It looks like the ongoing saga over who will pay the security deposit for Eurovision 2019 is coming to an end. Israeli press is reporting that broadcaster KAN and the Israeli government have finally reached an agreement on how the EBU security deposit will be covered.

Haaretz news sources report that the €12 million security deposit will be paid to the EBU by the host broadcaster, KAN, who will take out a bank loan to cover it.

If the song contest goes ahead with no major disruptions, the deposit will be refunded to the broadcaster and the loan will be repaid. However, if something does happen to disrupt the contest, the EBU may keep some or all of the deposit to cover the cost of hosting Eurovision in a new location — a loss that KAN can’t sustain.

This is where the Israeli government is said to be stepping in. Haaretz reports that if the contest doesn’t go ahead due to situations such as war, an earthquake or political pressure from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, the Israeli Treasury will step in and ensure KAN’s loan is repaid.

However, this agreement has not been publicly confirmed by either party and KAN is not currently commenting on the matter.

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The EBU is making it clear that the show will go on…even if the internal drama in Israel leads it to forfeit its #Eurovision hosting rights. They said: “The EBU is working closely with KAN ahead of [the 14 August] deadline, on advancing arrangements for next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Israel. Every year financial guarantees must be made to the EBU before plans are put in place and the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest is announced. If a situation ever arose in which a broadcaster could not fulfil their requirements there are always contingency plans in place, as is normal when planning such a large event with many international stakeholders.” #eurovisionsongcontest #eurovision2019

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The agreement follows weeks of back and forth between the two parties. Since July, KAN has been mulling over the issue of how to cover the cost of the security deposit. The broadcaster has repeatedly said they could not simply take it out their overall budget and instead wanted the Israeli government to cover costs.

The government refused to lend a hand, saying the broadcaster should take it out of their budget. The situation also follows previous tensions between KAN and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Whatever decision is reached, it will need to be made today. The European Broadcasting Union previously extended its deadline to give KAN more time to reach an agreement. But the deadline has been reached and KAN must provide the security deposit to the EBU today or risk forfeiting the right to host Eurovision 2019.

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Dame Tu Conchita
Dame Tu Conchita
6 years ago

Sad that the hype is finished. Now what will be their next move so that all eyes will be on this country again while the contest hasn’t started yet?

Sophie Adelaide
Sophie Adelaide
6 years ago

About DAMN TIME!

Michèle
Michèle
6 years ago

In 2017 Israel stated they would not be participating in Eurovision again – now this! Think they like playing games…

Ana
Ana
6 years ago
Reply to  Michèle

That was your misunderstanding of the statement that was made in 2017 during the show. It was said the IBA stops broadcasting forever. It was never said that Israel stops participating Eurovision. In fact, KAN, who replaced the IBA, were openly intending to become members of the EBU even before they started broadcasting.

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago
Reply to  Ana

Michèle can be forgiven for getting that impression, though. The spokesperson (what’s his name again?) was very dramatic, and certainly made it seem that they would never be back. If only we knew then that only one year later they would be victorious!

Michèle
Michèle
6 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Yes, did misunderstand it at the time and thanks for clearing it up Ana. Still think there was a bit of drama about the staging for 2019 which I believed all along would be resolved, but I could be wrong!

Denis
Denis
6 years ago
Reply to  Michèle

I misunderstood too. As Jonas mentions it didn’t help that the spokesperson held a very dramatic passionate fire speech, as if both he and Israel were slowly dying. Like he said “maybe we will be back” and “this is our final votes” and stuff like that.
But it looks like some Israelis just likes drama:)

omg.esc
omg.esc
6 years ago

I knew it would all be resolved and that it was all drama. Then, the government swoops in to save the day.

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  omg.esc

Well, they did not exactly swoop in. KAN is taking the loan after all. The government only agreed to back them up in unexpected case of crisis.

Peter
Peter
6 years ago

Hmm such a shame… i hoped the context would be going to Austria or Germany, Israël doesnt deserve to host after all the drama

Tanny
Tanny
6 years ago
Reply to  Peter

Every year theres in a diffrent drama. Israel deserves to win like usual.

Nitz
Nitz
6 years ago
Reply to  Peter

Well drama is a part of life. Israel deserves to host just like any other past hosts. I think you’re a bit too sensitive

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

If I was religious, I’d think this is payback for having had a non-political, music-focused, well-organized Eurovision this year.

Eurovisionfan12
Eurovisionfan12
6 years ago

Let’s hope Nadav will finally show us Tel-Aviv next year 🙂

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago

It would make a great filler video between re-caps! Better than some of the other stuff we’ve been offered in the past for sure.

Ryan
Ryan
6 years ago

Happy this all worked out but damn….. I’m tired of having mini heart attack after mini heart attack over this drama. Hopefully this is the last of this.

David
David
6 years ago

No more drama, please. But I am sure there will be…

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
6 years ago

It’s approved – KAN will pay the money 🙂
They have just announced that

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

Sounds like it all worked out. And given the development with Tel Aviv, I think there’s a solid chance they’ll host! So let’s get the show on the road.

Conor K
Conor K
6 years ago

Excellent news 🙂

Rick
6 years ago

there’s no good venue tho :/

Pancake
Pancake
6 years ago
Reply to  Rick

Check Wikipedia, the Eurovision 2019 page has the possible venues there

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Pancake

there all crap tho

Loin dici
6 years ago
Reply to  Rick

Not every country is Russia or Germany, we can’t expect a large venue every year!

Gobio
Gobio
6 years ago

All the haters and the ones who feed may rest now.
It’s a shame you just wasted your energy for free.

sevzch
sevzch
6 years ago

Can all the cyprus 2019 rumors plz be quite now??? Israel is most likely creating this drama in purpose in order to draw more attention to the show… and as i said like Elina’s dress Solved last minute XD

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
6 years ago

i dont see the point of asking for a loan with an annual budget of 177 million euros… but well, thanks to that now the KAN has to be really commited with eurovision, which are good news. If they are not and EBU decide to celebrate the contest in other place, they may lose 12 million euros, and some heads will be cut off.

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  Vanuatu

By law, KAN are not allowed to enter deficit under any circumstances. Also, their budget is quite strict in the sense that various parts of it are allocated to specific purposes (also, by law) and cannot be transferred to other purposes.
That’s why the loan is needed, as well as the government’s back-up.

Ron Kavaler
Editor
6 years ago
Reply to  Vanuatu

KAN’s budget for 2019 might looks high but most of it was likely alredy spent by now since KAN have plans for productions for the upcoming year so they can’t cancel contracts they have alredy signed for those productions for 2019.

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago
Reply to  Ron Kavaler

They shouldn’t have to anyway, it’s terrible that the contest should take such a huge financial toll on small broadcasters. This has been a problem for a while. The EBU insists on huge-scale productions, and I’ve wondered if the three nights television are really worth the giant fee at the taxpayers expense. For KAN to then ditch the rest of their annual programming would be far too much to ask.