The majority of countries competing at Eurovision 2014 have released details of their national selection contests and the roster of competing artists. Greece, however, does not seem to have its act together.

The national finals “EUROSONG 2014 – a MAD show” are rumoured to take place on the 3rd or 4th of March, which is later than in any previous year. But NERIT, the new Greek broadcaster charged with running the show, has not yet been created and is not currently broadcasting. It’s rumoured that the four competing songs will be announced on Monday. However, neither MAD TV nor HPRT have confirmed anything.

Kostas Martakis, one of the rumoured hopefuls, has revealed that he hasn’t found yet a song. This may mean that we won’t see him competing for the Greek trophy. Krystallia‘s participation, however, is certain.

Presumably, the show will once again hosted by George Kapoutzides and Despina Vandi, who won plaudits for their work last year. The latter will have to juggle responsibilities, as she is one of the four coaches on “The Voice of Greece”, the lives shows of which will have already started by then.

Another concern of the Greek media is the fact that NERIT/HPRT has not opened its doors to independent artists, but instead to music companies and record labels, who get the opportunity to field their singers. It’s understandable though. It’s the only way Greek TV can avoid having to pay for the contestant’s travel expenses and promotion. The record label will take care of all of that.

Less understandable is why state television has not provided the public with any information. People who contact the networks and ask whether they can apply are told that the shortlist has already been determined. Yet the channels are sharing nothing.

It is true that there is a lot more to be done, and NERIT has promised the EBU that it will start broadcasting by March. If this doesn’t happen, Greece will not be able to fly to Denmark.

Billy Xifaras contributed this report from Greece. Follow him on Twitter at @bill_xifaras. You can also keep up-to-date on the latest Eurovision news and liking our Facebook page.

Photo: zimbio

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Charles
Charles
10 years ago

@Alex: I do respect your views on Greece’s participation in Eurovision … but again you forgot one detail about me: I don’t give a crap bout performances once the songs suck. I never liked any of the Greek entries since their popularity rise in 2001 and that is enough for me … no matter how much they tried to impress me visually … if what my ears receive is null points, no performance at the face of the earth is ever going to shatter that evidence. I’m sorry for being too radical but I’m a very old school kind of… Read more »

Arianna
10 years ago

Oh man, Greece. Get your act together! D:

KM
KM
10 years ago

The BBC have an act confirmed, with the patterns of the precious years they’ll most likely announce details in early March.

Alex
Alex
10 years ago

Charles, I’m sure plenty of adults find Greece entertaining – how else would Greece do well? As much as “Alcohol Is Free” has a stupid chorus, and as much as I wasn’t rooting for it going into the final (it was among my bottom 10 songs), the performance was amazing. They sang it well and managed to merge modern rock with Agathonas’ traditional style in a smart manner. That sort of traditional-rock merge is something I generally appreciate when done well, like in 2012 with Crno i belo and 2010 with Narodnozabavni Rock (which will forever be lost in translation…… Read more »

Charles
Charles
10 years ago

@Alex: They can be very entertaining … clowns used to entertain me when I was a kid …but for an adult like me now that does not speak highly of Greeks singers and Greek bands who come to Eurovision with the purpose of entertaining. I know the audience loves that … but … it’s still a song contest … Greece used to be better at showing good songs in the past, including Cyprus both in the first half of the 90s .. but going hey hey hey shake shake shake and opa opa opa … I mean .. really? Is… Read more »

Alex
Alex
10 years ago

Actually, in recent years, it’s happened that a contestant switched countries once she was out of the national final in the first country – see Anastasia Prikhodko with “Mamo” which was disqualified from Ukraine’s final but went on to represent Russia in 2009. Melodifestivalen may have guarded against that, though, with the contract they make the artists sign. I do think it’s unnecessary for Greece to compete when they’re in a financial mess and a whole slew of countries have quit the contest this year for financial reasons. Not to mention that Koza Mostra and Agathonas barely had enough money… Read more »

Charles
Charles
10 years ago

@Dhani: You are too obsessed with Helena … SHE can’t represent Greece with Survivor. It’s not legally acceptable. Get over it … and calm down your Greek blood: Yohio may not win for Sweden … but Ellen (in case you have even bothered to know who the hell I’m talking about), As for Greece, all this drama seems reckless … I stick to my opinion that it would be good for Greece to be out off he contest for a year … save some money, put their own act together as far as the country goes and start from the… Read more »

Dhani
Dhani
10 years ago

I HOPE THAT HELENA PApARIZOU WILL REPRESENT GREECE! when sweden can’t see the quality of her song and picks yohio-trash in stead

David Thielen
10 years ago

@joey & @Marcus – I’m guessing screwed up, last minute, disorganized Greece will trump financially stable, bureaucratic UK in the final results. Greece is always a mess and they tend to send really good acts. Meanwhile the UK has a well run system that consistently sends awful acts.

Marcus
Marcus
10 years ago

Just like joey said the UK is keeping tight lipped or has just forgot it needs a song and that’s why they always seem to send a song and artist which is a bit last minute. But the BBC is fully functional and has more than enough money to keep going. whereas NERIT hasn’t even started broadcasting yet. Opps someone might have forgotten to pay the electric bill.

joey
joey
10 years ago

How about United Kingdom? We haven’t heard from them either!!!! Uh-oh!!!