As Greece prepares for its upcoming legislative election on September 20, ERT, the Greek public broadcaster, is getting ready for Eurovision 2016, according to a report from Enimerosi24.
The report, which is detailed on iNewsgr.com, says that ERT’s Board of Directors met recently to decide on 10 important issues, including Greece’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. Item #9 suggests there is tacit approval to participate at Eurovision: the item makes provisions for a national selection contest. It reads:
“ERT’s Board has approved hosting a National Final for the 61st Eurovision Song Contest”.
Just a few days ago ERT told wiwibloggs that it was too early for the network to decide on whether it would participate in the contest. If the reports emerging out of Greece are true, then things have moved on rather quickly.
We don’t yet know what form this National Final will take, or when it will take place. ERT has not yet responded to wiwibloggs’ query — it’s the weekend, y’all — but we will update you as soon as we hear back.
In all likelihood, the public broadcaster ERT will collaborate with the private channel MAD TV in the form of Eurosong 2016, which has been a tradition since 2013. A private network, in conjunction with record labels, foots the bill, and the public gets its Eurovision singer. Win-win.
So, what do you think? Do you want to see Greece at Eurovision 2016? Should it choose internally or stage a selection show?
@esc1234: If I am biased or not, can’t be sure… but I’ll ask my dog maybe he knows …but I’ll say this .. thank God the Serbian girl won singing her ballad and not the silver star german-counting-number drag queen … If I wanted to see a sitcom I’d watch Little Britain or the Ru Paul’s drag queen show .. cause that really entertains me … drag queens mocking a music competition with no talent? Bye Felicia! 🙂
@charles. Hey. guess what. YOU ARE BIASED. the ethnic songs whether you like it or not are the ones that EVERYONE are waiting for and the ones that keep this party atmosphere that in this years eurovision we almost FORGOT with all this balads. if u want top quality music, orchestra and ballads watch san remo. Eurovision has everything and thats why it is so popular. You can see a guy having a silver star on his head and then a girl singing a serbian ballad AND WINNING. p.s. since you are worried, keep calm, there are -still- some money… Read more »
@Timselvision: My point was not about the cheesy uptempo ethnic songs both Turkey and Greece have sent to the contest and that have received by fans overwhelming love and validation .. almost like desperation … because God forbid Eurovision from being too music filled with quality and diversity in genre and styles … I understand and respect the fact you love that sort of macdonald-made-ethnic-pop and that you miss it for whatever reason … but only if we bothered to re-educate our ears with other kinds of music and allow our feet and body to take a rest I am… Read more »
@Charles: I´m personally a big fan of ethnic entries. So Greece, Turkey – those are usually among my favorites. However, neither the Greek entry in 2014 nor their 2015 entry didnt really show any ethnics and thats why they both missed my top 10 for the first time since 2004 (2012 wasn´t in my top 10 either). So imo their results have nothing to do with politics – the audience apparently just like those traditional Greek sounds and clearly misses them – and me too.
TAMTA HAD MISSED THE GREEK NATIONAL FINAL 2015 AND SHE WOULD PARTICIPATE WITH THIS SONG.I THINK IT IS A REALLY GOOD CHOICE FOR 2016 WITH 2-3 SONGS FOR THE PUBLIC TO CHOOSE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjLT1nde_UM
You’re implying that ERT is choosing the ‘Dirty Money Track’ as in “I’ll make it easy honey, I’ll take your money yummy” (from the viewers’ television fee…), but the method chosen for the final is yet to be decided and as long as ERT demonstrates corporate accountability and fiscal responsibility, the sheer notion of holding a national final is not that inconceivable, nor is it far-fetched. Other than that, I do agree with you about Greece’s ‘notoriety’ for overrated showmanship in most of their entries from the 2005-2014 era. Nonetheless, Greeks will be satisfied with their country qualifying to the… Read more »
I find their participation still so irresponsible … I feel sorry for the Greek people struggling during such a hard time due to the mistakes the country has made ever since they decided to join EU in 1973 … Using Eurovision to pretend everything is okey and wasting money on it while families are starving and unemployment does not stop to grow is just appalling. But Greece has this weird status in Eurovision among fans who see them as the party saviors of the final night …while other countries prove their musicality and bring in quality entries, fans couldn’t care… Read more »
Ert has all the knowledge to host ALONE a national final. We thank mad for paying since 2013 but the format doesnt work anymore. Also, when you cant have a good quality of songs then dont spent your money on national finals. Thats happening since 2014 and has to stop. Tamta wants desperately to participate and now its the best time, no when she will be 50…
Were Greece ever REALLY gonna miss Eurovison? lol. Hoping for something uptempo that will liven up the night since they’re guaranteed the final. Freaky Fortune were robbed in 2014 tbh!
@ popo
Kostas Martakis has a terrible english pronounciation (see NF 2013) and lately he stoped singing pop songs and followed the awful folk-based song pattern, that is (unfortynanelly) the most , if not the only, popular style in Greece now.
So, he is a big no.
I am happy they are still in.
Freaky fortune and risky kid again please
wiwiblog please write an article about Gianlucas new girlfriend
I’m hoping to see Kostas Martakis, with song like Always and Forever.
Josephine, with song like Turn off the lights
or Krystallia with song like Butterflies In Athens 🙂
Also nice to see greece is with us again 😀
I personally think the quality of the greek entries went down with mad tv … So i’d rather have them try something else for 2016.
Elena Paparizou is my dream! <3 <3 <3
It would be great if Giorgos Papadopoulos went to ESC :3
I’m praying for MAD show, there has always been good songs. <3
Great to hear that Greece is with us.
Yeah…Happy to read this news.. I was expecting us to continue participating & give the green light 4 our next year’s participation.. We managed to not withdraw the previous years that we were in worse condition.. After all the funds 4 our entry & participation would get all covered by sponsors & the music companies.. Greece holds the #1 record with being the only country other than the big4 automatic finalists {UK,Germany,France,Spain} with giving always the present to every Final of EuroVision since 2001! 15 consecutive Visions! 9/9 qualifications from the SF including 3 automatic qualifications {2005,2006,2007} because of top10… Read more »
not again the MAD show, it’s cheap and not Eurovision related. Let ERT make an open selection show.
i hope not a MAD show…
ERT show..
YASSSSSSSSSSS <3 WE'RE IN
as long as greece sends a singer that can pronounce the english lyrics this year i will be happy… their 2015 act … well I could not hear what she singed at all basically…