Following the news earlier in the week that the Luxembourg government will debate the possibility of the Grand Duchy returning to Eurovision, national broadcaster RTL has responded, explaining that the small broadcaster does not have the funds to enter, and would definitely not be able to host.
Belgian magazine Télépro spoke to Steve Schmit, the director of programming for RTL Luxembourg and got the low-down on the likelihood of a Luxembourg return.
For RTL, the problem is mostly financial. As Schmit explained, RTL is a small station that only produces two hours of local television per day. While RTL is a commercial channel it does have public service requirements, but that “our strategy is focused on information and magazines.”
But he notes that if Luxembourg were to participate in Eurovision, they could rely on sponsorship — a solution that countries such as Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina used to enter this year.
The big problem
The big problem is the situation they’d face if Luxembourg were to win — and remember, they’ve won five times previously. He claims that Luxembourg could not afford to host Eurovision.
It seems an overreaction. As Sweden has recently shown twice, a good Eurovision has be hosted on a budget. When a country as tiny as Malta has successfully hosted Junior Eurovision, and with the EBU on hand to help with sponsorship deals to cover costs, there’s no reason why Luxembourg wouldn’t be able to afford to host Eurovision if they won.
But it’s worth remembering that in 1974, after Anne-Marie David won with “Tu te reconnaîtras”, Luxembourg chose not to host the competition a second year in a row. The hosting honours went to the UK, with ABBA storming to victory at The Dome in Brighton.
Or Luxembourg could always do a “My Lovely Horse” and enter a deliberately bad song so ensure they won’t win. Or just get the German head of delegation to help with song selection…
Schmit also notes that things have changed since Luxembourg last participated in 1993, when the winner was decided with 100% jury vote. He explained, “With the new voting system, it is very unlikely that Luxembourg shines much. Small countries are somewhat more troubled now.”
Schmit also acknowledged the potential of the song contest for showcasing Luxembourg’s young music talent, but admits he is not sure if Luxembourg’s music scene could field an ideal candidate for Eurovision.
https://youtu.be/ageNhYjxW4g
What do you think? Is RTL just making excuses? Or do they have legitimate concerns? Share your thoughts below!
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No one noticed L’Enfant Soleil is David’s French entry, not her Luxembourgian?
And her and all winners being French, is the reason Luxembourg used to score and win. Notice how they never sent in something in Luxembourgish. They had a far bigger chance because of the language rule at the time, they were one of the few countries that could send in a French song. And that rule meant almost always either a French, or English song would win.
With that gone, they have no longer any advantage. Au contraire.
I have to admit that Luxembourg is a rich country as far as I know. For the financial problem, the sponsorship can be a solution. As for hosting, they’ve done this before, in 1973. So that’s not a problem. My concern is that things have changed since the last time Luxembourg has participated. There was a different system and fewer countries. Nowadays, Eurovision is mostly a show and less a music competition so we don’t know if they can make it under these conditions. I don’t want Luxembourg to be another small country that struggles to qualify, like San Marino.… Read more »
Ruud, it isn’t the German delegations fault, it is the german televoters, who votes for the wrong winner, Germany could be my 3rd with Avantasia, but Douwe Bob and Nika/YGL is better(and Jüri Pootsmann is my 4th)
They can just give the hosting rights to another country, I just think they are not interested and don’t take it serious, but do not want want to tell the truth. Like we in Sweden did in the 2010s in JESC.
Y’know, you don’t actually HAVE to host the damn contest if you win.
I don’t think anyone on the planet is going to go “LMAO @ Luxembourg being unable to host a major international event”.
Its a postage stamp of a country. We get it- they can’t assume hosting duties. If they win, let them work with someone else to put it on.
@Jr esc nl: Bring more qualify? You mean quality? … Don’t underestimate any country at Eurovision that is mistake #1 .. we have been living Eurovision without Luxembourg … we have had the worst of the worst and also some great of the greatest … and during those 23 years nobody was crying or thinking about poor Luxembourg and sure enough they weren’t wasting their precious time with Eurovision … therefore … focus on the MUSIC (the most important thing here otherwise all those LEDs and staging crap almost single fan goes nuts for would never make any sense) offered… Read more »
@fikri: You just wanna have a party regardless who pays it … it’s like you want the most expensive drink at the VIP bar and it doesn’t matter who serves you … you just wanna be served and have a fabulous spoiled brat moment where everything is for granted … wow … Mariah Carey-much?
” Say ye ye ye.”
Ukraine isn’t rich either. And please re-use that fenomenal LED-stage, too costly for 1 time use.
The five winners of Luxemburg were French.
What artist will Luxemburg choose if it comes back?
Disappointing news but not suprising. I would have been curious to see what they would send these days.
What venues would they have? I don’t expect them to have a 10,000+ arena but I’, sure a solution could be found
Those are all very lousy excuses. Luxembourg is rich af, if Bosnia can afford it, so can they. This misconception that you need a “Eurovision song” to do well is also getting quite old, haven’t they heard this year’s winner??
That’s just bullcr*p. If Luxembourg, one of the richest countries on Earth, can’t afford to participate, how the hell does Moldova do it? They just don’t want to.
As for hosting, they can always refuse.
were this year’s eurovision low-budget tho? the stage is ginormous and all those LED screens must have cost a fortune.
eurovision and low-budget don’t blend. if a poor country wins, please let your richer neighbour to host. please don’t ruin the party for everyone.
Bring*
@charles
You always say we shouldn’t really focus or want to get more countries but those countries can also being more qualify to the contest you know?
They don’t want to, let’s face it.
But this statement at the end “… admits he is not sure if Luxembourg’s music scene could field an ideal candidate for Eurovision.” is ridiculous!
I still don’t get why after 23 years we’re still crossing our fingers for Luxembourg to be part of this … they stopped participating, the public there is not even interested whatsoever, what is the point to begin with… I mean we don’t want the contest to expand to other continents (fair enough) but in overall we want the biggest number of participants as possible … what for? It’s a song contest .. focus on the music for heaven’s sake … it’s Eurovision and not the Madrid Pride. Quality first and foremost .. quantity … only if the quality is… Read more »
*prepares
In my opinion it`s ridiculous explanation. Luxembourg is so rich country. Ukraine isn`t rich but this country preparares Eurovision 2017. In my opinion if Luxembourg want to return at Eurovision, Luxembourg will return because financial isn`t problem.
That Germany reference is like 10/10 :’D
They should just let someone else host then. I think Germany and The UK are always open for hosting.
These micro-states do face big challenges today. I don’t see the problem of participating if they really want to. With a record of 5 wins, Luxembourg shows Europe that they are not that small to compete. I do believe they have their own telephone network as well, unlike San Marino.
@Denis
The contest did not cost anywhere near as much as it does now as it was on a much smaller scale. Luxembourg could always do what Australia is supposed to do: host it in a different country, but it’s still Luxembourg’s show.
NOOOOOOOOO(3 hours later)OOOOOO! WHYYYYYYYYY?? 🙁
But how could they afford competing and hosting in the past then? Who helped out then? Did they have more money then or something?
To my knowledge RTL is one of the richest broadcasters in Europe, so the statement sounds as bollocks.
Luxembourg doesn’t want to return. That’s the truth. Money is never an issue since there are sponsors and broadcasters willing to help out.
Noooooo! 🙁
Bollocks. Luxembourg is a rich country despite its size and it’s not obliged to host. And anyway financial problems can be easily solved: a sponsor or, if you host, another broadcaster along with the EBU can help you, like SVT wants to do with NTU. The only real problem would be the televote system… but San Marino wants to propose a solution to the EBU (or so I heard) so maybe that problem can be solved too