Eurovision 2025: Basel Calling

[FLips]

By the looks of it Spain have requested an audit into the televoting results because despite their broadcasters taking an active Pro-Palestine stance during the competition for which they were warned about, somehow they gave 12 points to Isreal and the amount of televotes across SMS, Phone and Online between the Semi 1 where Isreal didn’t take part and the Grand Final multiplied by 10 across all platforms, which even given the discrepancy between a semi and final is a huge suspicious jump.

I hope it causes a shit storm tbh.

[lanky316]

The same was requested last year but the Swedish laws meant they couldn't comply to a FOI request. A few networks have made requests this year and we'll see what comes of it but I wouldn't be surprised to find little comes out going ahead. They did make changes after the abuse last year, when you can't piss without a bunch of Israeli goons following and standing right behind you - regardless of if you've said anything pro or anti-Israel - things needed changing. Interestingly, someone from the Spanish broadcaster is taking over the advisory board so will be interesting to see what they do.

Ultimately, KAN and the Israeli government have broken various rules with regards to advertising campaigns to try and gain votes and some patterns that seem odd on a surface level but I doubt there'll be much done. I'd argue that the voting system does need changes, bring back the small window for votes, make it so that there aren't 20 votes per payment method and maybe even adjust it into some form of "weighted ranking" system - i.e nominate five countries in order of preference, your number one is worth 12 points and so on - but they're not going to care if people are using burner phones, multiple credit cards or whatever as long as they're voting and it's bringing in income. That's not specific to Israel of course, if people are using multiple credit cards to vote on any song, from any location they're not going to care as long as they're voting and giving money. That's how you keep Eurovision cheaper than an episode of Casualty after all.

Edited May 18, 2025 by lanky316
tried to tweak wording a little.

[Merzbow]

Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands have all pulled out of the 2026 event over Israel being cleared to perform.

[The Gaffer]

I imagine some others like Belgium and Iceland won't be far behind. 

Hope we band together, run the same time slot opposite and show up outside the actual Eurovision in a tank. 

[Retro Red]

With the anti semitism accusations levelled at the BBC this year there is not a chance they pull out.

[FLips]

1 hour ago, Merzbow said:

Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands have all pulled out of the 2026 event over Israel being cleared to perform.

Not just pulled out from competing apparently, but they won’t air the show at all.

[Merzbow]

Yeah I saw RTE make a statement, like the UK are other countries performances linked to the TV network showing it? Or is it different between countries?

[lanky316]

Eight countries issued formal requests to put it to a vote. EBU changed it at the last second to "do you want to make it harder for countries to cheat and manipulate votes?" as the condition, if people voted for "no, let the delegation you've found guilty of vote manipulation carry on" THEN they could debate KAN and the Israeli governments behaviour that brough the last two contests into disrepute. Bonus points in this is the Israeli president being congratulated for his meetings with broadcasters, some backhand deals and general state interference that was against the old rules anyway. Naturally despite admitting this no action will be taken.

[johnnyboy]

14 hours ago, Merzbow said:

Yeah I saw RTE make a statement, like the UK are other countries performances linked to the TV network showing it? Or is it different between countries?

The broadcaster provides the act, so I'm not sure it's ever come up where a participating broadcaster wouldn't want to broadcast the competition they're in.

However, you don't have to enter to broadcast, so the countries refusing to broadcast as well as refusing to enter are taking a big stand as they're turning down the viewing figures etc that would come with broadcasting the competition.

[lanky316]

So as it stands, five nations have officially withdrawn (Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland) and the deadline for withdrawal without penalty has passed. However, some broadcasters who have signed up have now got a problem. Portugal for example are still in for the time being, however, their national song contest - the winner of which usually go on to represent them - has had 11/16 participants come out and say that should they win, they will not be going. Now they could change the rules at the last second like Germany did last year to prevent a metal act representing them, however odds are against one of the acts who haven't publicly said they would boycott should they win. On paper things are relatively set in stone but suspect this isn't the end of the drama before anyone even gets to Austria.

[Chico Torres]

Shame on any country that participates in this.

[The Gaffer]

1 hour ago, lanky316 said:

So as it stands, five nations have officially withdrawn (Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland)

We prefer to be called The Big Five. 

[FLips]

Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo has posted a public statement that they will be returning their trophy in protest of Isreal's continued participation.

[johnnyboy]

Good on Nemo.  If this doesn't prompt wider action then nothing will.