Eurovision 2023 - BBC

[MrUdagawa]

I think under the almost unique circumstances London would be the best place to host. Remember the UK would be hosting it on behalf of Ukraine, we shouldn't necessarily be using it as a platform to showcase the UK or fit with any political agenda. Hosting in London in some ways gives it a more generic feel, in keeping with what would be needed this time. If somewhere in the regions or nations hosted, I feel that city would feel proud of that fact and take ownership of it in a way which might not be helpful given the context of why we're hosting this time.

[Brekkie]

More recently, Belfast hosted the UEFA Super Cup final last year between Chelsea and Villarreal. Considering they had to host football players, managers and TV broadcasters; they could definitely host a Eurovision.

If we're judging on that criteria, Cardiff hosted the same event eight years ago, with around 20,000 more people there.

Cardiff hasn't got the venue though. Yes, the Principality is a possibility but as good as the Stereophonics concert was last week I think it also showed it perhaps isn't ideal for something like Eurovision. It's the technical infrastructure more than anything - far easier to work with an arena with associated conference centre than a stadium.

I also think from a BBC point of view Wales already does pretty well with some significant dramas made there, so there are greater benefits to them of going to Scotland or NI or out of London.

I think under the almost unique circumstances London would be the best place to host. Remember the UK would be hosting it on behalf of Ukraine, we shouldn't necessarily be using it as a platform to showcase the UK or fit with any political agenda. Hosting in London in some ways gives it a more generic feel, in keeping with what would be needed this time. If somewhere in the regions or nations hosted, I feel that city would feel proud of that fact and take ownership of it in a way which might not be helpful given the context of why we're hosting this time.

It's not Ukraine's contest, it's the Eurovision Song Contest. We'd be hosting on behalf of the EBU, not Ukraine, whatever certain politicians may like to spin it as. Yes, they'll be a nod to Ukraine for sure but ultimately the host city is the host city and if they're stumping up the cost they deserve to be the main beneficiaries of it.

Anyhow, overall the contest is quite generic from year to year anyhow - other than the accents of the hosts you get very little flavour of the host country, never mind the host city. Even the interval acts are all pretty generic now. The postcards is the only showcase really, and that might be somewhere they could do something different which gives that nod to Ukraine.

[Newshound47]

There were many many calls on social for a lot of the seats to be reserved for Ukrainian refugees. It won’t look great if that request is denied or if they are given seats but then all the presenters and interval acts are British.

[Markymark]

I think the BBC press release gave the impression they were taken by surprise by how quickly the EBU reached the inevitable decision.  Whether they were is another question, but I suspect they didn't want it to come across as they'd been working with the EBU to strip Ukraine of hosting the contest.

There is no reason for the BBC to not host it - the will is there for them to do so, especially off the back of them taking it seriously for once and doing Eurovision justice.    The political will is there too.  They will get far more criticism for not hosting it than they would for hosting it at the moment.

To be honest, Brekkie, I think this is a massive lifeline for the BBC.  Why would you turn down a chance to show yourself off to the world at your absolute best at such a crucial time?

I don't think the BBC need to prove anything to the World,  their reputation is already second to none, and has been for decades. It's domestically they seem to need to put in some work!

[Joe]

There were many many calls on social for a lot of the seats to be reserved for Ukrainian refugees. It won’t look great if that request is denied or if they are given seats but then all the presenters and interval acts are British.

Can you just give it a rest?

[telebox2001]

There were many many calls on social for a lot of the seats to be reserved for Ukrainian refugees. It won’t look great if that request is denied or if they are given seats but then all the presenters and interval acts are British.

Please stop.

[SteveRW]

There were many many calls on social for a lot of the seats to be reserved for Ukrainian refugees. It won’t look great if that request is denied or if they are given seats but then all the presenters and interval acts are British.

The Eurovision Song Contest is apolitical and is there to be universally enjoyed by everyone. Do you suggest that refugees get free tickets? If so, who will end up losing out?

[p2004]

With all due respect, these are largely irrelevant people with opinions voicing them on social media. It is highly unlikely the EBU or the BBC are going to give them major swing in how the contest is held. And yes, this contest is a format whose rights lie with the EBU - the BBC is not doing any sort of charitable work for Ukraine here, it is slightly ridiculous to suggest otherwise. Of course there will be nods to Ukraine - they were the last winners of the contest, and that will be celebrated. However, the BBC and some form of local government are going to foot a non-insignificant the bill for Eurovision this year most likely, so reflecting the locality the contest is being held in and British culture is also important - this is a large amount of public money being put into this production, so if the resultant product doesn't reflect the UK but only Ukraine, it is a poor spend of that money - and both the EBU and BBC know this.

[telebox2001]

Indeed.

Can we not just rejoice in a home Eurovision? I don't care what Kalush, Newshound47, Boris or his alco DCMS fweind think.

The fact that the Kalush Orchestra have used their Glasto appearance to kick off to British media suggests the message still hasn't landed.

[Brekkie]

I don't think the BBC need to prove anything to the World,  their reputation is already second to none, and has been for decades. It's domestically they seem to need to put in some work!

In some way they probably need to prove it to themselves but I suspect Eurovision is a doddle compared to broadcasting Glastonbury.

[p2004]

It depends on what the BBC prefer.
Glastonbury no doubt involves much more deciding instantly what shots need to be where, while Eurovision camerawork is planned carefully. One of the issues delegations have had in the past is the host broadcaster being unable to provide the camera shot that was proposed by the delegation at the precise moment they wanted it.

[News Engineer]

At least with Eurovision there isn’t the need to negotiate broadcast rights (and / or restrictions) for every performance!

[DavidWhitfield]

It may only be two months since the 2022 contest ended, but the Israeli broadcaster, KAN, have already chosen their artist for next year...

https://www.kan.org.il/item/?itemId=130727

First time we've ever had artists confirmed before the host country?!

[telebox2001]

Easily - we haven't had the need for a proxy host since 1980, when national finals or selections happened a lot closer to the event itself.

Hopefully we'll get some sort of confirmation soon that the BBC are on board. To be honest, it's a bit surprising that the EBU hadn't been looking at this situation well before May given how obvious it was Ukraine were going to win.

[Alexh2021]

On a slightly different note, the EBU have announced *another* franchise of the Eurovision Song Contest … ‘Eurovision Song Contest - Latin America.’
https://twitter.com/eurovision/status/15...ejk8XjpNjQ