Fans of Laka, Regina, Dino Merlin and Maya Sar better grab some tissues: It doesn’t look like Bosnia & Herzegovina will return to Eurovision any time soon.
Earlier this month, as Eurovision drew to its glittering climax, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) issued a strongly worded statement warning that the Bosnian Public Service Broadcaster is “close to collapse”. EBU director Ingrid Deltenre blamed the government for failing to devise a sustainable funding model and for delaying the implementation of stronger media law. “I urge authorities to respect and support public media rather than undermine their independence and credibility,” she wrote.
The public broadcaster includes BHRT, which has traditionally fielded the nation’s Eurovision contestants. As a result of its funding issues, BHRT must delay its switch from analog to digital distribution. In that regard they are so 2007.
Bosnia & Herzegovina at Eurovision
Given all that, we can understand why BnH may choose to sit Eurovision out again in 2016. That will mark its fourth straight absence. The former Yugoslav republic last participated in 2012, when Maya Sar performed their swan song “Korake Ti Znam”.
In early November 2014, after a two year absence from Eurovision, a Bosnia and Herzegovina comeback seemed possible. The EBU had extended the country’s application deadline, and rumours swirled that stars such as Hari Mata Hari and Regina could represent them. But on November 17 the country’s national broadcaster confirmed that they would not make the trip to Vienna. Eurofans wept.
BHRT published the following statement on their website at the time.
Given the very difficult financial situation within BHRT, and a drastic drop in license fee collection, we have withdrawn from the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be organized next year in Austria.
As announced, the only way for the participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest was to find the necessary sponsorship funds, BHRT failed in the necessary time to find this type of financial support.
Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Vienna from 19 to 23 May next year, without the representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The broadcaster pulled a similar stunt in 2013, when they also made a preliminary application to participate only to subsequently withdraw.
OHHH I really hope Bosnia and Herzegovina will come back…
Hari Mata Hari, Dino, Regina… all of them were amazing, and Maja Sar… so beautiful song she gave to us that night <3 Her song is one of my favorites 🙂
To be honest, I can’t remember a single good song that they’d have sent. And they’ve brought nothing to the contest, except an overuse of regional bloc voting. Sorry, but I’m not gonna miss them…
Ahh. Love in rewind-land.
With the choices of the two artist mentioned. Dropping out and closing shop was for the best. Especially since yall can’t AFFORD going from analog to digital TV!? So 2008 (USA standards).
If I were a billionaire I’d help them with money. 🙂 But unfortunately I’m not a billionaire. 🙁
I’ll miss Bosnia if they don’t come back. Lejla from 2006 was one of the all-time great Eurovision songs.
Good news! Less Balkan trash, the better. Only Serbia & Slovenia should continue. Failed republic of Macedonia & hell Albania should seriously withdraw & bring their trash music & taste to limbo. They are not wanted in ESC anyway
I miss B&H. “Love In Rewind” is a big fav of mine.
Allen
Oh okay, shame.
@ Deniz, In Bosnia nobody cares for Turkovision and only few people know Bosnia had an entry on this contest. Important to mention, that is a project of one private tv station, so national broadcaster doesn’t have anything with that and before that contest when they were asked to take part they said they have no interest to participate. Speaking of Bosnia in ESC… Few weeks ago I met a journalist from BHRT. He said to me BHRT got a new director who is more eager than the former director to put more money into music and art. So, Bosnia,… Read more »
i might be racist but i can’t see the difference between bosnia and the rest of former yugoslav republics… to me as long there is someone who represents them like serbia then it’s all good.
Maybe it is time for a different broadcaster.
B&H have sent a few really good quality acts – Dino & Beatrice, Dino by himself, Regina. I would like to see them return.
RIP, Dino Merlin is stuck in my head these days
It would be nice if consistently good countries such as Bosnia, Turkey and the Ukraine could come back.
Except for 2008, they used to send decent entries… Especially Hari Mata Hari, Regina and Dino Merlin…
I won’t miss them much but they have given us great entries.
So sad! BIH 2006 (Hari Mata Hari “Lejla”) was exceptional in my opinion.
Why not get an other broadcaster then??
The one that takes care of their Turkvizyon performances doesn’t have problems, why not take them??
B&H is a good ESC country and I miss them a lot. Their music was always something special and cultural.
As much as I hate to say it, I think we could see Bosnia Herzegovina out of Eurovision for many years to come I’m afraid. ????????????????????
At least Turkey and Ukraine are back. ????????
It’s a shame. Maya was one of my favs in 2012 And I really like the other BnH entries.
It’d be nice if they could get some sponsorship for it, but I hope they return some day soon!
Shame.