As reported earlier today, days of speculation are now over and the axe has finally fallen. Bulgaria’s broadcaster BNT has officially confirmed that the country is withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest over financial difficulties.

But this is not the end of the story. Rather than just crying out “Why?” our friends at eurovision-bulgaria and from OGAE Bulgaria are taking action and spearheading a fan movement intended to fight BNT’s decision. They’ve now launched a petition urging BNT to reconsider.

The petition is being shared with the hashtag #TheyWillNeverBreakUsDown. Within a few hours the petition has already gathered more than one thousand signatures. But more are needed to make an impact.

You can sign the Eurovision Bulgaria petition at Change.org. 

The petition was published at Change.org — aka “the world’s platform for change” — and it is addressed to the Governing Council of Bulgarian National Television.

The full text of the petition is as follows:

“The Bulgarian National Television has officially announced that it withdraws from Eurovision 2019. We, the team behind Eurovision-Bulgaria.com, do not agree with this decision and we address all Eurovision fans to sign our petition.”

“Withdrawing means not letting a whole country show its culture, talent and uniqueness in front of 200 million people. Also, at such a late stage it ruins the image of Bulgaria and Bulgarian National Television as a whole.”

“Currently the annual poll ‘Who Would You Like to Represent Bulgaria at Eurovison’ at our website’s platforms once again attracts the attention of both fans and artists. Some hesitation and dissent should not be stopping Bulgaria’s musical progress. Our representatives have always trusted the Bulgarian National Television — therefore the broadcaster must respect them, the fans and the partners it has relied on.”

“We remind you of the ‘Conception for BNT’s development as a public media’ by Konstantin Kamenarov, which he included at his audition for the position of general director of the broadcaster.”

“In the last few years BNT managed to impose Eurovision as a significant show for Bulgaria with a strong public reaction. It ‘put forward’ competitive Bulgarian faces, who created a positive image for Bulgaria and received strong support within the country and abroad. Eurovision became an emblematic show for BNT and brought positives in its placement as a public media.”

“We demand the Board of the Bulgarian National Television keep their promise and take part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel.”

We at wiwibloggs hope that all Bulgarians — and indeed international fans — will sign the petition as a sign of solidarity. At the very least it will remind BNT’s directors that the decision isn’t going down well.

What do you think? Did you sign? Do you think Bulgaria will reverse its decision? Let us know down below!

Read more Bulgaria Eurovision news

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Juan Cena
Juan Cena
5 years ago

I wonder if the new regime at BNT is balking at how much of the Eurovision budget has been going to non-Bulgarian writers and producers, and performers in the past few years? Borislav Milanov has colbaborated with Swedish and American writers and producers for at least the past two years. Two of Equinox were American, and while Kristan Kostov’s father was Bulgarian, he was born in Russia.

Not that is a good reason to withdraw from ESC in 2019, as it shouldn’t take BNT that long to find a new ESC team.

Darren
Darren
5 years ago

As disappointing as it is that Bulgaria won’t be present in Tel Aviv, do you honestly think a petition will change that?
Also, if this was any other country withdrawing (let’s say Ireland) would their be such momentum to get them to stay? I think not.
Where are the petitions to get Slovakia/Turkey/Morocco/ Luxembourg/Andorra/Monaco to come back I wonder?

Jai
Jai
5 years ago
Reply to  Darren

I think the reaction is so strong because the withdrawal came as a shock with little warning and Bulgaria have been doing so well lately. Fans do want those other countries to come back but its been years, in some cases decades, since they’ve participated and none of their withdrawals were shocking except for possibly Turkey.

Sonam
Sonam
5 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Eurovision-Bulgaria and OGAE Bulgaria launched the petition, as mentioned in this article. It was up to the OGAE’ s of the countries you mention to take the initiative in the first place.

JJ Abrahames
JJ Abrahames
5 years ago

Where is your logic?
First of all, Petitions never work and nobody cares about them but still people day after day sign them just to think that their opinion matters
Second, you think that signing some web stuff will help BNT to find millions to exterminate financial problems? How exactly do you imagine this?

Juan Cena
Juan Cena
5 years ago
Reply to  JJ Abrahames

Was Bulgaria spending millions per year on Eurovision in the first place? I couldn’t imagine them spending more than two or three million at tops per year on ESC, and that’s a high-end estimate.

U.S.
U.S.
5 years ago

Where’s the link?

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
5 years ago

Financial difficulties? Spend less money then. Pretty sure, Bulgaria’s music videos, staging etc. all has been amongst the most expensive at the contest since they returned…

Juan Cena
Juan Cena
5 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Did Equinox do a full-fledged video for “Bones?” I think there was a lyric video, but I think that was it.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
5 years ago
Reply to  Juan Cena

It still looked kinda pricy though.

Juan Cena
Juan Cena
5 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

I can’t imagine it costing more than $100k or so.

West
West
5 years ago

It’s nice that people are supporting them, but unless each of the people who signed this petition is willing to pay at least 100 € then the petition is just a nice gesture.

Fast Food Music Lover
Fast Food Music Lover
5 years ago

I want them to stay but I don’t want them to send a half-assed song just for the sake of it. So conflicted–

Aga
Aga
5 years ago

I am glad that they will not participate. One musican is writing all songs for them and they dont have preselections. In my opinion its not ok.

EscAU
EscAU
5 years ago
Reply to  Aga

that’s literally what australia’s done the last 3 years…
you know it costs money to hold a selection and obviously bulgaria don’t have enough as it is

Juan Cena
Juan Cena
5 years ago
Reply to  Aga

I think that may be hitting the nail on the hammer there. One guy and his non-Bulgarian collaborators have been responsible for writing/producing/staging, etc.

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

They need money, not thoughts and prayers.

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

If poorer countries are able to find sponsors, then so is BNT. Just fire the entire team and replace it with competent people since the current managers clearly ain’t it.

Dune R
Dune R
5 years ago

Here’s a crazy thought. If you people want Bulgaria to stay in Eurovision so badly, you go and work out BNT’s finances yourselves. Signing the petition and throwing hashtags everywhere won’t be enough for them to succesfully fulfil their obligations.

Juan Cena
Juan Cena
5 years ago
Reply to  Dune R

Public outcries do work at times. Here in the US, loads of people were upset when HBO decided to fire some of Sesame Street’s human performers (who had been on the show for decades) after it took over producing the show a few year’s back. A few million outraged tweets and bad press later, HBO changed it’s mind.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Juan Cena

I was there for that – it really did work. Also, with over 67,000 signatures so far, this petition is gaining a lot of momentum (and the majority of the signatories are Bulgarians).

TearDrop
TearDrop
5 years ago

I think it’s high time we change the broadcaster. The only time people ever watch BNT is when there are olympic games, football world cup or eurovision. The other two national broadcasters have way bigger finantial abilites and also a lot more people watch them.
I hope we sit this one out, because even if something happens and we come back, our entry wouldn’t be good enough due to the finantial issues. It’s better to leave on a high note and come back next year stronger

Sadddd
Sadddd
5 years ago

That will not work what can you do money Love you BULGARIA I hope in 2020 you will be back

Joshua
Joshua
5 years ago

I doubt this will get far for many reasons… 1500 people is not enough for such a petition to actually be validated or even considered by BNT and even if it were indeed considered, fan support is not the problem. Unless each petitioner gives some kind of financial help (which would need to be a big amount of money, considering the costs of Eurovision), the problems BNT is facing aren’t magically sorted out by some fans saying: “I want Bulgaria at Eurovision xdxd”. Plus this sort of thing rarely works… Bulgaria won’t participate this year and that’s fine. They will… Read more »

Nicola
Nicola
5 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

It’s now 5,000 signatures that are needed.

Joshua
Joshua
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicola

Still not enough. 5000 people is the populatio of a very small town in the countryside. They should get one or two millions to sign this. And still, even if so many people actually sign, it’ll be useless.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

They’re going up to 7500 now.

Kslsisjs
Kslsisjs
5 years ago

Bulgaria will do a whole macedonia, mark my words

Kalen
Kalen
5 years ago
Reply to  Kslsisjs

I dont remember this…

Jai
Jai
5 years ago
Reply to  Kalen

Macedonia said they were withdrawing last year due to lack of funds and then not long later said they were ok and not withdrawing after all

Andrea
Andrea
5 years ago

Where is the link?

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Andrea

It’s linked to the line “You can sign the petition at Change.org.”

Mako
Mako
5 years ago

#StayBulgaria ! ?

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

Supposing you could share the link to the petition?

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Oh you did. Never mind!