Ukraine’s cash-strapped broadcaster UA:PBC has well-documented financial problems. And that’s part of the reason it’s signed a three-year memorandum with private broadcaster STB to cooperate on Vidbir, the country’s national selection for Eurovision. The agreement covers 2019, 2020 and 2021. Breathe deep and say thank you: They ain’t pulling a Bulgaria.

In a statement published by STB today, the network’s director Vladimir Borondiansky was full of praise for STB’s partnership with UA:PBC, which started in 2016.

“Beginning with our cooperation with UA:PBC three years ago, the STB channel set itself the goal of creating a mega-event in which every professional artist could introduce himself to Europe. And we succeeded, because in three years the National Selection has opened a lot of new names to the general public, given a successful start to many young artists, and the selection itself became the main musical event of the year and attracted the attention of successful producers and patrons.”

“This is a very decent result, which we are proud of. Therefore, we want to continue our cooperation with UA:PBC, concentrating on production and creating what STB can do best — an on-going large-scale television project, which is now the National Selection for Eurovision.”

Zurab Alasania, chairman of the board of the national broadcaster, is as enthusiastic.

“Taking into account the experience of previous years, we are pleased to continue our cooperation with STB, as they are confident that Ukraine will be represented in the best way: young artists will receive a platform, spectators will be satisfied with high-quality shows, and voting for a representative of Ukraine will be honest and open.”

“As the youngest European public broadcaster that is in a state of transformation and under 50% underfunded, we believe that our cooperation with the commercial channel for the Eurovision project is economically feasible: by ourselves, we cannot now ensure the high quality of the National Selection as a commercial channel can.”

STB will assume all the costs associated with staging the national selection, including the live broadcasts of the shows. It’s also — of its own will — offered to support the winner of the show with additional financial support as they prepare for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Last year, for the first time ever, STB and UA:PBC’s first channel both broadcast the main competition.

The three shows of Vidbir 2018 will be aired lived on February 9, 16 and 23 simultaneously on STB and UA:PBC’s first channel.

Read more Ukraine Eurovision news

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Skimur
Skimur
5 years ago

Great news! I only hope that this time Ukraine will choose someone from the highest league, with experience, and not mediocrity, semi-amateurs, as in the past two years. For example :
The Hardkiss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIx_W9BDKpA
Antytila https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adzOwkpyWDQ
or Hrystyna Soloviy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zncb2ZnXSI

Meliris
Meliris
5 years ago
Reply to  Skimur

Though I strongly disagree with especially the second part of your comment, I do like your suggestions.

Zebb
Zebb
5 years ago

ZA’s populist whiny ass might be deeply thankful for being saved constantly.

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
5 years ago

Tayanna! She should win!

Nick
Nick
5 years ago

Thanks god Ukraine managed to find the way to make it, i was worried they would be gone as Bulgaria, Vidbir one of the strongest national selection, i want Max Barskih or Vilna or KadNay to win Vidbir

Kris
Kris
5 years ago

Amazing news! I want Hardkiss band for ESC 2019 … but they probably will not participite either…anyway Ukraine has so many talented artists im sure Vidbir gonna be awesome, cant wait!

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
5 years ago
Reply to  Kris

AYE! Hardkiss! That’s a name I haven’t heard in a while! Where have they been? At one point, they were considering another attempt (they lost a tiebreaker to Jamala last time).

Zebb
Zebb
5 years ago
Reply to  CookyMonzta

They’ve just dropped new album in September (??????? ????????/Iron Swallow)!
Also, Jamala dropped new one last week as well, I guess there’ll be an article.

Meliris
Meliris
5 years ago
Reply to  Zebb

And that album is great!

Hrvatska
Hrvatska
5 years ago

It is a pity that Tayanna will not speak again by arguing with her manager and Andieja Danilko. But look vidbir is the most detailed preselekcje because juri on everything pay attention to why Ukraine is coping with eurovision

Ggfhjvv
Ggfhjvv
5 years ago
Reply to  Hrvatska

Wait what?

Bruno
Bruno
5 years ago

Yes! Ukraine is in! I knew they would make it :)))
Thanks dear William for a good news:D

Geo
Geo
5 years ago

Hope they’ll have a revamped jury as well. So sick and tired of the same jury 3 years in a row (Verka, Ruslana/Jamala and a no name). Bring more jury members or ar least change the same jury members, no more Jamala and Verka, they’re not objective and meh..

Bomb
Bomb
5 years ago

LOBODA come back!

Fatima
Fatima
5 years ago

Tayanna said she is not gonna participite in Vidbir anymore…
anyway im so so so glad Ukraine resolved their financial problems and continue their amazing Eurovision journey, yay:) I was afraid we would lost another one my fav country next year, good luck Ukraine!

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago
Reply to  Fatima

She had great songs in her album, but chose some pretty underwhelming entries for Vidbir.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
5 years ago
Reply to  Jo.

A lot of artists tend to submit entries for Eurovision that seem to be underwhelming compared to their other output.

Alex
Alex
5 years ago

I hope Tayanna will come back.

Euro fan youtube
Euro fan youtube
5 years ago

We want tayannna!!!!

Euro fan youtube
Euro fan youtube
5 years ago

We want tayannna !!!!!

Meliris
Meliris
5 years ago

I dont want Tayanna, I want the Hardkiss!

@EurovisionBram
@EurovisionBram
5 years ago

I want Tayanna to return!!!! Lelya and I Love You deserved to win both years Vidbir!!!!

Jai
Jai
5 years ago

I agree, I loved her songs from both years and think she would have done well at Eurovision. This comment will probably be disliked like all of the other comments mentioning Tayanna ( I’m guessing its by the same Melovnin fans who blew up the Eurovision next top model comments)