Posted February 11, 200817 yr breaking up the United Kingdom? Scotland: first Eurovision Song Contest entry? A member of Scotland's parliament has been lobbying the EBU for permission to enter the Eurovision Song Contest. esctoday.com has been investigating the possibilities of this happening. The story is one of the main headlines in today in the leading Scottish media. After intense lobbying from Alyn Smith, a Scottish National Party member of the European Parliament, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), said there was nothing to prevent Scotland from entering on its own merit. This means that broadcasters BBC Scotland, Scottish TV and Border Television, as members of the EBU, could submit an entry in future years. A spokeswoman for STV said: "There are no plans at the moment but we would not rule anything out". The ruling has come too late to allow entry into this years contest. However Scottish secretary Linda Fabiani said: "If this is something one of the broadcasters wanted to pursue, then we would support it. There is a huge amount of talent in Scotland and we would be happy for it to be showcased." Nationalist Euro MP Alyn Smith said: "Having looked into this, I know the door is open for us. Other small countries have done it and I will be happy to help any of the broadcasting companies through the process. There is already a precedent because we have a Scottish national football team in UEFA." Under the rules, any regions who are members of the European Broadcasting Union can apply for an entry. This would allow for a possible entry from Wales and Northern Ireland, as Welsh broadcasters S4C and BBC Wales are EBU members, as is Ulster TV. esctoday.com continues to investigate this story. EBU and BBC doubt possibility Scotland: There are no discussions! Talk of Scotland entering the Eurovision Song Contest as an independent participant seems to be more about political capital and PR than reality. esctoday.com has so far spoken to the EBU and the BBC and whilst Scottish broadcasters are free to join the EBU, Scotland would not be able to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest whilst the UK is represented by the BBC and Scotland remains a part of the country. According to comments from the EBU: "at this time there are no discussions for Scotland to join the Eurovision Song Contest...I very much doubt it will happen at the moment". The national broadcaster for the United Kingdom is the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). That covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The BBC has the contract to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest. It has done so every year since 1957 (except 1958) and there are no plans to drop the event. Whilst Scottish channels are free to join the EBU, they would be commercial broadcasters, whilst the BBC remains the national broadcaster in control of the UK's Eurovision Song Contest participation. Furthermore, should a Scottish channel be able to participate, Scottish viewers would in effect have two entries: Scotland and the United Kindgom. They would also be able to vote through the UK for Scotland and vice versa, and that is not possible according to the rules of the competition. At this time, therefore, esctoday.com believes that Scotland will not enter the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, although we will continue to investigate this story further.
February 11, 200817 yr its just SNP spin. i wish they'd concentrate on delivering their promises (minus that independance bullcrap) instead of titivating about with things that aren't going to bring a benefit to the residents of scotland
February 11, 200817 yr I wish the SNP would back off and leave the UK alone, Scotland would die a death if it seperated from the UK. They should consetrate on "running" the country rather than talking on trivial matters such as the Eurovision song contest.
February 11, 200817 yr the only thing they have done is remove the tolls form the forth and tay bridge, and it took them 4months longer than they said to do that. And theres the tiny problem of EVERY candidate in the area promising that
February 11, 200817 yr the only thing they have done is remove the tolls form the forth and tay bridge, and it took them 4months longer than they said to do that. And theres the tiny problem of EVERY candidate in the area promising that
February 11, 200817 yr One advantage if they do enter - Eurovision for England would have to go to ITV! :w00t:
February 11, 200817 yr One advantage if they do enter - Eurovision for England would have to go to ITV! :w00t: why? :arrr:
February 12, 200817 yr Yeah Scotland should go solo, now who should represent them, lets see: Wet Wet Wet Texas Shirley Manson Michelle McManus and erm, oh. :wacko:
February 12, 200817 yr Amy McDonald Lucie Silvas KT Tunstall Sandi Thom Franz Ferdinand Midge Ure Rod Stewart Keith Jack Craig Chalmers Leon Jackson
February 12, 200817 yr One advantage if they do enter - Eurovision for England would have to go to ITV! :w00t: just think of how often you would have 2 watch adverts :arrr:
February 12, 200817 yr just think of how often you would have 2 watch adverts :arrr: Yeah, but at least ITV would spend money on getting some good contestants, as opposed to BBC who just ask which flopstars want to resurrect their careers for a month and reap the rewards of (essentially) free ratings <_<
February 12, 200817 yr Amy McDonald Lucie Silvas KT Tunstall Sandi Thom Franz Ferdinand Midge Ure Rod Stewart Keith Jack Craig Chalmers Leon Jackson And not forgetting Sydney Devine :D I think it's a great idea. And Wales, N. Ireland and England should submit individual entries too. Then we could get some points by all voting for each other. ^_^ We would all vote for each other, right? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :P
February 12, 200817 yr Yeah Scotland should go solo, now who should represent them, lets see: Wet Wet Wet Texas Shirley Manson Michelle McManus and erm, oh. :wacko: Amy McDonald Lucie Silvas KT Tunstall Sandi Thom Franz Ferdinand Midge Ure Rod Stewart Keith Jack Craig Chalmers Leon Jackson You've forgotten at least three acts: -> Travis -> The Proclaimers -> Jess Carter (myself) Not that it would happen - Scotland would have to get their own TV station, and all that we've currently got is Scottish, Grampian, Border, BBC1 Scotland and BBC2 Scotland. And Scottish, Grampian and Border would have to leave ITV, join together and get rid of the English part of Border.
February 12, 200817 yr I think it's a great idea. And Wales, N. Ireland and England should submit individual entries too. Then we could get some points by all voting for each other. ^_^ We would all vote for each other, right? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :P That is the only good thing about it. We could get our own back on the former U.S.S.R & former Yugoslavian states. :rofl: The only reason we stand less of chance than ever of winning Eurovision has nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with "love thy neighbour" and the fact we have had rubbish acts/songs representing us (although Daz Simpson was good rubbish) since Jessica Garlick's Come Back in 2002's ESC.
February 12, 200817 yr Well, the Scots and Northern Irish would probably vote for each other.... :unsure: :lol: :lol: :lol: I can't see it happening either. For the simple reason that Scotland doesn't have an independant national TV station. Not yet anyway. :P Although if Scotland did submit its own entry I wonder what name the remaining 3 countries would enter under. They could hardly be 'Royaume Uni' :huh:
February 13, 200817 yr if scotland wales etc entered the eurovision,ireland and england would get the neighbour votes
February 13, 200817 yr I'm not so sure Scotland could enter alone could they? True they have STV/BBC1 Scotland and all that but the Midlands have BBC1 East Midlands etc. so they could also argue they have a television channel of their own? Oh well I don't know. :lol:
February 13, 200817 yr Travis would be great for Scotland me thinks. Yeah David i think there should be a North-West Derbyshire team or something :lol: , then i could send my cat in. :lol:
February 13, 200817 yr Travis would be great for Scotland me thinks. Yeah David i think there should be a North-West Derbyshire team or something :lol: , then i could send my cat in. :lol: You'd be beaten by Lancashire's entry - the Deepdale Duck (PNE's mascot). Well, if Dustin the Turkey's entering Ireland's NF…
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