On August 19 German MPs voted to approve a third bailout for Greece, paving the way for one of Eurovision’s most successful nations to receive the first installment of its 85 billion euro package on August 20. But even with the cash flowing, ERT, Greece’s state broadcaster, won’t commit to Eurovision 2016 just yet. The situation is still evolving — and the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation doesn’t know how the government will apportion its most recent financial windfall.
Speaking with wiwibloggs, an ERT official had this to say:
ERT is fully recognized by the EBU, and thus maintains all the rights it had up until June 2013 [when it shut down, before later being revived]. Nevertheless, given the current situation in Greece, it is too early for us to know whether or not ERT will participate in Eurovision 2016.
Tough Times
In recent years broadcasting in Greece has reminded us the nation is most def the birthplace of DRAMA. In June 2013 the government suddenly shut down ERT, replacing it with NERIT (which came under criticism for being a mouthpiece of the government). Despite not being a member of the EBU, officials made an exception and allowed Greece to participate in Eurovision 2014. Fast forward and a newly-elected Greek government decides to re-open the defunct NERIT, exactly two years after it was shut down. In July 2015 banks were temporarily shut down, capital controls were applied and, as Maria-Elena Kyriakou warned, Greece was just “One Last Breath” from economic failure and a #Grexit. It’s exhausting, isn’t it?
The Greeks may love Eurovision, but that’s not enough to fund the Greek delegation in Stockholm — or to foot the bill for a national final. The latter task will be easier, perhaps with another ERT – MAD TV collaboration in the form of “Eurosong 2016”.
Hopefully ERT’s revival will spell greater success for Athens. ERT’s contestants landed in the Top 10 eight out of the nine times it participated since the introduction of the Semi-Finals (it also placed seventeenth in 2012 with “Aphrodisiac”). DT and NERIT have only managed to come twentieth and nineteenth, respectively.
So, do you want to see Greece in Eurovision once again?
On 26 January 2015, an allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in. Greece was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 19 May 2015, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.
The reason why the 2011 entry was well-loved because: Loucas has the looks and voice, was the winner of the 1st Greek X Factor, possibly already popular in some European countries (I didn’t count their home country because that’s already obvious enough), and the song really has Greek taste. I don’t like it because the mixture of rap there doesn’t blend well to the song and the part that Loucas sings the “aaaaa…” cringes me, but Europe has already spoken that time.
2005 was not overrated for that time, when I first heard it I fell was obsessed with “My Number One” ….. Amazing song still, but the way my music taste has grown I actually prefer Romania’s “Let Me Try” now. But Helena is amazing and I just loved her song, Loved Sakis in 2004 (not 2009), Anna Vissi was amazing NOW she was underrated ….. 2007 was bad,2008 catchy but to beyonce wind machine hair flips, 2010 did not like it that much, 2011 annoying and OVERRATED, 2012 catchy neither underrated nor overrated , 2013 good kinda, 2014 they had… Read more »
Please Greece send a singer next year that can keep in tune.. and who has perfect english pronounciation.. your 2015 act failed on both points
I also liked Sakis’ entries. However I wasn’t fond of 2011 and I hated 2013 entry. TBH I think (I will get a lot of hate for that because it doesn’t seem to be popular opinion 🙂 ) 2005 entry was overrated – but that’s just my personal opinion. Many people seem to love it.
@Mario, I don’t doubt that Greece deserved good places. But you said that ‘Greek entries were underrated so many times’ This simply can’t be true because Greece in most cases always has good placing – countries such as Bulgaria or Fyrom can only dream about getting such high positions in every single contest. How, let’s say, 2011 entry was underrated if it won semi?
Personally, I liked some Greek entries in the past but not always. I liked 2012, 2014, 2015 and my absolute favourite from Greece is 2010.
@ct greece: Just because you don’t agree with me doesn’t mean that I should “inform myself” (I think I’ve done that more than I should, among others on the ridiculous amount of interests that Greece has already paid; and on the number of German companies that took advantage of this crisis to buy Greek State-owned assets at the cheapest price, because Germany was forcing them to privatize these assets). This story is not all black or white. Now this is not a political blog and I don’t mean to digress into a very complicated and sad subject, but please ask… Read more »
Of course I would like Greece to stay in , I hate to see any (European) country withdraw, except for maybe the cheating ones (You know what countries I mean) but even then, I would only have them withdraw for a year or two. But as already mentioned below, Greece can be underrated AND overrated, the past few years has seen Greece’s entries completely overhyped. The Greek entries of 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2014 will always be in my top 10, but it becomes tiresome and boring every year when the same couple of countries qualify for the final… Read more »
Greece has been both underrated and overrated in its history at Eurovision. Underrated in the 70s/80s/90s (1976, 1977, 1991, 1992, 1995 to name a few), overrated in the 00s (2004, 2007[horrible, horrible], 2009, 2010, 2011). Admittedly there aren’t that many Greek entries I love, but Eurovision without Greece doesn’t feel right. I hope they find the funds to return.
Well, Syriza and their extremist obsessions have ruined everything else in this country. Let’s hope they will not ruin Eurovision as well. The contest was always the greek left’s favourite punching-bag – they despise it because of its immense popularity and alleged lack of “quality” as they see it. @ Racal Greece will be paying 1% interest for its new loans. You think that is exorbitant? Spain pays 6% borrowing in the markets. Inform yourself before leaving a comment. Interest payments may be large because the borrowed sums are large, not because Greece is paying a high rate. By the… Read more »
Totally agree with Ariana there on every song. Greece is overrated imo when shouldn’t be, and underrated when they actually send class songs like last year.
I know this is not a political blog, but how could you possibly imply that “cash is flowing” to Greece just because Germany approved a bailout? Everybody knows that this cash will only be used to pay the ridiculously high interests that Greece owes to the banks, following the even more ridiculous reforms that Germany forced on them. Greece and the Greeks won’t see a single penny out of these 85 billions, so don’t imply that please.
There is no financial reason why a delegation can’t be sent. Mad can cover the costs of a national final or even save funds by internal selection – maybe a deal with a record company trying to make an act famous. All sorts of sponsorship agreements can be made too. In my view as long as ERT can pay a little for a hotel for a week or two and can afford a backing track, there’s no reason not to go.
I am Greek and I don’t understand how awful songs such as Shake it,Yassou Maria,Secret combination,Opa,Watch my dance and Alcohol is free got better places than awesome songs such as Everything,Rise up and One last breath.We are overrated and not underrated!
I love Greece at Eurovision but it’s more important to give Greeks jobs and an education and a stable future. Forget ESC and focus on what matters!!!
@ EF
Its ok…You have your own different taste & preference so i do not mind..
This is normal situation in eurofans…You can not agree with just anyone according to all the songs that you either like or dislike..
@ We have qualified every time to the final just because we deserved it simply… Always all the time our songs were good enough at least 4 the qualification from the SF.. 2004 *Shake It* ~ great song.. 2005 *My Number 1* ~ Winner material song…We WON 100% fairly.. 2006 *Everything* ~ Really good song…It deserved to be in the final & finish on good place.. 2007 *Yassou Maria* ~ Really good…Was Qualifier song.. 2008 *My Secret Combination* ~ Fantastic song! top10 material! Even better than the winner song of Dima Bilan.. 2009 *This Is Our Night* ~ Great song…Qualifier… Read more »
@Mario
I respect your opinion but in my opinion I’m really sorry to say that youre 2011 entry didn’t even deserve to go through the semis. I can’t believe that it won its semi.
The only time Greece was underrated was 2006 (maybe 2012). 2009-2011 and 2013 they were so overrated. The only Greek entries I actually like are 2005,2006 and 2008. They really need to improve. And if they take a year off, I genuinely believe they’ll have a great comeback a la Poland 2014 and Serbia 2007 and 2015 (not that I agree that Serbia deserved the top 10 this year)
Sorry but how is Greece underrated? It’s a country that always qualifies from semifinals. Between 2001 and 2013 they were 10 times in Top 10. It’s doing well and has never been underrated.
Personally, I think it would be good for Greece to have a break from Eurovision. They have financial issues so it would be not good to spend money on very expensive entertainment . Besides, if Greece wins, they won’t be able to afford hosting next contest.
@ leaf : I disagree…We mainly do not do good just because we are Greece…Then you could claim exactly the same about many other countries as well..
Our song in 2011 was amazing <3 Its one of our best ever entries that we have sent to EuroVision <3 And the live performance was great too..
@MarioVision
Greek entries are not underrated, sometimes I believe they qualify only cos they are Greece, like 2011 ….. What a horror and a crime to music.
Ofc not debut, I meant return
I don’t think they will debut in jesc
Hey…By the way kinda excuse me for my multiple comments here with the long headlines…I do not write too long headlines frequently 4 the record…Sorry if this might be too much 4 you..
I was intending to post one more comment here discussing about our Helena’s victory in 2005 & the fact why we did not win with much more points instead…Plus the fact about why our entries were underrated how many times..
I’m gonna post this comment later in a while..
The prophety of Maria Elena….
You did confirm for 2015 very late though. And the worst of the finalist crisis happened after Eurovision.
Well given the fact that ~ France has not won again in the Vision since 1977(!) ~ Austria was staying without victory 4 over 48 years before the triumph of Conchita! ~ Newherlands has not win the Vision 4 over 50 years now!! ~ Portugal has never win yet since their debut in 1964!! ~ It took Finland 45 whole years to win in 2006 since their debut in 1961!! ~ Cyprus has still never won since their debut in 1981! ~ Iceland has never won yet since their debut in 1986! etc etc etc.. So i really wonder if… Read more »
Well if only we win in 2021…<3 On that date in 6 years from now will mark the GreAtY anniversary 4 our 200 whole years of independence & freedom as proud free nation <3 🙂
Oh…New blood here on WB.. 🙂 I was actually expecting 4 the other greek guy Billy to be the author of this wiwi article about Greece’ topic but you are all new to the site here…And as i noticed its your very first wiwi article here.. 🙂 So welcome newby George 🙂 On the main topic now.. Well i truly think that if our country {I’m Greek too by the way 🙂 } managed to take part in previous Vision of 2013,2014 & this year with the financial situation to be awful with the crisis then we can participate on… Read more »