After TVR was unceremoniously expelled from the EBU back in April, three weeks ahead of the first Eurovision rehearsals, Romania is attempting to make a comeback to the song contest. In an interview for Romanian daily Evenimentul zilei, TVR general director Irina Radu announced that the broadcaster has applied for participation next year, despite the uncertain situation.
In the context of TVR’s current reorganisation after years of financial troubles, a journalist asked “Are we going to Eurovision?”
Ms Radu replied:
Although we couldn’t hold the latest board meeting, which would have approved (I think) our participation in Eurovision, we did not want to miss the application deadline and yes, we applied. Mind you, we can still withdraw by October 10th. Personally, I wish that EBU guaranteed us that, regardless of what awaits us (because we do not know), if we pay the participation taxes, we should be allowed to participate. This year, it was the first time when we had paid everything in time and they eliminated us. This should not be repeated.
Because of the uncertainty of the situation, it is unclear whether the European Broadcasting Union will accept TVR’s application. It is still unclear whether the Government managed to pay the entire debt, as planned. But if the debt has been paid, the application has been submitted, and enough guarantees have been provided to the EBU that TVR would get out of its financial mess, we can surely expect the EBU to have a change of heart.
Obviously, this would mean a lot for the Romanian audience and fans of Eurovision, but also for the Eurofans who hold Romania in high regard. It will however mean very little for Ovidiu Anton, the most wronged artist ever at Eurovision, the one who never got to perform in the first place, for no fault of his. Our thoughts go out to him.
Update: The board of TVR met on Thursday, September 22nd, and officially agreed to greenlight the broadcaster’s application for Eurovision. Our sources signal to a positive response from the EBU, depending on TVR’s current situation, which is to be assessed in October by a team of European Broadcasting Union experts.
What do you think about this development? Are you looking forward to Romania’s comeback in the contest? And who should TVR send to Kyiv?
@KennyESC:
Riva’s trophy? Have you forgotten about Estonia 2001?
TVR send Ovidiu , he deserve to represent Romania in 2017. He didn t compete in 2016 because TVR.
Even in poor countries, a broadcaster spends a lot of more money for their national fooball games, than for EBU, this is why I don’t believe any broadcaster that says it’s about money (Romania, Portugal, … ), countries that even if participate, complain about budget for … promotion…staging…
As an ESC fan, this is frustrating, to see that ESC in not a priority for a broadcaster.
If EBU wants to punish a country, just cut them their beloved sport events (Olympics, international football), because those sport events are the soft spot.
Ok, they want to partecipate and all, and I’m all for Romania in ESC again. But let’s be serious. Ovidiu worked hard for winning national final and doing good at ESC(for what we know he could have even placed in Top 3 o winning ESC(and steal Riva’s trophy as the most underdog/dark horse winner)we all know sometimes Europe is just SO strange.), to…what? Watching his country squalified and all his work gone with a *POOF*? I mean, who will want to represent a country that we’re not sure will partecipate in the end, and have all they work for stage… Read more »
tbh I just want slovakia to return
romania has never sent a ‘wow’ entry for me
I still feel so bad for Ovidiu 🙁 i hope they offer him a chance again, it wasnt his fault and he deserves to be internally selected to participate
If Romania does participate, (I hope they do) they should select the artist/artists internally to save money.
I’m hoping 2017 will be the biggest Eurovision ever and it’s more than doable.
The current record is 43. Take the 42 from Stockholm and add Portugal and Romania boom we have a bee record of 44.
Even if someone like San Marino or Bosnia did drop out there’s a good chance Slovakia could rejoin as its in neighbouring Ukraine so not much travel and their twin sister Czech republic made it to the final last year which helps.
This is GREAT news! Even though my country’s (Italy) 12 points from televote will always go to them no matter what, you know know what they say: the more, the merrier! 🙂
If Romania doesn’t pay it’s debts it shouldn’t be able to participate.