NG
I wonder if the people commenting recognise the members of the BBC One, BBC Four and Artist Delegation teams that the BBC send each year, or just the on-screen/commentary team...
noggin
Founding member
There were various comments online this year that it was a surprise to see anyone from the BBC at the artists press conferences during Eurovision week. Of course they were referring to Rylan who absolutely took to it like a duck to water and really immersed himself in the experience.
I wonder if the people commenting recognise the members of the BBC One, BBC Four and Artist Delegation teams that the BBC send each year, or just the on-screen/commentary team...
BM
BM11
The EBU have three options.
1. Agree to it being hosted In Jersualam and risk violent protests occuring and the contest being linked to them. And possibly a few countires withdrawing due to the management of their brodcaster's
2. Succesfully Presuade Isreal to agree to host it in Tel Aviv or another city rather than Jerusalem, should reduce but not eliminate the risk of boycotts and protests.
3. Unable to allow it in Jerusalem and be unable to persuade Israel to move it elsewhere they strip hosting rights from Israel, leading to Israel and almost certainty other countries withdrawing in protest. The BBC may well be part of this boycott because they will be considerable pressure for them to oppose an EBU which will be seen as anti Israeli/anti semtic and pro BDS.
1. Agree to it being hosted In Jersualam and risk violent protests occuring and the contest being linked to them. And possibly a few countires withdrawing due to the management of their brodcaster's
2. Succesfully Presuade Isreal to agree to host it in Tel Aviv or another city rather than Jerusalem, should reduce but not eliminate the risk of boycotts and protests.
3. Unable to allow it in Jerusalem and be unable to persuade Israel to move it elsewhere they strip hosting rights from Israel, leading to Israel and almost certainty other countries withdrawing in protest. The BBC may well be part of this boycott because they will be considerable pressure for them to oppose an EBU which will be seen as anti Israeli/anti semtic and pro BDS.
NG
noggin
Founding member
I think it's tricky given that the 1999 contest was held in Jerusalem with no real issues. I know the Israel/Palestine situation has moved on somewhat since then, but there were still massive tensions in the area caused by very similar issues 20 years ago.
However if the EBU (and Israel) can't guarantee delegates' safety (in an acceptable manner - rather than shoot-at-will) then the EBU have a problem.
The EBU don't - historically - get too involved in political issues domestically - otherwise they wouldn't have hosted in Baku (Azerbaijan has a very questionable human rights record), and Ukraine was an interesting situation too (as parts of the country are effectively still at war with Russia)
However if the EBU (and Israel) can't guarantee delegates' safety (in an acceptable manner - rather than shoot-at-will) then the EBU have a problem.
The EBU don't - historically - get too involved in political issues domestically - otherwise they wouldn't have hosted in Baku (Azerbaijan has a very questionable human rights record), and Ukraine was an interesting situation too (as parts of the country are effectively still at war with Russia)
GL
The EBU execs will be under massive pressure with this one. Nobody knows which way it could go. The 1999 contest faced similar issues. The national broadcaster of Israel was practically bankrupt and there were - to a lesser extent - security concerns. At the time the EBU considered moving the show to Malta but backed down after Israel agreed to host a scaled down contest inside a concert hall with a small audience. From a viewer's perspective, it really didn't paint Israel in a positive light. It felt a little like the infamous Italian contest. The staging was poor, the production values were low and we weren't able to appreciate how big Eurovision had become. Stockholm 2000 and Copenhagen 2001 were breaths of fresh air, while the Baltic contests after that reflected a mood of optimism and everything that Eurovision embodied.
Part of the problem the EBU faces is that it's so scared to challenge issues before they materialise. The next 12 months will make the Kyev issue feel like a storm in a teacup.
I think it's tricky given that the 1999 contest was held in Jerusalem with no real issues. I know the Israel/Palestine situation has moved on somewhat since then, but there were still massive tensions in the area caused by very similar issues 20 years ago.
However if the EBU (and Israel) can't guarantee delegates' safety (in an acceptable manner - rather than shoot-at-will) then the EBU have a problem.
The EBU don't - historically - get too involved in political issues domestically - otherwise they wouldn't have hosted in Baku (Azerbaijan has a very questionable human rights record), and Ukraine was an interesting situation too (as parts of the country are effectively still at war with Russia)
However if the EBU (and Israel) can't guarantee delegates' safety (in an acceptable manner - rather than shoot-at-will) then the EBU have a problem.
The EBU don't - historically - get too involved in political issues domestically - otherwise they wouldn't have hosted in Baku (Azerbaijan has a very questionable human rights record), and Ukraine was an interesting situation too (as parts of the country are effectively still at war with Russia)
The EBU execs will be under massive pressure with this one. Nobody knows which way it could go. The 1999 contest faced similar issues. The national broadcaster of Israel was practically bankrupt and there were - to a lesser extent - security concerns. At the time the EBU considered moving the show to Malta but backed down after Israel agreed to host a scaled down contest inside a concert hall with a small audience. From a viewer's perspective, it really didn't paint Israel in a positive light. It felt a little like the infamous Italian contest. The staging was poor, the production values were low and we weren't able to appreciate how big Eurovision had become. Stockholm 2000 and Copenhagen 2001 were breaths of fresh air, while the Baltic contests after that reflected a mood of optimism and everything that Eurovision embodied.
Part of the problem the EBU faces is that it's so scared to challenge issues before they materialise. The next 12 months will make the Kyev issue feel like a storm in a teacup.
JA
That elsewhere would be Cyprus, I assume, since they were the runner-up.
The EBU have three options.
1. Agree to it being hosted In Jersualam and risk violent protests occuring and the contest being linked to them. And possibly a few countires withdrawing due to the management of their brodcaster's
2. Succesfully Presuade Isreal to agree to host it in Tel Aviv or another city rather than Jerusalem, should reduce but not eliminate the risk of boycotts and protests.
3. Unable to allow it in Jerusalem and be unable to persuade Israel to move it elsewhere they strip hosting rights from Israel, leading to Israel and almost certainty other countries withdrawing in protest. The BBC may well be part of this boycott because they will be considerable pressure for them to oppose an EBU which will be seen as anti Israeli/anti semtic and pro BDS.
1. Agree to it being hosted In Jersualam and risk violent protests occuring and the contest being linked to them. And possibly a few countires withdrawing due to the management of their brodcaster's
2. Succesfully Presuade Isreal to agree to host it in Tel Aviv or another city rather than Jerusalem, should reduce but not eliminate the risk of boycotts and protests.
3. Unable to allow it in Jerusalem and be unable to persuade Israel to move it elsewhere they strip hosting rights from Israel, leading to Israel and almost certainty other countries withdrawing in protest. The BBC may well be part of this boycott because they will be considerable pressure for them to oppose an EBU which will be seen as anti Israeli/anti semtic and pro BDS.
TI
That elsewhere would be Cyprus, I assume, since they were the runner-up.
The lack of any suitable venue in Cyprus would cause its own range of problems.
I've no doubt the contest will be in Jerusalem.
The EBU have three options.
1. Agree to it being hosted In Jersualam and risk violent protests occuring and the contest being linked to them. And possibly a few countires withdrawing due to the management of their brodcaster's
2. Succesfully Presuade Isreal to agree to host it in Tel Aviv or another city rather than Jerusalem, should reduce but not eliminate the risk of boycotts and protests.
3. Unable to allow it in Jerusalem and be unable to persuade Israel to move it elsewhere they strip hosting rights from Israel, leading to Israel and almost certainty other countries withdrawing in protest. The BBC may well be part of this boycott because they will be considerable pressure for them to oppose an EBU which will be seen as anti Israeli/anti semtic and pro BDS.
1. Agree to it being hosted In Jersualam and risk violent protests occuring and the contest being linked to them. And possibly a few countires withdrawing due to the management of their brodcaster's
2. Succesfully Presuade Isreal to agree to host it in Tel Aviv or another city rather than Jerusalem, should reduce but not eliminate the risk of boycotts and protests.
3. Unable to allow it in Jerusalem and be unable to persuade Israel to move it elsewhere they strip hosting rights from Israel, leading to Israel and almost certainty other countries withdrawing in protest. The BBC may well be part of this boycott because they will be considerable pressure for them to oppose an EBU which will be seen as anti Israeli/anti semtic and pro BDS.
The lack of any suitable venue in Cyprus would cause its own range of problems.
I've no doubt the contest will be in Jerusalem.
JA
They can always go down to 3rd or 4th if need be - Austria and Germany. It's happened before, in the 1960s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest
Quote:
1960—hosted by the BBC in London when the Netherlands declined due to expense. The UK was chosen to host because it had come second in 1959.
1963—hosted by the BBC in London when France declined due to expense. Although the UK had only come fourth in 1962, Monaco and Luxembourg (who came second and third) had also declined.
1963—hosted by the BBC in London when France declined due to expense. Although the UK had only come fourth in 1962, Monaco and Luxembourg (who came second and third) had also declined.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest
DO
We should be alright this time around though!
They can always go down to 3rd or 4th if need be - Austria and Germany. It's happened before, in the 1960s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest
Quote:
1960—hosted by the BBC in London when the Netherlands declined due to expense. The UK was chosen to host because it had come second in 1959.
1963—hosted by the BBC in London when France declined due to expense. Although the UK had only come fourth in 1962, Monaco and Luxembourg (who came second and third) had also declined.
1963—hosted by the BBC in London when France declined due to expense. Although the UK had only come fourth in 1962, Monaco and Luxembourg (who came second and third) had also declined.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest
We should be alright this time around though!
BM
BM11
I am not sure how many countries would be prepared to host if Israel is stripped - and thus damage their relationship with the Israeli government.
We could easily see a contest with only 30-35 countries with withdrawals if Israel is stripped of hosting - and I would say the BBC would be among them as it wont want to be seen as actively supporting an anti Israel move.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2019-eurovision-contest-might-not-be-held-in-jerusalem-official-says-1.6155183
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium--1.6155007
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/176565-180607-netanyahu-warns-of-bds-pressure-on-other-events-after-argentina-game-nixed
Update - Looks like the Israeli government are divided with the Finance Minster being open to a non Jerusalem Israel held contest while the Culture Minster being Jerusalem or not at all
We could easily see a contest with only 30-35 countries with withdrawals if Israel is stripped of hosting - and I would say the BBC would be among them as it wont want to be seen as actively supporting an anti Israel move.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2019-eurovision-contest-might-not-be-held-in-jerusalem-official-says-1.6155183
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium--1.6155007
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/176565-180607-netanyahu-warns-of-bds-pressure-on-other-events-after-argentina-game-nixed
Update - Looks like the Israeli government are divided with the Finance Minster being open to a non Jerusalem Israel held contest while the Culture Minster being Jerusalem or not at all
Last edited by BM11 on 7 June 2018 5:49pm - 4 times in total
BM
BM11
https://twitter.com/hendopolis/statu...85745620553729 - This Article shows what backlash they could be against any country that withdraws because it is held In Jerusalem or take part when it has been moved.