SWEDEN 🇸🇪
Yesterday Carola shared an intriguing post to her Instagram story. She was standing outside the Stockholm headquarters of Sveriges Television (SVT). The photo includes a caption which approximately translates to “Private SVT meeting behind closed doors completed. Thanks, now everything old is importantly cleansed.”
MOLDOVA 🇲🇩
It will be the first time since 2007 that Moldova will skip the national selection and will choose the entry and singer for Eurovision via internal selection. TRM though will not proceed soon to any announcements.
ITALY 🇮🇹
On the occasion of the MTV Europe Music Awards, Mahmood took part in an interview with Barbara Visentin for Corriere Della Sera. Regarding the Eurovision Song Contest, Mahmood revealed that:
“[…] after Sanremo there were those who told me not to go to the Eurovision. In Italy the show never had all this appeal, it seemed a bit like the list of leftovers. But I was curious about the experience and I didn’t ask myself if it was a loser. See what happened…”
EUROVISION 2020 🇳🇱
The Dutch government will make their decision public regarding government funding for the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam next May on November 25th. If they do grant funding, this would be used by Dutch broadcaster NPO to aid in hosting the contest. On November 25th, there will be a debate in the Dutch parliament regarding the additional funding for NPO, who are asking for the minster for media to pass a one-off funding package worth around 15 to 20 million euros, to make sure the broadcaster can effectively and adequately host the competition in 2020.
MONTENEGRO 🇲🇪
Yesterday ESCTODAY.com reported “confirmed” information that Montenegro was withdrawing from Eurovision 2020. Today the Director-General of RTCG has hit back, saying that the broadcaster has not yet made a decision regarding its participation in Rotterdam. Speaking to Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti, RTCG’s Director-General Božidar Sundic said:
“I do not know who provided this information, but it cannot be accurate and official because we cannot talk about Eurovision before the RTCG Council decision. The Director-General cannot make that decision on his own, but he gives an order to the Council, whose session is officially decided on.”
CZECH REPUBLIC 🇨🇿
Jan Forst Bors explained the reason behind his resignation. It was because Czech broadcaster cancelled the televised national final. The cancellation had nothing to do with budget issues but with other inside differences. In the meantime, he doesn’t rule out to apply for the job of Eurovision Executive Supervisor.
AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺
Australia’s public broadcaster SBS announced yesterday the first two Eurovision nominees: Australia Decides, the country’s national final to be held in Gold Coast on 8 February. The two candidates revealed yesterday were Casey Donovan and Vanessa Amorosi. After the announcement, Vanesa Amorosi did not hide her enthusiasm. Vanesa Amorosi will perform one of the songs on her new album, released today. In fact, the successful singer asked her fans to guess what song she would be competing within Eurovision: Australia Decides! The clues are already many, with the overwhelming majority saying that Lessons Of Love is the song:
