- Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Infobox Eurovision
name = Eurovision Song Contest 2009
theme =
final = 16 May 2009
semi1 = 12 May 2009
semi2 = 14 May 2009
presenters =
director =
host = flagicon|Russia C1R
venue = Olympic Indoor Arena,Moscow ,Russia
winner =
vote =
entries =
debut =
return = Esc|Slovakia
withdraw = Esc|Georgia
null =
interval =
opening =
con = Eurovision Song Contest
pre = ◄2008
nex = 2010►The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 will be the 54thEurovision Song Contest , scheduled to take place between the 12 May and 16 May 2009.cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/11958 |title=Eurovision 2009: Provisional dates announced |publisher="ESCToday" |author=Murray, Gavin |date=2008-05-21 |accessdate=2008-05-21] It will be held inRussia with the host venue confirmed as the Olympic Indoor Arena within Moscow.cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1362|title=Moscow accepted as 2009 Host City! |publisher="EBU" |author=Bakker, Sietse |date=2008-09-13 |accessdate=2008-09-13] Changes in the voting procedure will occur with the re-introduction of a nationaljury alongsidetelevoting . Thirty one countries have confirmed their participation in the 2009 contest, includingSlovakia , which will return to the contest after 11 years.cite web|title=Slovakia to return in 2009 |url=http://esctoday.com/news/read/12318|last=Hondal|first=Victor|date=2008-09-24|publisher="Esctoday.com"|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-24] Georgia has announced that it is withdrawing from the contest,cite web |url=http://www.esckaz.com/2008/ |title=Georgian broadcaster confirms Eurovision boycott |publisher="ESCKazz" |date=2008-08-28|accessdate=2008-08-28] cite web |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3987 |title=GPB officially withdraws from Eurovision 2009 |author=Tongeren, Mario van|date=2008-08-28|publisher="Oikotimes"|accessdate=2008-08-28] cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12233|title=Georgia will not participate in Moscow Eurovision|last=Viniker|first=Barry|date=2008-08-28|publisher="ESCToday"|accessdate=2008-08-28] and seven further countries are undecided on if they will participate.Venue
The contest will be held in Russia following its victory in the 2008 contest in
Belgrade ,Serbia withDima Bilan 's "Believe".cite web |title=Russia hails Eurovision success as 'another triumph'|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080525/ts_afp/entertainmentmusiceurovision_080525113556 |publisher="Yahoo! News " |date=2008-05-25 |accessdate=2008-05-25]Vladimir Putin ,Prime Minister of Russia , has stated that the contest will be held in Moscow and it was proposed by the host broadcaster, Channel One, that the contest be held in the Olympic Indoor Arena within Moscow. [cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12162 |title=Prime Minister clears doubts up, Putin: "Eurovision will be held in Moscow" |publisher="ESCToday" |author=Hondal, Víctor|date=2008-07-21|accessdate=2008-07-23] The Director-General of the venue, Vladimir Churilin refuted rumors of emergency reconstruction of building, saying: "It will not be required for the Eurovision Song Contest. We now can take up to 25 thousands of spectators. According to preliminary projections, for the Eurovision we will have around 12 to 15 thousands of spectators in the hall. There will be about 2.5 thousand of participants, and together with the organizers and the press we're expecting up to 8 thousands guests". [cite web |url=http://www.esckaz.com/2008/ |title=Eurovision Venue |publisher="ESCKaz.com"|date=2008-09-21|accessdate=2008-11-11] . This proposal was evaluated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and confirmed on 13 September 2008.Format
Discussion on the format of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest took place at a EBU meeting in
Athens ,Greece in June 2008. A proposal was made that could have resulted in the "Big Four" countries (France ,Germany ,Spain and theUnited Kingdom ) losing their automatic place in the final of the contest.cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12025 |title=Big 4 (France; Germany; Spain; United Kingdom): May lose automatic place in Eurovision final |publisher="ESCToday" |author=Murray, Gavin |date=2008-05-28|accessdate=2008-05-28] However, it has been confirmed that the "Big Four" countries will continue to automatically qualify for the final at the 2009 contest.cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12281|title=Eurovision 'Big Four' final spots confirmed|last=Viniker|first=Barry|date=2008-09-14|publisher="ESCToday"|accessdate=2008-09-14]In response to some broadcasters' continued complaints about politically charged, neighbourly and diaspora voting, the EBU evaluated the voting procedure used in the contest, with the possibility of a change in the voting system for 2009. Contest organisers sent a questionnaire regarding the voting system to participating broadcasters, and a reference group incorporated the responses into their suggestions for next year's format.cite web |url=http://esctoday.com/news/read/12232 |title=Exclusive: A new voting procedure for Eurovision? |publisher="ESCToday" |author=Klier, Marcus |accessdate=2008-08-28] Telewizja Polska (TVP), the Polish broadcaster, suggested that an international jury similar to the one used in the 2008 Eurovision Dance Contest be introduced in the Eurovision Song Contest to lessen the impact of neighbourly voting and place more emphasis on the artistic value of the song.cite web |url=http://esctoday.com/news/read/12275 |title=Poland: TVP proposes international jury for Eurovision |publisher="ESCToday" |author=Floras, Stella |accessdate=2008-09-11] It has since been confirmed that for the contest final, each country's votes will be decided by a combination of
televoting results and a nationaljury , though the exact mix of each component has yet to be confirmed. The method of selecting the semi-final qualifiers will remain the same, however, with nine countries in each semi-final qualifying based on televoting results and the tenth coming from the juries.cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1363|title=Televoting/jury mix in 2009 Final voting|last=Bakker|first=Sieste|date=2008-09-14|publisher="Eurovision.tv"|accessdate=2008-09-14] cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12282|title=Eurovision 2009: The juries are back in the final!|last=Floras|first=Stella|date=2008-09-14|publisher="ESCToday"|accessdate=2008-09-14] Details on the jury method will be released after another Reference Group meeting in December. [cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12287|title=Eurovision voting change: details in December|last=Viniker|first=Barry|date=2009-09-15|publisher="ESCToday"|accessdate=2008-09-15] National juries were originally phased out of the contest beginning in 1997, and televoting became mandatory for nearly all participants beginning in 2003.Edgar Böhm , director of entertainment for Austria's public broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), has stated that the 2008 format with two semi-finals "still incorporates a mix of countries who will be politically favoured in the voting process," and "that, unless a clear guideline as to how the semifinals are organised is made by the EBU, Austria will not be taking part in Moscow 2009." [cite web |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3847 |title=Austria to not be in Moscow 2009? |publisher="Oikotimes" |author=Solloso, Jaime |accessdate=2008-07-23] [cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12055 |title=Austria: ORF will decide in the Autumn |publisher="ESCToday" |author=Kuipers, Michael |date=2008-06-03 |accessdate=2008-06-03] Despite the inclusion of jury voting in the final, Austria will not return to the contest in 2009, but will broadcast the final on ORF as it did in 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12304|title=Austria: No return to Eurovision in 2009|last=Klier|first=Marcus |date=2008-09-18|publisher="ESCToday"|accessdate=2008-09-18]Participants
Confirmed participants
* [cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/news/read/12164|title=Albania: First country to pick song for ESC again|publisher="ESCToday"|date=2008-07-22|accessdate=2008-07-22|author=Romkes, René]
* [cite web|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=4063|title=Andorra: RTVA confirm participation in Moscow 2009
publisher="Oikotimes"|date=2008-09-10|accessdate=2008-09-10|author=Jaime Solloso]
* [cite web|url=http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=87743|title=Ismayil Omarov: We cannot be means for anyone – INTERVIEW|publisher="APA"|date=2008-08-29|accessdate=2008-08-29]
* [cite web |url=http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.belta.by%2Fru%2Fprint%3Fid%3D244419&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=ru&tl=en |title= Petr Elfimov going to participate in the qualifying round at the "Eurovision" |publisher="Belarus Telegraph Agency" |date=2008-05-26 |accessdate=2008-05-27] cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12334|title= Belarus: Welcome to the Eurofest project!|publisher="ESCToday"|date=2008-09-29|accessdate=2008-09-29|last=Floras|first=Stella]
* [cite web |url=http://www.belgovision.com/en/index_f.php?id=4314 |title=Belgovision 2009: Who'll represent Belgium in 2009? |publisher="Belgovision" |date=2008-05-26 |accessdate=2008-05-27]
*cite web |url=http://www.dnevniavaz.ba/showbiz/estrada/plesna-evrovizija-na-bht-1-6-septembra|title= Plesna Evrovizija na BHT 1 6. septembra|publisher="Dnevni Avaz " |author=L. S. R.
language=Bosnian |date=2008-05-26 |accessdate=2008-05-27]
*cite web |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3756 |title=BNT starts long search for their 2009 entry |publisher="Oikotimes" |author=van Tongeren, Mario |date=2008-07-03|accessdate=2008-07-10]
* [cite web|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3858|title=CyBC responds to the Eurovision 2009 rumours|publisher="Oikotimes"|date=2008-07-22|accessdate=2008-07-22|author=Romkes, René] cite web|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=4158|title=CyBC opens the 2009 national selection competition|last=Konstantopoulos|first=Fotis|date=2008-10-09|publisher="Oikotimes"|accessdate=2008-10-09]
* [cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12175|title=Czech Republic will be there in 2009|publisher="ESCToday"|date=2008-07-29|accessdate=2008-07-29|author=Kuipers, Michael]
*cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12225|title=Denmark: One-day Melodi Grand Prix in 2009|publisher="ESCToday"|date=2008-08-25|accessdate=2008-08-25|author=Hondal, Víctor]
* [cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12296|title= Estonia will participate in 2009|publisher="ESCToday"|author=Floras, Stella|date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-17] [cite web |url=http://www.esckaz.com/2008/ |title=Estonian will take part in 2009 |publisher="ESCKaz" |date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-17]
* [cite web
url=http://www.iltalehti.fi/euroviisut/200805267705501_ev.shtml |title=Suomi etsii jo uutta euroviisua |publisher="Iltalehti" |language=Finnish |date=2008-05-26 |accessdate=2008-05-27|author=Jokinen, Juha Veli] cite web |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3657 |title=YLE announces plans for 2009 Eurovision |publisher="Oikotimes" |date=2008-06-19 |accessdate=2008-06-20 |author=Danielson, Martin]
*cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12161 |title=French HOD ready for 2009|publisher="ESCToday" |date=2008-07-18 |accessdate=2008-07-18 |author=Jones, John]
* [cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12073 |title=Germany: Will participate in Eurovision 2009 |publisher="ESCToday" |date=2008-06-09 |accessdate=2008-06-09 |author=Davies, Russel]
*cite web |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3818 |title=Greece decided, Sakis for Moscow |publisher="Oikotimes" |date=2008-07-15 |accessdate=2008-07-15 |author=Jones, John] cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12153 |title=Greece: Sakis Rouvas to Moscow! |publisher="ESCToday" |date=2008-07-15 |accessdate=2008-07-15 |author=Kalimeris, Aris] cite web |url=http://news.ert.gr/en/c/7/406752.asp |title=Ο Σάκης Ρουβάς και πάλι στη EUROVISION |publisher="ERT"|language=Greek |date=2008-07-16 |accessdate=2008-07-16 |author=ERT Staff]
*cite web|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=4088|title=RUV begins quest for Moscow with changes|last=Wells|first=Simon|date=2008-09-14|publisher="Oikotimes"|accessdate=2008-09-14] cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12286|title=Iceland: RÚV starts search for 2009 entry|last=Hondal|first=Víctor |date=2009-09-15|publisher="ESCToday"|accessdate=2008-09-15]
* [cite web|url=http://www.esckaz.com/2008 |title=Latvia: no plans to boycott |publisher="ESCKaz" |accessdate=2008-08-26 |date=2008-08-26] [cite web|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3979|title=Latvia not to boycott ESC in Moscow|last=van Tongeren|first=Mario|date=2008-08-26|publisher="Oikotimes"|accessdate=2008-08-26]
* [cite web|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3555 |title=Culture Minister to make changes in MaltaSong Board |publisher="Oikotimes" |accessdate=2008-06-02 |date=2008-06-02] [cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12054 |title=Malta: Will participate in Eurovision 2009 |publisher="ESCToday" |author=Murray, Gavin |date=2008-06-03 |accessdate=2008-06-03]
* [cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/11863 |title=Netherlands will participate in 2009 |publisher="ESCToday"|author=Viniker, Barry |date=2008-05-20 |accessdate=2008-05-21]
*cite web |url=http://escnation.com/index.php?section=2&id=582 |title=Norways says no to schlagers! |publisher="Eurovision Nation" |author=Roger |date=2008-06-09 |accessdate=2008-06-09]
* [cite web |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3626 |title=A new selection method to Eurovision? |publisher="Oikotimes" |author=Nelson, Costa |date=2008-06-09 |accessdate=2008-06-09]
* [cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12325 file=articles&id=3800 |title=Mihai making 2009 comeback for Romania| publisher="aidenway"|author=aidenway |accessdate=2008-09-26]
*
* [cite web |url=http://www.mtsmondo.com/services/tv/tvStory.php?vest=97847 |title=RTS: Spremni smo da ponovo budemo domaćini |publisher="Mondo" |language=Serbian |accessdate=2008-06-09 |author=Zimonjić, Bojana |date=2008-05-21]
*
*cite web|url=http://www.evrovizija.com/?content=28&item_id=292|title=Ema 2009: Povabljeni avtorji?! Vrača se Vanja Vardjan!|last=Maatko|first=Alesh|date=2008-09-14|publisher="Evrovizija"|language=Slovene|accessdate=2008-09-15]
* [cite web|url=http://eurovision-spain.com/iphp/noticia.php?numero=4707&idioma=|title=El Big Four estará clasificado para la final de Eurovisión 2009|publisher="Eurovision-Spain"|language=Spanish|accessdate=2008-09-17|date=2008-09-14|author=Palacios, Jesús]
* [cite web |url=http://www.svt.se/content/1/c8/01/05/68/94/Inbjudan%20till%20Melodifestivalen%202009.pdf |title=Inbjudan till Melodifestivalen 2009 |publisher="SVT" |language=Swedish |accessdate=2008-05-27 |author=Björkman, Christer] cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12027 |title=Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2009 call for songs |publisher="ESCToday" |author=Floras, Stella |date=2008-05-29 |accessdate=2008-05-29]
* [cite web |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3800 |title=SF engages Eurovision quest for 2009 entry |publisher="Oikotimes" |accessdate=2008-05-27 |author=Björkman, Christer] [cite web |url=http://www.sf.tv/webtool/data/pdf/eurovisionmanual/785_ch-reglement-10-6-08_eng.pdf |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2009-Swiss Regulations |date=2008-06-10|publisher="SRG SSR idée suisse " |accessdate=2008-06-13] [cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12145 |title=Switzerland: SF call for songs |publisher="ESCToday" |date=2008-07-11|accessdate=2008-07-11
author=Hondal, Víctor]
* [cite web|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3977|title=TRT denies offering anyone the Moscow ticket|last=Fisher|first=Luke|date=2008-08-26|publisher="Oikotimes"|accessdate=2008-08-26] [cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/news/read/12228|title=Turkish broadcaster denies rumoured proposals to artists|last=Floras|first=Stella|date=2008-08-27|publisher="ESCToday"|accessdate=2008-08-27]
* [cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12009 |title=United Kingdom will not withdraw |publisher="ESCToday"|author=Kuipers, Michael |date=2008-05-28 |accessdate=2008-05-26]Possible returns
* - Télé Monte Carlo (TMC) had once stated that they would not enter into the competition when they have no chance of progressing from the semi-final. [cite web|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/9801|title=Monaco will not return in 2008|publisher="ESC Today"|date=2007-12-06|accessdate=2008-09-16] Now that the voting system has changed, Monaco could return.
* - Moroccan second commercial channel2M TV is currently applying for EBU membership. Should this be granted, the broadcaster may be interested in entering the contest for the second time for Morocco, after their previous participation in 1980. [cite web|url=http://www.esctime.com/news/1550|title=SPECIAL: Possible come back for Morocco in Eurovision Song Contest ?|last=Toronidis|first=Theofilos|publisher="ESCTime"|accessdate=2008-09-26]Withdrawals
* - Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB) has confirmed withdrawal from the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest due to the
2008 South Ossetia war in protest of the foreign policies of Russia.Undecided
* - The head of Lietuvos Nacionalinis Radijas ir Televizija (LRT) has stated that they will consider boycotting the 2009 contest "if Russia continues to showcase power and ignores international law", referring to the war in South Ossetia. [cite web |url=http://www.esckaz.com/2008/ |title=Lithuanian Broadcaster Head supports his Estonian colleague in Eurovision boycott |publisher="ESCKaz" |date=2008-08-22|accessdate=2008-08-22]
* - Makedonska Radio Televizija (MKRTV) is uncertain of their participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The future of the station will be determined by the Macedonian government. The government has refused to comment on the financial situation of the broadcaster, although it has indicated that the most likely option for MKRTV is bankruptcy or liquidation. [cite web |url=http://www.dnevnik.com.mk/?itemID=23FCF4F3C9E9034A8C005BDE9FEDDA3A&arc=1|title=Државната телевизија пред стечај|publisher="Dnevnik"|language=Macedonian|accessdate=2008-06-14] [cite web |url=http://www.limun.hr/en/main.aspx?id=316890|title=Uncertain future of MRT|publisher="Limun.hr"|date=2008-07-31|accessdate=2008-07-31]
* - Telewizja Polska (TVP) will decide in October 2008 if they will participate in the contest in 2009. [cite web |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3544 |title=TVP not to take part in Junior Eurovision 2008 |publisher="Oikotimes" |author=Stellmaszyk, Szymon |date=2008-05-31|accessdate=2008-06-01] TVP has confirmed that it is considering withdrawing from the contest, but is waiting to review any changes the EBU makes to the show's format or voting procedure. Poland's victory in the 2008 Eurovision Dance Contest and its evaluation on whether to host the 2009 Eurovision Dance Contest will also be a factor in TVP's decision.Aneta Wrona , a spokesperson for TVP, stated that Poland's participation or withdrawal in next year's contest will have nothing to do with the political situation between Russia and Georgia. No word as of yet has come from TVP over their participation at the contest after the announcement of a jury system in the final.
* - San Marino RTV (SMRTV) will decide by the end of 2008 whether they will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest for a second time. The Sammarinese Minister of Youth has commented that they have "good hopes" of returning to the Eurovision Song Contest. [cite web |title=San Marino: " We have good hopes to return" |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12078 |date=2008-06-10 |accessdate=2008-06-10 |publisher="ESCToday" |author=Floras, Stella]
* - Natsionalna Telekompaniya Ukrainy (NTU) is considering withdrawal due to financial problems with its broadcasting network, though it is also still looking for a sponsor for the event. [cite web|url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/entertainment/1556895/ukrainian_staterun_tv_striving_to_overcome_financial_strains__company/|title=Ukrainian State-Run TV Striving to Overcome Financial Strains - Company Head|publisher="Red Orbit"|date=2008-09-16|accessdate=2008-09-16]Individual entries
References
External links
* [http://www.eurovision.tv Eurovision Song Contest Official Site]
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