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Head of ATV declares
Andorra: "No decision taken yet"
Mr. Castellet believes that there has been much fuss around his declarations a few weeks ago when, in the presentation of ATV's new programme schedule for the 2009-2010 season, he said that the broadcaster's budget would be narrowed down due to the management's policy of cutting down expenses, and this could result in a withdrawal of the country from the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. For the ATV head, the optimal budget to invest in the Eurovision Song Contest would be "€ 300,000 or more", when this year the broadcaster devoted € 140,000.
That announcement had immediate consequences on the Internet, with a group on Facebook aiming to persuade ATV to stay in Eurovision. The initiative has gathered the support from more than 800 members to date.
Now, the director of ATV has softened his words, saying that the final decision on the matter has not been taken yet: "shareholders have the last word" on the participation of Andorra in the European competition, Mr. Castellet explained. However, he regards himself as a "defender" of the Andorran Eurovision project: "It creates enthusiasm", but he believes that it would be better to carry it out with "people from the country" with enough quality.
Mr. Oriol Villela, vice president of the Andorran Musicians Association, also had their say on the matter. In his opinion, ATV should change the plans of their Eurovision quest: "Projects should be more realistic and representative of the Andorran music", he stated, and went on criticising the system developed in the past years: "Projects have been too commercial, intending to follow the trend of promoting divas". Anyway, withdrawing from Eurovision would be "a step backwards", Mr. Villela concluded as a personal thought.
Andorra debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2004, having participated in the competition ever since. Despite its efforts, the country has never managed to reach the final, only placing 12th in the 2007 semifinal.
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I can understand why they may want to pull out.Every year since 2004,they have given ESC good songs ,but always fail to qualify because of lack of neighbourly interest.But in saying that ,I hope they stay as they always send good songs that differ every year ,unlike most.
Oh yes their "Cazzarola" song in 2008 was ridicolous, but I think they should stay
We need Andorra! I hope they won't back out..
One more 'Andorra, please stay' from me. I liked all their songs except 2008 and think that they deserved a place in the final in 2005 and 2007, in 2006 too, if it hadn't been for that dreadful performance.
andorra dont chikcen out like austria has done..
I love all the Andorran entries, but also understand if they want to withdraw, the same as Spain should do if were somewhat interested in ESC!
I think Andorra must stay in Eurovision because it benefies its international image. In fact, I'm absolutely sure lots of European citizens only know that Andorra exists and it's a sovereign country because of its participation in ESC.
I really hope Andorra will stay!! I really think it is posible for ANY country to qualify. Easier with neighbours and other countries with same cultural background - but definitely not impossible for any country.
I am afraid Andorra has either disappointed in the choice of song - or in the presentation.
It has been claimed that the big 4 was hated and would never get good results. Well, this year they had 2 top 10s. Estonia qualitied for the first time in years - and ended up 6th.
So Andorra - good luck! I really hope to see you here in Oslo!
i cross the fingers for andora 
Just two words, PLEASE STAY!
Andorra is one of my favourite eurovision countries
I think if they can present a song for 2010 they should have a big ballad as they have had catalan pop and rock a few times so a big ballad (maybe in French or Catalan) would be a change
Something along the lines of Poland this year.
Please come back Andorra!
i want to tell you a conversation I had with a member of the Andorra delegation to Kyiv 2005 (don't know what his job was). Anyways, he said that Andorra learnt it's lesson very well after failing in 2004. They understand they must put on a good promotion and advertise themselves and get the entire eurovision week familiar with the Andorra & Catalan culture.
He never said anything about a good song !
I personally feel they put to much effort and emphasis on a schlagger performance only the campiest gays can like, and forget to emphasis the song. Most times it look simply pathetic !
dont chicken out like austria did... please andorra.....!!
I hope Andorra stay. They sent my favourite entry of 2007, and a really good one this year, too
@Mina welcome back 
summer is gone Mina is back 
I haven't loved any of the Andorran songs. Some have been ok but always missing something for me.
sense tu was such a good song but the ruined soooooo much by the presentation. HORRIBLE performance. why did they think they needed 6 half-naked women on stage? all they needed was her singing on stage.
>John Eurofan>
WHAT???!!! 2007 is far and away Andorra's best entry- I thought it had a good chance f getting into the final. Sadly, it wasnt to be, but...
I liked several of the songs from Andorra and I don't want them to leave
I consider all songs from Andorra very good and interestingly the only entry that I hate was the 2007 song.
Come on Andorra! Stay please................ 
And send Jeny again, with 50/50 she can pass!
ANDORRA LA VELLA 2011!!
"and always same 10 from 20 countries"
@Richard beacuse UK is always to the final u dont care If u r countrey was in semifinals and always 10 from 20 countreys passing to the final u will thing different
Dont know why people think that their country should always go to the final. Unfortunately Andorra has had some good songs but BAD performers. The best one being Anonymous in 2007, I think if the 2 semifinal system had been working then, they would have got through as they nearly did anyway with 28 countries in the semifinal. Anyway a good song can be made on a low budget it's just that Andorra could never afford to tour all 40 countries and unfortunately most people I know don't even know where Andorra is so it's a bad combination sorry to say. But I think it's right that they should still compete as they are still promoting the country and Catalan music/artists.
Please, please, Andorra, stay!!! You're among my favourite Countries. Besides, we need each and every Country, no matter if big or small, if western or eastern. Stay with us and be a part of our big party once more!!!
I say it multible times that small countries like Andorra only juries can help them to passing to the final and since jurys is only in final Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino and Monaco have only 1% to be in the final, and u know its very bad to pay a lots of money for something who have only 1% to be true. In ESC a lot of big countries have problem beacuse of semifinal only televoting ( and also in final televoting beacuse televoting in final have more power than jurys voting ) , so tell me one good reason why Andorra must to stay in ESC under that hard circumstances. Personal i i want all Europian countries to be in ESC but since the fees is too high and ESC is not fair i understand that countries who dont want to come back or they want to withdraw. People in a lot of countries ( included my country ) start to dont care for ESC and that beacuse they know from before that they r countrey have very limit or nothing chances to be in the final, so a lot of tv stations slowly slowly start to dont have too much ESC viewers and if EBU dont change some things and rules and also attidude in 2-3 years countries like : Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Malta, Cyprus, Israel, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Germany, France, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland will be past for ESC .
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