As European countries face stricter measures to curb Covid-19, broadcasters look ahead to Eurovision 2021. However, San Marino is still hoping things can go ahead for 2020. Broadcaster SMRTV has revealed that it has appealed to the EBU to reconsider postponing Eurovision 2020 until the autumn.
San Marino’s Head of Delegation Alessandro Capicchioni has revealed the broadcaster’s appeal to the European Broadcasting Union.
He explained that the broadcaster has “promoted an appeal in which we ask the European Broadcasting Union to rethink a possible autumn edition, a way to restart not only the programming but also the return to normal.”
Capicchioni claims that SMRTV is among several broadcasters who are petitioning the EBU to postpone the 2020 song contest. However, so far no other broadcasters have publicly confirmed that they are also wanting the show to be postponed.
The San Marino Head of Delegation says that the broadcaster has pitched a number of alternates for holding Eurovision this year. He even has a snappy slogan for his campaign. Capicchioni says, “We believe in the Rotterdam 2020 motto, #openup – we don’t want it to be a #shutdown.”
SMRTV’s Director-General has more to say
SMRTV’s Director-General Carlo Romeo has also reiterated his position that postponing Eurovision 2020 would have been better than cancelling.
The broadcasting head earlier issued a statement in which he called for Eurovision 2020 to be postponed to sometime in the autumn, rather than be cancelled outright.
He has since given two reasons for wanting the 2020 show to be postponed. He says it will honour the work done by the various delegations and the host broadcaster, and to give a positive message in these troubling times. Romeo said that even television entertainment has a responsibility and must “give a signal of survival and return to life.”
Earlier this week that EBU confirmed that while broadcasters are welcome to invite back their 2020 artists, they are still required to select new songs for the next edition of Eurovision.
San Marino had been due to compete at Eurovision 2020 with the Italian singer Senhit performing the disco song “Freaky!”.
What do you think? Should the EBU go ahead with postponing Eurovision 2020 to a later date? Or should San Marino move on to the next edition? Tell us your thoughts below!
No reason to cancel all songs could have been broadcast from each country EBU. We could have still voted by phone
YES PLEASE. It’s such a shame for the selected songs. It can be a smaller production even, but please let it happen. I was so excited for Bulgaria. Lithuania and Iceland had a good chance to win 🙁
The Olympics include contact sports and massive crowds. It’s not even comparable. The EBU are the only clowns here.
Why are you so defensive about the EBU? We are only talking about moving the decision date on when to cancel to July. Nobody, including the EBU, can predict how things will go. Things are changing rapidly and you, me, or the EBU have no idea what’s going to happen. If the situation is much better by July then hold the competition in October. If not, then cancel at that time. It’s not that complicated or difficult really.
If you don’t care about Eurovision why are you posting on this forum?
Stupid, riduculous and irresponsible statements from SMRTV. San Marino is the country with the highest percentage of confirmed cases per capita and the highest case fatality rate. Both higher than Italy.
Well, i will be disapointed if JESC will happen and ESC not …its not fair …who cares about JESC – of cource its nice to see kids and their talent but i don’t know ….ESC is more interesting for moi
It might be better if the EBU finds a way to make the contest this year 2020…
This time is the only year, the EBU cancels a Eurovision Song Contest.
I see many people here are still in denial. I respect that, but I hope you’ll be back to reality soon, because the last thing our authorities care right now is about a song contest. Stay safe, everyone.
No, you are unable to think critically. They could have tentatively set it for October and made a final decision in July. Rotterdam said they needed 1.5 months to build the stage. The EBU had no good reason to refuse that option, other than laziness and indifference.
Tons of events got rescheduled to Oct in all 41 countries, ESC isn’t just about getting a stage ready, the winner would have just 6-7 to prepare for ESC2021 unless it happened in Oct again, the global economy will be in pretty bad shape, some countries might withdraw…
You just proved my point. The EBU decided that “tons of events” are more important than Eurovision. They don’t care about Eurovision. 6-7 months to prepare for 2021 is not enough? Give me a break. These are the dumbest excuses.
The EBU’s decision is bad because it is not known what the situation will be in three / four months. Of course, at the moment there is no question of organizing the competition in May, but if the situation improves until the beginning of summer, why can’t you organize a Eurovision Song Contest in August / September? Everything is prepared, the songs selected, the arena is free throughout August, so I see no obstacles to organize a competition at the end of summer. Of course, if the situation stabilizes by July. In the absence of improvement, I will completely accept… Read more »
You’re correct. Of course the EBU could have postponed until September/October and then made a final decision in the summer. But they were too lazy to try and they do not really care about the consequences to the 41 musicians and respective countries. Everyone here who is buying the nonsense excuses by the EBU (8 months is not enough for the next organizer!) needs to think critically.
San Maino should have chosen Samira Efendi as a singer, because they are queens of denial
C’mon even though they should focus on other stuff rn they are still right.. why cancel it? Why new songs? Why not do the show in October or November? Why should we let Attention, All of my love, Alcohol You, Tears getting sober, Feker Libi, Think about things, Cleopatra and all those other amazing songs go to waste?
San Marino, honey, we only got the summer. Let’s make it the best one
I approve this message. Maybe Slay Marino snapped.
Not all of us are negative and pessimistic like you. Jeez
Apparently some people are fact resistent. You can dream. But please don’t make other people act irrational just because you so much want your dreams to come true. The decisions should not be based on a positive mindset, but facts. San Marino has the highest number of infected per capita, deal with it
SMA has a fish waaaay bigger to fry right now, in fact, their economy will be in pieces when this is over. So I doubt people over there are worried about the contest…
Of course. I agree and support him. Rational thinking.
I would have suspended the festival and wait if there were improvements in the situation. Imagine May or June comes and the crisis is gone, imagine how all those people who cancelled sports and cultural events would feel like if that happened.
The crisis won’t go just like that. The virus may even become endemic, meaning it will come back every year.
Stop being so alarmistic! Of course it will return, virus are here to stay! But eventually it will be a virus among others.Our immune system will get used to it and there will be vaccines..
Just stay home and behave like Sheldon Cooper, it turns out he was ahead of his time 😛
Carlo Romeo, just accept Eurovision 2020 is cancelled. A remote Eurovision won’t work because of the restrictions from different countries. Postponing won’t work either because: 1 – how long will Covid-19 last? 2 – The winning country would have less time to prepare for ESC 2021 in May. San Marino with 30,000+ inhabitants have 170+ people infected with Covid-19 and 20 people have died and it makes San Marino the highest infected country in Europe per capita. Focus on that instead.
Wow, what negativity and pessimism. We all not all pessimist like you, jeezz. Accept that there is also other ways and other scenarios. No acceptance of cancellation.
Pessimist? How do you mean. An optimistic view would be that covid-19 stops existing in an hour.
But this is not about what feels positive or not. It would be a really bad desicion to gamble with people’s life just because you have a positive spirit.
On EBU’s priority list:
1. Prevent virus from spreading and keep the number of deceased to a minimum
2. Entertaining Europe
The should not change the order of those, even if it would be positive for me to get #2
But there are other ways of holding the contest, people say that the winner wouldn’t have enough time to prepare for Eurovision, but what country has actually come out and said that if it is in autumn they wouldn’t have enough time? Concerts have much less than a year to set up but they still do it every time… i feel like they don’t want postpone it because they are to afraid of risk taking, they’d rather play it safe and cancel than risk it in autumn seeing if things are better, and I think that playing it safe is… Read more »
I think they should care more about the infection than the contest now. The numbers of death are appalling in their region along with Italy.
I TOTALLY agree with San Marino. Just POSTPONE THE DAMN EVENT!
Why is he so desperate? They’d come last with this song.
Ha! I love it, he thinks they’re gonna win. Also, this probably won’t go away by Autumn. 😉
I agree with San Marino, it’s better if they postpone it
San Marino giving off that clout chasing Instagram hoe vibes
If San Marino wants a contest so bad, why don’t they organise an unofficial online contest for the lost 2020 entries? They’ve clearly got the budget for it, and that way we can still find out who the winner most likely would have been!
If the country with the highest infection per capita wants to keep ESC20 alive, then postponement is indeed an option
I hope so…
I support that we want to #OpenUp not #ShutDown but we don’t know how much time it’ll take to get the situation under control. I’m sad to say this but it is the best decision for now because the situation is way out of control and we don’t how the situation would be at that time of the year.
No comment.
Then why comment?
I guarantee you that COVID 19 would have definitely died down by the autumn, they could even hold the concert in July/August. Eurovision has never been cancelled, and what is the reason the EBU decides to cancel?? Oh because a virus is going around. Say you do get the virus, there is a 95% you will recover , and the 5% that dont and unfortunately die is because they are older in age or have other health conditions, these people have been told by the government to self isolate and stay at home , and if they dont well thats… Read more »
Ok, sure. It’s autumn right now in Australia and the virus is still going strong and killing people, but believe whatever you want to believe I guess.
The reason I said that the virus will die by Autumn is because most countries in Europe would have reached their peak, but obviously in Australia the virus has just started to spread so it will take longer to reach its peak.
No offence to all the people from San Marino, but wth San Marino?
I would love to have all these songs in Eurovision, but there is no guarantee situation with covid 19 will be better in autumn
Attitude of San Marino remind me attitude of Erika – Cicciolina from Finland ….lets open for ESC 2020 autumn edition
How does being desperate and in denial has anything to do with the message of Cicciolina?
I think we should now by know that everything has to do with the generic, overproduced masterpiece that is Cicciolina. Cicciolina invented… inventing.
I understand the cancellation, but not allowing the songs to participate because of rules? They themselves have broken the rules by not organizing the event, just let the broadcasters pick the song themselves!! That is very unfair and by that decision not to allow the 2020 songs to participate, i am very disappointed.
It’s Force Majore, it’s not breaking the rules
Well, then make the new rule: in the event of Force Majeure , postpone the Eurovision for the time after the Force Majeure and let SELECTED songs complete. All other is complete disrespect.
All those people in the comments claiming that the decision to cancel it was “rushed”, “not thought through” or “lazy”. Do you really believe that they just cancelled the contest because they didn’t feel like organising it anymore? Do you really believe that they cancelled it without looking at alternatives?
It’s really quite embarrassing for y’all to write those things just because you didn’t get what you wanted.
The biggest frustration here is ban for songs! Shame EBU!!! I still can not believe, that you robbed artist!!
Exactly!
You are missing the point. It is about the songs and disrespect to artists who all of a sudden their songs they worked for FOR MONTHS are all of a sudden ineligible.!? completely crazy
Idk if EBU can undo cancellation…
There’s a reason it wasn’t postponed to September. The winning country wouldn’t have enough time to prepare. This feels like trying to get our hopes up for cheap headlines…
Or it could become the new standard, life changes thing and we must adapt to the way things are. What’s to say that the next years contest could be held a 11 months from the new date and continue that trend until you get to the desired date again?
In 2018 Ukraine had put together the contest with only 3 months left after a chaotic process that had several team members quit half-way.
I am sorry how many time do you need to prepare it? They think 3-4 months which city to be choosen, what a waste of time 🙂
Prepare what? They not even started to build arena yet! The biggest work is done by competing countries and they are keen to do this!
After all of this, why would there be needed the contest to be organized in may 2021? Postpone it to september and reorganize the calendar as from now on, the contest to be held in september every year.
Look, San Marino: I love you. You know I love you. But 2020 ain’t happening. This is not a thing to be concerned with right now. Just hang onto Senhit, get cracking on your 2021 entry, and we’ll see you next year. Just let it go.
But it’s not fair to anyone that they have to pick new songs, they should keep them and not penalized creativity just because it’s with “keeping with tradition” personally that’s the biggest piece or garbage I’ve ever heard of
I’m not crazy about that either. But it is what it is, and we can’t do anything about it. Feel sad and move on. Nothing is going to change about that.
haha who are you to say that it is not happening? Instead better fight for the right of artists and songs
@Marko The EBU, the organizer, said it’s not happening. Damn man, there’s a literal crisis going around you. Focus on stuff that actual matter.
I completely disagree with their position, but you can’t deny San Marino has big d*ck energy, the tiny micro state, just demanding the EBU drastically reverse it’s plans. Love to see it.
I think this should be seen in the light of the cities in Netherlands competing about hosting Eurovision way before they won in 2019. You’re right. They just want attention
Still, the Japanese are willing to organize the Olympic Games. So, there we can start lots of discussions. The virus will be with us from now on for years, even more, it’s just about how people are adapting to it.
I’m positive this won’t make them change their decision, and global pandemics such as this one have the exception to sacrifice the things we love, whether it ranges from people losing their lives or to this competition that will live forever. In a year’s time, we will get over this, but for now we just need to stick together during these dark times and understand the decision of the EBU, because it was not an easy one in any way. We don’t have the cost to make any more risks, such as postponing, so let’s just put this competition on… Read more »
They should just independently organise it if they want.
As much as I’m sad it’s cancelled, I think it was the best decision. It’s very hard to tell if it’s going to be possible to hold large events at the end of this year – it might just not be possible – and the EBU would’ve possibly lost a bunch of money and time. And so would’ve the broadcasters.
SAN MARINO 100% RIGHT. Cancelling was the lazy choice. They could have done a postponement to September/October on a “tentative” basis and made a final decision in July. Rotterdam already said they only need around 1.5 months to build the stage. Saying that the 2021 broadcaster would not have enough time is the dumbest excuse. They can put it together in 6 months or less. The whole decision process smacked of indifference to Eurovision by the EBU.
Can you guarantee that COVID 19 will be eliminated by autumn? No you can’t! Experts say it could last for over 12 months.
OMG please San Marino do this, please please please, i can‘t without Eurovision 🙁 where are the other countries ? lets support San Marino on its way!
Great initiative and I agree with San Marino. Cancelling was a rushed not very thought out “idea” by EBU who didn’t even bother to consult the broadcasters about what they thought..
Unfortunately I don’t think SMRTV will win. EBU made up their mind and ESC 2020 will stay cancelled. But boy will that decision come back to haunt them, and rightfully so..
Yeah they are lazy thinking asses that can’t brake rules like Eurovision hosting dates. Why always must be only at May? Why can’t be at Summer, Autumn, Winter time? Why can’t postponed and cancelled later? Stop / cancel is always easiest way…. Some people are dumb, arrogant and not responsible and not care about others. These arrogant persons who think that any other people can’t control their movements where / when / how they want to go, can infect all world anyway with or without Eurovision, Olympics and other culture, sport events 🙁
Look at what experts are saying! This pandemic can last for over 12 months!
Most say it will end by June. There might be a second wave but those are rarely as severe as the first one.
Well, unfortunately we have to accept the EBU’s decision. I Can understand the reasons why they did that, and I think it’s fair enough. However I think they might do a Eurovision 2020 concert. Maybe In October – all the artists will have their chance to perform live. It’s going to be Celebration and Reuniting after this global pandemic. Also a Warm-up for most of the artists who will present their countries in ESC 2021 😉
1: Most experts have predicted virus will peak in May/June. Postponing would work.
2: You don’t need a year to prepare for ESC, 6 months is enough..
3: No one cares about JESC.
Or 3 months in Ukraine’s case
1. Yeah and Italy didn’t expect almost 5,500 deaths…so far. Those experts are at best speculating.
2. And how many contests have you organized to know that to be true? Or you want a badly organized contest? And then you and other that think like you will b*tch on how bad it was.
3. Talk about yourself.
Nothing suggest it would be a badly organized show. That is only fans thinking it would. And nothing suggest it would be a great show just because you gave it time. Vienna 2015 was pretty bad and thy had a year to do it…
The virus is expected to peak in May/June, based on experiences with previous virus outbreak and based on how it went in China.
And yes, no one cares about JESC.
I agree with this, if a country can’t basically a concert up in 6 months then we have serious problems, and I think it will be a beacon of hope, however I don’t think anyone will listen because it’s “San Marino” and they don’t get a day because they are “too small”
Well, San Marino RTV knows that they would probably never be expected to host the contest even if they won, so they don’t really have any reasons to push for cancelling the contest. Guys you have a whole year to find a great song for Senhit – use your time wisely!
Don’t worry San Marino, you will buy another song next year. Until then stay at home, because virus just love your bravery.
Who is staying home? No one care about it, only Italians and French people not allowed to go out, others can and they do not listen advises! If you really would stay home virus would be ended by July!
San Marino needs to get over it, I mean this is just petty. You are a Microstate inside the world’s most affected country and your still bitching about it. Get Over It! It’s cancelled until 2021 when conditions hopefully improve (don’t try me Covid-19). All you can do right now is internally select Senhit and give her time to produce a killer song like this year and if you and like certian ESC crybabies who are having a meltdown and blaming and threatening to sue the EBU want to leave or boycott the contest…the door’s over there ciao or otherwise… Read more »
Well done San Marino!!!
The first country that has the bravery to express their opinion. And no I don’t say that there must be a contest this year at any price. But we need hope – hope that the hard work of the 41 countries would eelventually be honoured. There is still chance that the situation in Europe would normalize in the following months.
Regards.
Yeah! Give Eurovision trophy to all this year’s artists!
Lmao participation trophies, chill