Earlier this week, private TV Station ProTV wrote a letter to the European Broadcasting Union, asking them to allow them to broadcast this year’s contest to the Romanian public. This morning came the official reply from the EBU, and the answer is a resounding no.
The EBU reacted via the social media. Citing the fact that ProTV is not a EBU member, the station’s offer was turned down. Here is their reply on Twitter:
.@ProTVro aren’t Members of EBU & @Eurovision is a competition between Members & Associates, therefore we can’t take up offer to broadcast.
— EBU (@EBU_HQ) April 29, 2016
They also expanded their answer via Facebook, but not by much.
ProTV, who was hoping to also get Ovidiu Anton to perform in some capacity in Stockholm, had gathered over 12,700 signatures in 48 hours with an online petition, which was thus denied. Moreover, Ovidiu Anton was not even mentioned in the official message.
Therefore, Romanians’ hopes to watch the Eurovision Song Contest on TV screens have been dashed and their only choice remains the internet.
What do you think about the EBU’s response?
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Ok, for limited people like Lady Gaga or Oh Come on, we’ll just wait for the justice to have its say. Will talk after that if us or Ovidiu are victimizing ourselves or there we really were unfair treated. In a legal action, for me is pretty clear, Ovidiu certainly is a victim and he will win in a legal action against EBU. If I am victimizing myself? Man, I voted in the national final, I paid money, they have to give me back that money, this is my right. Your limities in thinking can’t make you understand that TVR’s… Read more »
@Lady Gaga Yeah,you’re right.If you don’t pay,you don’t participate.But those debts are from 2007 until 2012 and TVR paid the fee this year.Hmmmm…Something stinks in the middle…
@Lady Gaga, Shira – you are both totally right. and I can’t agree more.
@AurelianTamisan – You again…. aren’t you tired victimizing the situation? You will be very good in writing telenovelas!
There shouldn’t be anything emotional in what has happened.It is simple: If you don’t pay…you don’t participate…period! Stop saying that there is a behind the scene scenario – Ovidio and the Romanians are not that important to have a special scenario for them!
Btw, I was kind of feeling for Ovidio in the beginning – but because of people like you @AurelianTamisan I don’t really care anymore.
@Shira, do you find any logical explanation to extend a deadline after march, when the ‘Selectia Nationala’ was held? And if they did it, why can’t they extend it until after this year’s contest? I think that you’re the one living on another world if you can’t understand this simply ilogical decisions. They are ruining a contest for nothing. I didn’t say to pay until 10th of may, I’ve clearly specified ‘tomorrow’, is it so hard to understand? I’ve said, ‘if tomorrow’. If you find their attitude as normal, what should I say more, I see that for you is… Read more »
@Lady Gaga ” I do hope that you default on your rent & are driven from your homes” you wicked evil creature 🙂 do you know that every country have own laws and social security laws for people? I be you don’t. In my country you can’t be thrown out of the flat/house that you own, even if you have huge utility bills unpaid. also any mother with a kid under age of 2 can’t be booted from her living space to be it rented, own or even municipal or due to be demolished. because her baby have rights to… Read more »
@Lady Gaga I totally agree with you @ AurelianTamisan I do not know what world you live in. Of course Romania would not participate if they against all odds paid the debt before May 10. Much planning is required for each contestant so it would be impossible for the organizers to make it. They have not paid!!! Still, EBU gave them a chance to do it and to be in this year’s competition. They dragged it on so long it was possible just to give Romania one last chance. But Romania did not keep their promises and did not even… Read more »
Lady Gaga, what the heck is wrong with you? Yeah I agree, TVR should have paid its debts, but how did EBU treat Ovidiu?
Are you seriously defending EBU’s insensitivity?
Perhaps you’re the little-head person who might need to read a book.
Lady Gaga, you’re a psycho. You’re retarded, if you can’t understand what’s the real problem, then shut up. The debts are a totally different problem than EBU’s attitude, and EBU’s attitude has nothing to do with debts. They’re aggressive and discriminant and believe me, if TVR is coming tomorrow to pay all the debts, they are still refusing to bring Romania back in the contest. Nobody’s denying TVR’s debts, so don’t continue with your stories, you don’t disqualify a country for debts not paid in 9 years after you received them in the game, you simply refuse their participation, and… Read more »
Lady Gaga, I found that a little offensive to those who feel for Ovidiu. I think it is equally TVRs fault as it is EBUs, TVR should have payed their debts from the beginning and EBU made the decision in wrong time. Now it is too late, but I still feel sad for Ovidiu, he is not a robot/trash, but he was treated like that by EBU
Again, the drama queens with their long novellas are back. Please drill it into your little heads what it’s all about: non-payment of debt equals no participation. Period. Unless your little heads can’t understand that, I suggest you read a book for a change. I do hope that you default on your rent & are driven from your homes
I wonder if someone actually, realistically, for a moment thought the EBU would say yes. I know I didn’t.
At this point people should accept Ovidiu won’t compete in Stockholm and Romania most probably won’t participate in Eurovision for a time, not until they clear their debt or an agreement is reached between TVR (or another broadcaster) and the EBU, and that might or might not happen soon. Unfair for Ovidiu? Yes, he got the collateral damage. But as a whole, is not an unfair decision from the EBU to exclude Romania from THEIR contest.
Bonsoir Stockholm,
Quelle excuse pourrie ils ont trouvée !!!
Les règles sont les règles mais pas pour tout le monde. On peut modifier le règlement suivant les pays. Pour l’Australie pas de problème, pour la Roumanie, pas possible désolé. Vraiment pathétique de la part de l’EBU. Allez vous faire… cuire un oeuf. Sérieux. Ecoeurant, beuark !!!
Cordialement,
Maxime
I had enough of EBU’ s double standard, this is my last year watching this show
@Bogdan Honciuc: era de asteptat… Ne ajuti cu un link unde vom putea urmari show-urile? Merci!
Appearently Greece’s NERIT wasn’t a member neither, but they secured a Greek participation in 2014 & 2015.
Sounds like EBU punishing the Romanian broadcaster, maybe with the purpose of creating a public conveince towards to their national broadcaster’s irresponsibleness.
I think if Romania wont compete next year,i have a bad felleng that Moldova wont be either.
Let’s analyse a little EBU’s attitude. Firstly they are acting in an appropiate way with a television being almost in insolvence. They are practically very aggressive and they are creating an image that TVR and Romania don’t want to pay the debts. Which is not true, it is not about not wanting to pay, it is about a non-possibility of paying, from a television with debts of hundreds million euros. You practically accept to colaborate for years with such a television and then you put all the blame on them and create collateral victims. Then, PRO TV, a private television… Read more »
Guys… There’s a point to this which is Romania had debts carried over many years meaning they have ‘got away with’ participating in the past and now enough is enough. Other countries are carrying their debt by having contributed to their participation in the past therefore.
I feel for Romania and their entry this year and yes the timing was poor (the call should have been made before national selection season) but there can really be no complaints unfortunately. Especially as TVR apparently did not reply to numerous attempts to respond to the EBU
In EBU rules every members of EBU can go to Eurovision http://www.eurovision.tv/page/about/which-countries-can-take-part Australia is not members of EBU and take part 2 year, EBU lies us when in 2015 they said Australia is guest of 60 th Eurovision, and they will only participate in 2016 if they win at Eurovision 2015. In this answer EBU said .@ProTVro aren’t Members of EBU & @Eurovision is a competition between Members & Associates, therefore we can’t take up offer to broadcast. In rules of official eurovision sites EBU said then only members of EBU can compete at Eurovision. Australia is not members of… Read more »
imagine if romania is not allowed to participate since 8 years ago when they decided to not their debts… we won’t have paula selling, ovi, cezar, etc. EBU, i think, has given romania enough pass.
So now it’s a contest between members and associates? Have you finally gotten around to modifying your rules EBU?
Can’t wait to see China, Canada and Brazil next year then.
Does this rule out Romanian participation indefinitely?! That would be so cruel.
Well, I just hope that Romania will never accept to be back in this contest. I think it is a permanent break up. Anyway, EBU will have to give a lot of explanations and beside Ovidiu I hope that every atists which attempted to reach Selectia Nationala, the Baia Mare hall, maybe even the televoters will go with legal actions against them. At least Ovidiu will do it and I just can’t wait to see EBU having debts. And EBU, if you are fair-play, please, you have one week to disqualify every broadcaster with debts to you, please do it,… Read more »
Romania is not going to participate.. so what… it is not the end of the world isn’t it? To be honest Ovidiu already took much more benefits by not participating, but having all this scandal around TVR. So to conclude … EBU – showed that they can defend their rights so if there are other countries with financial debts they will have that in mind. Ovidio – is already so famous not only in Romania, but also around europe, so he obviously became kind of hero. Romanian TV Voters – They should ask TVR for their money not EBU. Life… Read more »
This was a settup ,prepared in advance guys ,there is more ,but all will come out after the Eurovision.They owe money which can be sorted in a polite manner ,but there is more than we can think of .
what’s wrong with them lately? such an evil organization! indeed, if they planned to discontinue their contract with Romanian broadcaster, they had to settle it before the active phase of contest. Or as a compromise, they had to allow him to participate and then bill broadcaster for the competition and possibly penalties, roadmap to get paid. Why they are so harsh? I really hope that Moldova will give a hand to their brothers and at least can secure a broadcast for them (if not by TV, at least on youtube or any free service). They have the same language, so… Read more »
“Eurovision is a competition between Members and Associates”.. I love how they mentioned the “associates” part just so people wouldn’t bring up the whole Australia thing, even though the contest is actually between members of the EBU, not both members and associates- a fact they should know (in theory). If that was the case, then Bangladesh, Syria, the U.S., Greenland, Hong Kong, etc..would also be allowed to participate.
Now I qoute Hotel FM:
I can’t change, I can’t change the world alone, I need you all everybody, start dreaming of it, take a step that’s gonna make a difference and change your world.
Now I qoute Ovidiu:
And I just can’t take anymore, this hate is burning my soul
In the darkest night, feel the power in you
Take a moment of silence, and fight for the truth
…
Watching the days go by, nothing change, nothing new
Take a moment of silence, and fight for the truth
I really do not understand to TVR.. Many other broadcasters withdrawed during some years because of bad financial situations… And TVR was keeping trying to participate… Now they have it back with interests… Very well deserved.. But not for Ovidiu of course..
Shame on EBU 18 days before the Contest begins.They must let TVR to participate and after disqualify them with a big penalty if its about the MONEY.
I just do not understand Ovidiu’s acting… He firstly said that he would have never ver go to ESC again after what they have done to him… And now he is trying save his participation via proTV and by supporting petitions. I partly understand but still…..
Sad news, really sad. I was hoping so bad to see Romania, at least, perform or maybe giving them the chance to see the contest on TV. I think the EBU is acting really unheartly but, even understanding the motive, I do think that Ovidiu and also his work are the least ones to be blamed for that.
Giving all my support to Ovidiu and their team, they did not deserved that, it’s not their fault.
Agree with Kostas, they should get the money back from TVR and EBU. It is equally their fault
They didn’t even mention Ovidiu. Then what about Nerit. Ovidiu should have an Anna Book moment. #justiceforovidiu 1 #justiceforovidiu 2 #justiceforovidiu 3 #justiceforovidiu 4 #justiceforovidiu 5 #justiceforovidiu 6 #justiceforovidiu 7 #justiceforovidiu 8 #justiceforovidiu 9 #justiceforovidiu 10 #justiceforovidiu 11 #justiceforovidiu 12 #justiceforovidiu 13 #justiceforovidiu 14 #justiceforovidiu 15 #justiceforovidiu 16 #justiceforovidiu 17 #justiceforovidiu 18 #justiceforovidiu 19 #justiceforovidiu 20 #justiceforovidiu 21 #justiceforovidiu 22 #justiceforovidiu 23 #justiceforovidio 24 #justiceforovidiu 25 #justiceforovidiu 26 #justiceforovidiu 27 #justiceforovidiu 28 #justiceforovidiu 29 #justiceforrovidiu 30 #justiceforovidiu 31 #justiceforovidiu 32 #justiceforovidiu 33 #justiceforovidiu 34 #justiceforovidiu 35 #justiceforovidiu 36 #justiceforovidiu 37 #justiceforovidiu 38 #justiceforovidiu 39 #justiceforovidiu 40 #justiceforovidiu 41 #justiceforovidiu 42… Read more »
There is no way back after the first EBU decision.. So this decision was only one right option..
What they are doing to Ovidiu is unfair. Also the tv viewers who voted for him should be given their money back. To do this at such short notice is unethical.