Eurovision fans in China will no longer be able to watch any Eurovision shows, effective immediately. That’s after the EBU withdrew the broadcasting rights of Chinese broadcaster Mango TV (Hunan TV) after it censored Semi-Final 1 of Eurovision 2018.

The Chinese network refused to air Ireland’s performance because it included two male dancers portraying a gay couple. It also blocked Albania’s performance because of the visible tattoos on singer Eugent Bushpepa.

The EBU explained its position in a statement:

“On the 9th of May, Chinese broadcaster Mango TV broadcast the first Semi-Final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest live but two performances were censored. This is not in line with the EBU’s values of universality and inclusivity and our proud tradition of celebrating diversity through music. It is with regret that we will therefore immediately be terminating our partnership with the broadcaster and they will not be permitted to broadcast the second Semi-Final or the Grand Final”.

In Vienna, a representative from China’s Hunan Broadcasting System was very enthusiastic about China’s intentions to participate in the contest one day. She and her team are at Eurovision again this year, suggesting the fire is very much alive in them. But with the ban of Mango TV, China has veered seriously off course.

What do you think, was the EBU right to ban Mango TV after cencoring both Ireland and Albania?

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CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
5 years ago

If China was looking for that first Asian invitation, they might have just flushed it down the toilet. It looks like Japan, S. Korea or India will get the EBU’s consideration, should they decide to invite an Asian country.

drag kvinna
5 years ago

I’m not your pork, stupid dork!

Rose
Rose
5 years ago

lol who cares? China is about as non european as you can get. Eurovision has nothing to do with the in the first place. hahaha! blocking eurovision because of Eugent’s tattoo and 2 boys dancing together! hahahaha this is too funny

Marcus
Marcus
5 years ago

Hypocrites! If we’re all for diversity and acceptance, why can’t we accept that there are countries out there that have different values and censorship? The west would censor nudity & swearing in a Chinese Song Contest telecast to protect the innocence of children. The East censors other things that don’t align with their values and culture. Who is to say they are wrong? The new rainbow flag waving progressive west are supposedly all for diversity and acceptance, but really, its only when it fits with their ideologies. EBU are bullies.

Inclusiveness
Inclusiveness
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcus

Values that are meant to exclude are wrong regardless of whether they come from the East or the West. Exclusion is a wrong value, period. It cannot be justified based on cultural grounds. If a country is not there yet, they have no business signing contracts to broadcast shows where inclusiveness is the norm.

Marcus
Marcus
5 years ago
Reply to  Inclusiveness

I agree that exclusion is wrong. So why exclude China from Eurovision?

Inclusiveness
Inclusiveness
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcus

When they are ready to be inclusive and obey the rules, they’ll likely be reinstated. For now, they need to do a deeper inner searching. There’s no other way to enforce the terms of a contract other than to revoke its benefits when someone doesn’t comply with those terms. China’s exclusion was legally justified, while Albania’s and Ireland’s exclusion from the Chinese broadcast wasn’t. The legal terms of the contract are what distinguish right from wrong.

GazilionPT
GazilionPT
5 years ago
Reply to  Inclusiveness

EBU excluding Mango TV was the right thing to do. EBU’s rules are clear: either you broadcast the entire show, or you’re out.

Ric_Hen
Ric_Hen
5 years ago

Ok i’m actually surprised they took a stand and removed the rights. Well done! In any case this won’t stop chinese viewers, you can always use proxy serves XD.

PS. How dare they censor Eugent, he’s so cute :3

Héctor
Héctor
5 years ago

I didn’t think the EBU was going to do something about it, but I’m glad they did. Bye, China! Come back when you are in the 21st Century.

Tattoos Rock
Tattoos Rock
5 years ago

I hope Eugent considers showing his tattoos in full without the fancy cover this time around just to make a point that tattoos are okay!

Ariso Light
Ariso Light
5 years ago

Good on the EBU! If China won’t be inclusive of every aspect of the contest, then they don’t deserve to broadcast it! Also, since they’ve done this, they shouldn’t be allowed to compete in Eurovision Asia if it goes ahead!

beccaboo1212
5 years ago
Reply to  Ariso Light

Seriously? China’s most certainly part of Asia to e perfectly honest. 😮

davidos
davidos
5 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

Um, Australia, Israel and Azerbaijan would like to have a word with you…

Curve
Curve
5 years ago
Reply to  Ariso Light

Neighboring Asian countries don’t wanna see them there either. Better to see Hong Kong and Taiwan in Eurovision Asia instead.

vox
vox
5 years ago

Wondering what they would do to conchitas face…. Thank god we got rid of them,european values have nothing to do with china…

esc1234
esc1234
5 years ago

YAAS! thank god they are out, they dont belong to eurovision

beccaboo1212
5 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

At least China belongs to the Asian spin-off. 😮

Truth teller
Truth teller
5 years ago

You know, I am actually genuinely surprised that the EBU took a stand here. They seem like such cowards to me, willing to let anything happen for a little more money and viewers. I am surprised China only censored those two. There war so many naked arms and faces in the semi final. lol

Right
Right
5 years ago
Reply to  Truth teller

Those other acts still serve somewhat of a purpose for the regime, while the two banned ones are a direct challenge. EBU had to take a stand in this case, otherwise it would have set a precedent which many European countries would not have approved of. China is not the only one with a politics department.

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
5 years ago

I feel bad for the Chinese fans of Eurovision who will miss out. Shame on the person who worked for MangoTV that did this.

Love love peace piece
Love love peace piece
5 years ago

They just follow Chinese laws, it’s not allowed on tv,
But they should’ve known better before buying the brodcasting rights!

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

And they even want to participate in the contest…

Janet bikes
Janet bikes
5 years ago

Am looking forward to China’s participating
One day ding ding ding ding music never floated my boat to be honest

Edgar
Edgar
5 years ago

Of course I am sorry for chinese people, i am sure most of them are open-minded, and it’s just their government…but it was a right decision.

Hou
Hou
5 years ago
Reply to  Edgar

Open-minded? Being a neighboring country around them is a torture. Their economy grows really fast but their people are far from open-minded.

Right
Right
5 years ago
Reply to  Hou

That’s why they focus on manufacturing, because they’re not open-minded enough for smarter jobs. They’re not allowed to think, they are just given parts to assemble and told to plant rice.

Marcus
Marcus
5 years ago
Reply to  Right

Wow, what a very small minded world view. Just put every Chinese person into that very simple little stereotype basket you’ve made there- they’re all not as smart as us, and therefore just all plant rice. wow. Get off your high horse.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
5 years ago

I feel bad for the chinese citizens :(. Their government is going total bonkers on them. The government is also planning on using this scary social credit system:
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/china-social-credit-system-punishments-rewards-explained-a8297486.html

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
5 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Also Italy and the Netherlands would probably also have been censored would they be permitted to show the final.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

It’s what she deserves.

PlumeTune
5 years ago

If the EBU hadn’t terminated their agreement with chinese tv then the whole contest would’ve collapsed immediately since its fanbase to 99 percent consists of gays. 😀

Siki
Siki
5 years ago

<3

Ed Jones
Ed Jones
5 years ago

Big props to the EBU for doing this – it was absolutely the right decision. It’s a shame they had to do it in the first place, however.

Sto
Sto
5 years ago

They deserve it. Anti-LGBT should not be accepted in Eurovision.

Denis
Denis
5 years ago

Tatoos?
What’s the deal with that? is that immoral or soemthing?

Ena
Ena
5 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Yeah, even in Japan tattoos are still a big deal because they are usually associated with the Japanese Mafia or criminals in general. You are not allowed to enter a hotspring or are most likely thrown out of a gym (happened to a friend of mine) and you’ll have trouble to find a job there if you’ve got visible tattoos.

Nate
Nate
5 years ago

European Contest—> European terms. Easy

Marcus
Marcus
5 years ago
Reply to  Nate

Yep. Thats the way the rainbow mafia rolls.

Tim Morina
Tim Morina
5 years ago

I even do not understand why EBU reached an agreement with that broadcaster at the first place. With all respect, China and Europe are like fire/water compared to the values they have.
This also shows how commercial the Show have become, shame!

James
James
5 years ago
Reply to  Tim Morina

China has been airing the contest since 2015 and that particular edition featured an act with a pair of same-sex couples. We never heard of any news of the broadcaster censoring the act (Lithuania 2015) so it wasn’t much of a problem then.

Dennis
Dennis
5 years ago
Reply to  James

Chinese policy and regulations have changed since then, especially gay rights. http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/17/its-still-just-about-ok-to-be-gay-in-china/

ango
ango
5 years ago

Right decision by EBU.

KuhKatz
KuhKatz
5 years ago

There are rules, and if you dont follow the rules, you have to live with the consequences. I respect EBU for doing that, they made a statement that every artist on stage has the right that their song could spread out through all of the broadcasting countries. With the censoring of Albania and Ireland, this was not guaranteed in Chins anymore (and I‘m sure that acts like Hungary would‘ve been censored as well). But I also feel sorry for the fanbase there because it‘s not your fault but on the other hand, you have to see and accept, that your… Read more »

Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  KuhKatz

I can’ t represents all Chinese but I guarantee that most of Chinese fans & Chinese would support banning Mango TV broadcast right of Eurovision after this.

blondboybc
blondboybc
5 years ago

Though the EBU made the right decision regarding this incident, I can also understand why the two acts (both of which I love!) were censored due to China’s strict broadcasting policy regarding the display of same-sex couples, tattoos, etc. Unfortunately, Chinese ESC fans are the biggest losers in all this, and will have to rely on other sources to watch the program…join the club: we have the same problem here in Canada where it’s geo-blocked on youtube!

Curve
Curve
5 years ago

Another reason why China (especially their own politics) should stay away from Eurovision.

Guest
Guest
5 years ago

The MangoTV – cut out the entire Ireland performance, the first semi final in Mango TV goes straight from entry 17 to entry 19 – censor the rainbow flag during Switzerland performance or other occurrence – censor the tattoo of Eugent I support the decision make by EBU. China is going backward these day, not long ago the department of broadcasting announced that LGBT contents, “abnormal relationship”, etc. is forbidden. It also regards homosexuals as sex abuse, incest, etc. Call me by your name once was in Beijing Film Festival but was pulled out because of this. As others mentioned,… Read more »

Scott
Scott
5 years ago

I think it is the right decision. All active members are required to show the contest in full and Mango’s parent Hunan has expressed interest in participating so they should be held to the same expectations as active members. I think Chinese fans who really want to watch will find a way around it and still watch.

Olivier2
Olivier2
5 years ago

I dont necessary agree with the decision since I think this is a government regulation that tattoos and gay propaganda cant be shown. I think it’s actually Eurovision’s lost more than China because I doubt they really care about the whole program to begin with. Meanwhile this can have a minor impact on Eurovision expansion but many Eurofans dont really want it to become a global thing to begin with so the whole thing is just not revelant

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago
Reply to  Olivier2

Taiwan stays unbothered.

Olivier2
Olivier2
5 years ago

Honestly China has more important things to worry about than a singing competition

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago
Reply to  Olivier2

China loves to spread propaganda. So, Eurovision is another great opportunity.

Nick
Nick
5 years ago

Totally right decision. If they want to broadcast the contest they should accept Europe’s terms.

Nick
Nick
5 years ago

Totally right decision. If they want to broadcast the contest they should accept Europe’s terms.

Shanfa Chai
Shanfa Chai
5 years ago

China shouldn’t have broadcasted Eurovision in the first place if the Chinese government banned tattoo and LGBT contents on television.

Not Mango TV’s fault. They were just pressured by the Chinese government to censor the Albanian and Irish acts.

Shijie
Shijie
5 years ago
Reply to  Shanfa Chai

The homophobic law just came out last year.

Shanfa Chai
Shanfa Chai
5 years ago
Reply to  Shijie

Ouch. Sorry. Didn’t know that.

Ren
Ren
5 years ago
Reply to  Shanfa Chai

And the ban on tattooes came out in only recent monthes .

Eugent Bushpepa Hong Kong Fanclub
Eugent Bushpepa Hong Kong Fanclub
5 years ago

This is Eugent Bushpepa’s Hong Kong Fanclub and we are not glad to read those anti Chinese comments in this blog! Eugent has a progressive fame here in Hong Kong but China censors all Western rock artists. Please visit his Hong Kong fansite: http://www.eugenebush-hk.webnode.com

blondboybc
blondboybc
5 years ago

Happy to hear he’s a fan club in HK!

Alex
Alex
5 years ago

Nice to see the EBU, stepping up for what it stands for. Great job!

Budapest Dreams
Budapest Dreams
5 years ago

Am I the only one tired of none-European countries taking part in Eurovision? There are already 5-6 that I simply don’t understand what are they doing here

Alex
Alex
5 years ago

I understand…Eurovision is a part of European History. With tradition… us Europeans watching it with our family each year….growing up with it. I just don’t get random countries rolling up and participating.

Shijie
Shijie
5 years ago

Hey, you should take back your Eurocentric opinion. China was just broadcasting the show. Europe, after all, is just a geographic term.

Shijie
Shijie
5 years ago
Reply to  Shijie

And you can see a lot of Asian influences on Eurovision. I think there is nothing wrong with Netta having a beautiful asia influenced staging because after all we are just human being who happen to live on this planet?why so many prejudice?

Shijie
Shijie
5 years ago
Reply to  Shijie

And you can see a lot of Asian influences on Eurovision. I think there is nothing wrong with Netta having a beautiful asia-influenced staging because after all we are just human beings who happen to live on this planet. Why so many prejudices?

Alex
Alex
5 years ago
Reply to  Shijie

Has China broadcasted the show since 1956? didn’t think so. Eurovision has nothing to do with China. If you are a fan of the show, enjoy watching… even if it’s from 7000 miles away on your VPN.

Shijie
Shijie
5 years ago
Reply to  Alex

There were only a few European countries broadcasted since 1956. Don’t forget that many competitors including Conchita are immigrants from non European countries

Alex
Alex
5 years ago
Reply to  Shijie

*

EscAU
EscAU
5 years ago
Reply to  Shijie

conchita’s born in austria…

filip1992
filip1992
5 years ago
Reply to  Alex

How many countries broadcasted in 1956. Seven?

[Måns]: To help to shore up a post-war Europe, in 1956, it all began
[Petra]: The set, I’m rather certain, was nothing but a curtain
There were only seven countries and one camera-man

James
James
5 years ago

Because to take part in Eurovision, you have to be a member of the European Broadcasting Union, whose broadcast zone spans from Europe, all the way to Iraq, in addition to a large number of associate members found all over the world.

Fast Food Music Lover
Fast Food Music Lover
5 years ago

Oh well, they tried.

Nicolas
Nicolas
5 years ago

Good thing.

EscAU
EscAU
5 years ago

LOL and they’ve sent delegations in the past to see if they can participate XD
# ban them from eurovision asia

Shijie
Shijie
5 years ago
Reply to  EscAU

This is because of the stupid law of The General Chinese Media Department which bans all lgbt content and people with tattoos from all kinds of media . Mango TV actually wanted to show the entire competition without censorship but they are under pressure of the government. Us queer people in China are already facing a lot of problems and we don’t need more hostility .

David F
David F
5 years ago
Reply to  Shijie

+1
We are one

blondboybc
blondboybc
5 years ago
Reply to  Shijie

You have our support here in Canada! “Jia you!”