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Topic: Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Who funds Eurovision?
Posted by: Nikki Howard
Date/Time: 10/03/13 19:27:00

United Kingdom and the "Big Four/Five"

In 1999 a rule change allowed the United Kingdom, along with France, Germany and Spain to automatically qualify for the Eurovision Song Contest final (irrespective of their recent scores and without entering a semi-final), due to being the biggest financial contributors to the EBU.[1] Due to their untouchable status in the Contest, these countries became known as the "Big Four" (which became the "Big Five" in 2011 following the return of Italy to the Contest).[2]

In 2008 it was rumoured that the "Big Four" would lose their automatic qualification, and would have to compete in the semi-finals for the first time.[3] However it was announced by the EBU that this would not be the case and the four countries would still automatically quality for the final of the 2009 contest without having to enter a semi-final,[4] and this has remained as of 2012.

In 2008, the BBC defended using spending money from licence fee payers for the contest when Liberal Democrat MP Richard Younger-Ross had tabled a Commons motion which called on the corporation to withdraw its £173,000 funding for the annual contest. That same year former Eurovision commentator Sir Terry Wogan claimed that the show is "no longer a music contest" after the result was announced.[5]

In 2012, the BBC were facing calls to quit the Eurovision Song Contest after Engelbert Humperdinck, the UK's entry, came 25th with only 12 points.[6] However the United Kingdom confirmed their participation in the 2013 contest and could possibly stop using internal selection, but re-introduce a national final which was used from 1957 until 2010.[7]


Entire Thread
TopicDate PostedPosted By
Bonnie Tyler to represent U.K. at Eurovision 201307/03/13 20:11:00 Nikki Howard
   Re:Bonnie Tyler to represent U.K. at Eurovision 201307/03/13 20:11:00 Nikki Howard
      Re:Re:Bonnie Tyler to represent U.K. at Eurovision 201307/03/13 20:53:00 Susan Kelly
         Re:Re:Re:Bonnie Tyler to represent U.K. at Eurovision 201307/03/13 21:17:00 Keith Iddon
            Re:Re:Re:Re:Bonnie Tyler to represent U.K. at Eurovision 201307/03/13 21:23:00 Nikki Howard
               Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Bonnie Tyler to represent U.K. at Eurovision 201307/03/13 21:57:00 Fred Bray
                  Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Bonnie Tyler to represent U.K. at Eurovision 201307/03/13 22:03:00 Nikki Howard
                  Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Bonnie Tyler to represent U.K. at Eurovision 201307/03/13 22:53:00 Apple Leiper
                     Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Bonnie Tyler to represent U.K. at Eurovision 201308/03/13 17:07:00 Kevin Bell
   Re:Bonnie Tyler to represent U.K. at Eurovision 201309/03/13 07:59:00 Sarah Allan
      Re:Re:The Norway Entry...wow we may score un point09/03/13 19:07:00 Nikki Howard
         Re:Re:Re:The Norway Entry...wow we may score un point09/03/13 22:11:00 Keith Iddon
            Re:Re:Re:Re:The Norway Entry...The real entry09/03/13 22:23:00 Nikki Howard
            Re:Re:Re:Re:The Norway Entry...wow we may score un point09/03/13 22:29:00 Nikki Howard
               Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:The Norway Entry...wow we may score un point09/03/13 22:58:00 Keith Iddon
                  Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:The Norway Entry...wow we may score un point09/03/13 23:12:00 Nikki Howard
                     Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:The Norway Entry...wow we may score un point10/03/13 09:16:00 Keith Iddon
                        Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:The Norway Entry...wow we may score un point10/03/13 11:30:00 Nikki Howard
                           Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:The Norway Entry...wow we may score un point10/03/13 15:06:00 Keith Iddon
                              Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Who funds Eurovision?10/03/13 19:27:00 Nikki Howard
                                 Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:If you feel suicidal, watch this lot10/03/13 19:56:00 Nikki Howard
                                    Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re: Israel's entry, it has a chance10/03/13 19:59:00 Nikki Howard
                                 Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Who funds Eurovision?10/03/13 20:03:00 Keith Iddon
                                    Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Who funds Eurovision?10/03/13 20:12:00 Nikki Howard
                                       Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Who funds Eurovision?10/03/13 20:20:00 Keith Iddon
                                          Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Who funds Eurovision?10/03/13 21:07:00 Nikki Howard
                                             Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Who funds Eurovision?10/03/13 22:05:00 Keith Iddon
                                                Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Who funds Eurovision?10/03/13 22:21:00 Nikki Howard
                                                   Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Who funds Eurovision?12/03/13 15:34:00 Carl Tamboli

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