Malta: more complaints over the Eurovision voting

The head of the Maltese delegation to the Eurovision Song Contest, Robert Abela, has called for some televotes to be scrapped, according to reports on the BBC’s news website. Abela, who’s long been associated with Malta in Eurovision, has said he thinks many results were “not based solely on the public vote”, and said a number of other countries were angered by the perceived block voting. In interesting developments, Mr Abela has said he received reports indicating how many points Malta would get from certain countries even before the finals. “If the EBU cannot 100% monitor how the system is being done in some of the ex-Soviet countries I think they should do away with phone voting” he’s claimed.

The EBU have so far not commented on Mr Abela’s claims.

So it seems the debate about political/neighbourly/diaspora/block voting just won’t go away, whatever people’s views on the matter. Some people may want to sweep it under the carpet or see it as a bit of fuss over nothing, but it seems likely to rumble on for a while to come unless changes one way or another are made. Let’s hope for a positive outcome all round!

Cyprus: CyBC confirms participation in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest

Despite the rumours on Cyprus withdrawal after the failure of Evridiki to proceed to the 52nd Eurovision Song Contest Final, CyBC executive Mr Mavrikios, director and producer Mr Kleitou, TV hosts Ms Papamichael, Ms Komninou assured tonight during a special TV show for Eurovision outcome, that Cyprus has no intention to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest. The panel guests of course discussed the issue occured with the daispora and neighbour voting but they also informed the Cypriot public that there are gains from participating:

CyBC made a financial ballance between expenses and incomes, Cyprus was well advertised in Europe. The future participation for Cyprus will be decided next fall (national or internal selection). In the case of internal selection those interested to represent Cyprus (locals or from other European nations) have to submit a complete proposal for their entry and not just a song. The importance of sponsoring was also emphasised in the show, urging local and international companies to forsee gains by helping the Cyprus Public Television.

Greece: ERT begin quest for a Junior song entry

Greek national broadcaster issued a press release opening the national selection for the search of the national entry in the 2007 Junior Eurovision Song Contest which will take place on Dcember 8th in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The deadline for song submissions is set for June 29. As usual a preliminary jury will select a number of songs which will be performed later on live on a TV show and the Greek public will decide the winner.