Eurovision 2018

I would say the chance of the BBC making a politically motivated withdrawal is zero.

Broken link, you must've copy/pasted as it links to /hendopolis/statu...85745620553729

https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1004785745620553729

Equally they wont want to be seen going to an event if similar broadcasters have withdrawn because Israel was stripped of hosting rights - it would be a red rag to the accusations that the BBC is biased against Israel. They would be considerable governmental and media pressure in such a scenario.

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5280544,00.html
Sounds like the EBU is not keen on Jerusalem hosting.

Do you reckon the EBU will remove/replace the UK from the Big 5 if we boycott Israel's contest?

This speculation is ultimately pretty pointless isn't it?

The Big 5 are there because if those countries weren't in the final the ratings would take a nosedive (particularly the UK where the contest still rates well) - although they also pay more to licence the show the contribution financially is probably dwarfed by other income streams (sponsorship, government subsidies etc.)

If the BBC were to pull out, I suspect more than a few other broadcasters would take an editorial lead from the BBC. The Big 5 would be the least of the EBU's worries.

I suspect the BBC threatening to withdraw would see whatever they were opposing reinstated or the 2019 contest scrapped and a random draw for the 2020 host.
The next few months are going to be bumpy because what seems to be the most likely outcome - Israel withdrawing permanently from the contest due to the EBU saying No to Jerusalem will put the BBC and other major broadcasters under pressure - a lot of broadcasters have been accused of being anti Israel and in both Israel and the UK they will be many calls for the BBC to withdraw to show that it is not anti Israel.

I don’t think any of this will happen.

We’ve been here before - thinking that a country couldn’t possibly host it, and then they do, do it well and everyone says how marvellous it was. I cannot see the BBC pulling out while the contest still rates well. The ‘big five’ isn’t about prestige, it’s about contribution, so while the BBC continues to pay its way for Eurovision as a whole (there’s a lot more to Eurovision than just the song contest) it will still be a big 5 member and therefore a participant.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/government-said-to-drop-demand-eurovision-be-held-in-jerusalem/
Looking like the Israeli government might accept a contest held in Tel Aviv/Haifa/Elliat. Would also help reduce the effect of the Sabbath as Tel Aviv is not as religious and might be able host rehearsals during Shabbat.

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Eurovision Song Contest 2018 Grand Final