There is another reason - a pollitical one. Basically Turkey hasn't been accepted into the European union and it doesn't look like it will be anytime soon, so they are aligning themselves more with the middle East, meaning a more conservative style of dress, music etc. Believe it or not Sertab and Hadise upset a lot of people (Hadise is a bit of a national laughing stock apparently) who thought that the sexual side of Turkish culture shouldn't be shown. It's sad, but Eurovision just isn't the image Turkey wants to have anymore...

That's entirely speculative. The process of accession to the EU takes about a decade and Turkey are still halfway through the negotiations. They've had opposition, yes, but it's nothing they haven't had from the start anyway, and nothing has occurred in the last two years any differently than had occurred in the few years prior of negotiations, and the government has remained the same. There's been no sign of the negotiations heading off a cliff that would inspire a u-turn as big as this, so I'm inclined to take TRT at their word.

 

Anyway, I'm unsurprised Hadise is a national joke, given for anybody even slightly discerning she's a total joke online. A pig in a torn sari not deigning to sing on her own entry does not a Turkish classic make.

The annoying thing is that Turkey were allegedly in negotiation with Aynur Aydin of 'Isporta' fame. A potentially brilliant entry squandered (maybe they'll be back in 2014?)

Babes, the quotation marks totally should've gone around 'fame' in that sentence

Babes, the quotation marks totally should've gone around 'fame' in that sentence

 

Well obviously fame in terms of one segment of a small batch of internet gayz

The two people who voted for it in BJSC you mean? :lol:

I think it was closer to four people but essentially yes.

Tom's post isn't at all that far off. Erdoğan is known for actively trying to move Turkey away from it's strong secularism and into a more [mild] Islamic state. The acquis communautaire keeps getting changed for Turkey for no good reason and they've been waiting at the EU's front door for a good 50 years and they're beginning to become quite impatient, which is understandable. I don't agree with their "voting isn't fair" reason because they're extremely successful so I don't get the dissatisfaction. I think they're just trying to flex a bit of muscle.

Tom's post isn't at all that far off. Erdoğan is known for actively trying to move Turkey away from it's strong secularism and into a more [mild] Islamic state. The acquis communautaire keeps getting changed for Turkey for no good reason and they've been waiting at the EU's front door for a good 50 years and they're beginning to become quite impatient, which is understandable. I don't agree with their "voting isn't fair" reason because they're extremely successful so I don't get the dissatisfaction. I think they're just trying to flex a bit of muscle.

Yeah, but Erdogan's been in since 2003, and they've been being messed about with EU accession for ages now. There's no particular reason why that would come to bear this year rather than any other (after all, if they were after an excuse to leave surely the year after failing to qualify would make more sense?). I disagree with their 'voting isn't fair' excuse (because let's face it, they're far better off than most other nations, so it's all a bit spilt milk), but they're probably one of the few nations that has consistently done worse because of the jury-televote system so it at least makes sense that they'd be annoyed.

 

I'd be pretty much inclined to think it's a mixture of a couple of grievances within the TRT and a need for cost-cutting.

The two people who voted for it in BJSC you mean? :lol:

And me if I was in the other Semi :(

The final participation list has been confirmed HERE on eurovision.tv!

 

"Despite the challenging economic situation in Europe a healthy number of public broadcasters are committed to the long-standing tradition that the contest has become" says Jon Ola Sand, the Executive Supervisor of the contest at the EBU.

 

Since 2004, between 36 and 43 broadcasters have taken part in the contest and 39 participants brings the number of participants to the same level as Oslo 2010 when the contest took place in Norway.

 

Bosnia & Herzegovina (BHRT), Portugal (RTP), Turkey (TRT) and Slovakia (STV) have decided not to take part. Armenia (AMPTV) has re-joined the contest after a one-year break.

 

The following 39 broadcasters have signed up: Albania (RTSH), Austria (ORF), Armenia (AMPTV), Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV), Belarus (BTRC), Belgium (RTBF), Bulgaria (BNT), Croatia (HRT), Cyprus (CyBC), Denmark (DR), Estonia (ERR), Finland (YLE), France (France3), Georgia (GPB), Germany (NDR), Greece (ERT), Hungary (MTV), Iceland (RÚV), Ireland (RTÉ), Israel (IBA), Italy (RAI), Latvia (LTV), Lithuania (LRT), FYR Macedonia (MKRTV), Malta (PBS), Moldova (TRM), Montenegro (RTCG), the Netherlands (TROS), Norway (NRK), Romania (TVR), Russia (C1R), San Marino (SMTV), Serbia (RTS), Slovenia (RTVSLO), Spain (TVE), Sweden (SVT), Switzerland (SRG SSR), Ukraine (NTU) and the United Kingdom (BBC).

 

"We regret the withdrawal of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Portugal and Slovakia, which have all cited economic reasons," Sand added.

 

Turkish broadcaster TRT has decided to withdraw because of amendments to the rules made in recent years. Sand: "We are surprised by this decision. The changes were made in 2009 and were since never formally objected by TRT. We are eager to pursue dialogue with the Turkish broadcaster to seek a viable solution."

 

The EBU is sensitive to the economic pressures facing its Members. Contest organisers are constantly seeking ways to cut costs for both participating broadcasters as well as the host broadcaster and find ways to make hosting the competition more affordable.

 

Initiatives range from reducing time spent in the host city to negotiating special hotel rates for delegations. Other measures are being looked into for the years to come.

 

The 58th Eurovision Song Contest will take place on 14th, 16th and 18th of May 2013 in the Swedish city of Malmö, after Loreen won the 2012 contest with the song Euphoria. The winning entry has made it to the charts across Europe and is already regarded as one of the most successful Eurovision Song Contest winners ever.

Loving the Turkey shade. Good riddance.

 

Yay at the likes of Greece and Slovenia still managing to stay! When the withdrawals started to roll in it didn't look great but the same as Oslo is fine (quite suitable actually).

Armenia need to select this girl, and send something along the lines of this...

 

The pots for tomorrow's semi final draw have been revealed! From eurovision.tv:

 

As Denmark and Norway have already been allocated to first and second Semi-Finals respectively, then after this we'll also find out in which half of the shows they'll be drawn. Also Israel has been allocated to be in the second Semi-Final. Due to Germany, France, Spain, the UK, Italy and the Host Country of Sweden are directly qualified to the Final, we have 30 countries that still need to be drawn into Semi-Finals.

 

The first Semi-Final will have 16 and the second Semi-Final 17 participants. It'll also be drawn in which half of the shows they'll take part. This is done due to planning purposes for the delegations - the ones performing in the second half of the shows can arrive a day later in Malmö.

 

To create more excitement, like past years, the 30 countries will be allocated to 5 pots based on voting patterns from the previous nine years. The pots were calculated by the televoting partner Digame and are as follows:

 

Pot 1

Albania

Croatia

FYR Macedonia

Montenegro

Serbia

Switzerland

 

Pot 2

Estonia

Finland

Iceland

Ireland

Latvia

Lithuania

 

Pot 3

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Belarus

Georgia

Russia

Ukraine

 

Pot 4

Bulgaria

Belgium

Cyprus

Greece

Malta

The Netherlands

 

Pot 5

Austria

Hungary

Moldova

Romania

San Marino

Slovenia

 

After we've finished determining their positions in the Semi-Finals, it's time to also draw which Semi-Final each of the already qualified countries - Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK, France and Sweden - will broadcast and vote in.

Edited January 16, 201312 yr by Ryan741

The nordic pot have been raped :lol: nice to see Ireland in it though. They will probably benefit from it

Oooooh, Ireland in the Nordic pot! Surprised it took this long seeing as our 12 points have gone to Nordic countries since 2009! Pot 4 and 5 are a bit random, no? :lol:

Pot 5 seems to be the other half of Pot 1, Balkans + Alpines + Eastern Europe nations (it looks like Slovenia and Switzerland should swap pots in all honesty). Pot 4 is a bit random, but that's just Bulgaria and Malta looking a bit out of place but then they haven't got MANY regular neighbours and the other two pairs in that pot look sensible.

The UK voting in Semi 1 and Ireland drawn for the second half of Semi 1 - great draw for them!

 

Montenegro in the 2nd half. :o

The UK voting in Semi 1 and Ireland drawn for the second half of Semi 1 - great draw for them!

 

Not to mention there's only 16 songs in that semi! I just hope we send a great song. :(

LMAO Russia in the same Semi with Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania. We are ALREADY going through :D

 

When are we going to be in the Semi 2 anyway? Since the start of the 2-Semifinal system (six years now - but counting out 'Mamo' which AQd in 2009) Russia has ALWAYS been in Semi 1.

All the Caucasus in one semi (not that it matters for voting due to two of them hating each other, I just find it pretty) and all the Balkans in the other? Interesting. I wouldn't have expected all the FYRs bar one to be in the same semi for a second year in a row.

 

I see far more 'big' countries in Semi 1 though. The Netherlands could be out of luck AGAIN with a positively HUGE cluster of former SSRs and FYRs all presumably giving each other a lot - although obviously we don't know what Anouk has yet. At least they have Belgium.