation.....believe me I was at TVE studios when that happened and some kids were completely traumatised!/dancers were left in corridors etc), well that only part of it, I have plenty more stories too long to tell here..I wish Soraya well anyay as she is a loely, genuine girl who should not be judged by TVE standards...buenas noches! good night...
@ Paul C
Fair enough, I understand but I jst don't wanna see Spain depart from the contest whatever the outcome of this messy situation, that would be a shame for the contest.
BTW, am a huge fan of Tennis so am totally aware who Verdasco (beat Murray in Australia) and Monaco are along with many Spanish and players from all over the world.
Cheers
@Martin McG
I understand what you're saying but your example doesn't reflect the reality of yesterday...sure we want to see our no 1 tennis doing well, which is why Rafa Nadal is ALWAYS shown on TVE 1 (priority over every other programme, which are either postponed or eliminated from the schedule, and we get warning about it), ESC Semi-final was scheduled for state channel 2 (just like BBC2 in UK to show minority/sports events etc), so if your theory is correct the IMPORTANT STAR-STUDDED tennis match (Fernando Verdasco v Juan Monaco...have you heard of them yourself?) should have been broadcast on TVE1 not 2, or, and this is the real p+++er on TVE sport's channel (Teledeporte), anyway, you're missing the fundamental point of TV (I work in it I know), the "nobody will notice anyway" theory, which TVE uses to great effect practically every week, it's a running joke here in Spain that TV guides don't exist cause they're worth jack sh*t, you're used to the comfort of British/Irish TV I guess, lucky you u know whena programme will be on/start etc, we don't have that luxury, I'm a freelance journalist and am often delayed an hour or more at best..hey, just like the semi-final yesterday in fact, rest my case (as they say?)
@Imno
TVE should be punished for making an ass of themselves by getting bound by two conflicting contracts. I'm sure the tennis match wasn't extraordinarily long so that they couldn't have foreseen that it could overlap with ESC semifinal. Whoever negotiated the contracts should be fired for incompetence.
But there's no reason at all to make Soraya pay for that mistake. To put Spain in the semi-finals next year would be an appropriate penalty IMO.
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