It’s the doubly land-locked microstate that’s never competed at Eurovision before. But now it seems that Liechtenstein is still determined to be part of the Eurovision family. A spokesperson from broadcaster 1FLTV has issued a statement saying Liechtenstein will debut at Eurovision 2019.
In the statement published in the Vaterland newspaper, the broadcaster claims that its Eurovision debut will be the highlight of the principality’s 300th anniversary of its formation.
“Eurovision 2019 with Liechtenstein: The absolute 300-year highlight will be the participation of Liechtenstein in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019.
But it’s not just a matter of 1FLTV paying the entry fee and fielding an act. First, they have to join the European Broadcasting Union.
Liechtenstein is not currently a member broadcaster of the EBU, which makes them unable to enter Eurovision. The microstate has tried to join in the past, but lack of government subsidies have made it impossible.
But 1FLTV editor-in-chief Peter Kölbel has always remained optimistic that Liechtenstein will one day debut at Eurovision. Membership negotiations are ongoing, and Vaterland reports Kölbel saying, “We are in the negotiation stage and [the EBU] are in a very friendly atmosphere.”
He said that while the estimated 350,000 Swiss francs (301,000 euro) membership fee might seem high, it was nothing in comparison to the other projects the government has supported for the 300th-anniversary celebrations.
Vaterland‘s coverage of the situation takes a cynical tone. The newspaper notes that 1FLTV management regularly announces their Eurovision dreams, but so far nothing has ever come of it. The writer concludes that Liechtenstein at Eurovision is “another project obviously only on the paper of the press release.”
Liechtenstein and Eurovision
Liechtenstein made their first attempt to participate at Eurovision in 1976. An entry was selected, Biggi Bachmann with her song “My Little Cowboy”. However, as Liechtenstein did not have a national broadcaster, they were unable to enter.
In 2008, national broadcaster 1 Fürstentum Liechtenstein Television was established. Since then, station staff have regularly expressed an interest debuting at Eurovision. The biggest hurdle has always been getting the funding to pay the EBU membership fees.
With a population of around 37,000, Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in Europe. Of the current competing countries at Eurovision, only San Marino has a smaller population.
What do you think? Do you want to see Liechtenstein at Eurovision 2019? Who should represent the microstate? Share your thoughts below!
I’d love to represent them one day! And i’m being serious. 😀
God, I wish. It’d be great if Liechtenstein joined the party (also, if Jon Ola said 46, it’d be great to see other MIA Eurovision faves rejoin the party. Andorra, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovakia, and of course long-departed Luxembourg. Of course, Luxembourg seldom actually got its participants from Luxembourg itself – four of their winners were French and one was Greek).
YEEESSSSS My country might finally be coming to Eurovision!!!!!! I’m so happy holy mother!
Wait you’re actually from Liechtenstein? Highly doubt it.
They are absolutely welcome but it would be such a shame if they made a big hoopla about it and then flopped out of the first semi-final having been drawn second…let’s face it, it would be surprising if they reached the final at all. The current system makes it hard for newer countries to build up a following or interest when they never do well. See Czech.
I think they will perform in the final for the first time. Like Australia.
How much I love this article!
Another country potentially joining in? That’s amazing!
Good news for austria, germany and switzerland
Yes! Yes! Yes! YES!!!!
But we can only hope, that this time it IS gonna happen. What about an entry in the Liechtensteinese dialect? Sounds like a dream to me!
Yes yes YES please!!!
WOW
Even knowing that it would be completely remote, imagine how unusual could be the possibility of EUROVISION VADUZ 2020?
Never say never. It’s Eurovision. 😀
Please let this happen! We need Liechtenstein in the competition!
what better way to celebrate your anniversary if not with the biggest of the parties
Oh my God, yes! I love this and I hope we can get Luxembourg to come back!
Well it so early so I will believe in it if that happens. UER should try to bring back Luxembourg it’s one of the seven founders of the contest. I hope Liechtenstein can begin in 2 years. My hopes are very low though, we will certainly have the same countries each year.
Great news! A debut of Liechtenstein is better than the return of Turkey!
I simply don’t understand why Luxembourg won’t participate. They’re the heart of the EU, and they’re super rich! Also, they’re 500,000 (expect 12 televote points to Portugal every year, though). Either way, I hope Liechtenstein keeps their promise.
Why, what is the link between Luxembourg and Portugal?
17% of people living in Luxembourg are Portuguese. And are acutally the second largest national group in Luxembourg, next to Luxembourgers.
There are a LOT of portuguese immigrants in Luxembourg. If you are walking on the streets you can hear people speaking portuguese everywhere. I would say about half of the immigrants in Luxembourg are from Portugal. This is where the 12 points come from.
Erasmus and Miguel, thank you for your answers.
Read the comment below and educate yourself. 🙂
FINALLY!!!!!! I can die happy!!!!!!
If it’s happening, then yaaas! I always wanted Liechtenstein in the contest.
Until it is actually confirmed I keep it casual, they have said they want to participate in the past.
I dunno – I think this is kind of crazy. Can’t the Eurovision just make an exception for them and charge them a participation fee? It seems crazy that they have to pay for the full package for access to everything when they only want to do the Eurovision. It’s like being told you need to sign up for an annual membership in the gym instead of being able to buy a day pass.
I think it’s an example of bureaucracy winning over reason
Good idea, after all, ESC is just 3 days. Why do they have to buy the whole package?
Because being a member, full or associate, is a basic requirement to become eligible to participate in anu Eurovision event.
Just because it is, doesn’t mean it should be.
-quote from movie Australia 2008
Full membership should absolutely be required. The line has to be drawn somewhere, or else anybody could compete, and it could conceivably damage the long-term interests of the EBU if they withdraw a juicy perk of membership.
are all countries participating now, full members?
Yes they are. That’s a requirement. Being in EBU gives you the right to participate in Eurovision.
they could do a serhat and get some money from somewhere else- participation fee solved!
If Liechtenstein plan to go to Eurovision 2019 this could mean the return of other microstates i.e. Luxembourg, Monaco, Andorra right???
It is great they want to join. Why the fee must be so high for such a small country? Is like EBU doesn’t really want them, J.O.Sand already said the maximum participants must be 46. Would be sad if EBU is just not interested in small countries.
If this is the fee for San Marino too, I think I understand they needed to ask money from artists. It’s a miracle what selection they make this year.
OK, I understand now.