After Ukraine’s landslide win at the 66th Eurovision Song Contest, UA:PBC and the EBU are to begin the process of organising the 67th Eurovision Song Contest.
It is not yet known just how feasible holding the next Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine is going to be, considering that firm and decisive preparations have to begin within the next couple of months, as well as the fact that hosting in Ukraine could, not only be a security risk, but finically impossible for a country attempting to rebuild itself.
However, it has been confirmed that the EBU will begin discussions with UA:PBC, this Friday, to asses the situation and if there is anyway to hold the contest, safely and realistically, in Ukraine, next May.
I want to congratulate everyone on this victory. It is so great that Ukraine has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time, that we are joining the European family as much as possible. I am very grateful to Kalush Orchestra and its frontman, Oleh Psiuk, for doing their best to prepare and perform in this difficult time. I am infinitely grateful to Oksana Skybinska, the head of our delegation from Suspilne, who also withstood all these burdens and arranged all organizational things to make our presentation at the Eurovision Song Contest at the highest level.
We received fantastic viewing indicators both on television and on digital platforms, broadcast by Radio Promin. Now we face another challenge – to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Ukraine. If in other countries this concerns the matters of infrastructure and funding, in our country, for sure, we also have an important security factor. And I can announce that on Friday we are starting consultations with the European Broadcasting Union about hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
We are doing our best, and I hope that the state will also support us in holding the Eurovision Song Contest here. I hope that the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in peaceful Ukraine. However, I am saying once again that the security factor is important and the final decision will be taken together with the European Broadcasting Union. It will be a difficult negotiation, I am already sure of that. However, let me remind you that even in 2017, when the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Kyiv, there was quite a big discussion. For example, then Ukraine pledged the so called financial guarantee of 15 million euros. In case something suddenly goes wrong, another country would hold the competition with these funds. Therefore, this issue is much more complex than just a wish. I am convinced that we need to do all our best so that the Eurovision Song Contest should take place in Ukraine.
Mykola Chernotytskyi, Board Member (UA:PBC)
So far, several broadcasters from across Europe have expressed an interest in hosting the next contest. These include Poland’s TVP, Spain’s RTVE, Sweden’s SVT, Iceland RÚV and Italy’s Rai, who hosted this year’s contest. However, it is logically expected that the EBU will extend the invitation to host to the BBC, from the United Kingdom, as they came 2nd place in the contest. Kwasi Kwarteng, a senior British Politician, has declared his desire for the UK to host the 2023 contest, if Ukraine are unable to host, so a BBC/UA:PBC co-production does seem likely.
We’ll likely know more information following Friday’s meeting. Whatever the European Broadcasting Union decide, it’s likely it’ll be the right and most sensible decision, whether that be a contest in Ukraine or elsewhere in Europe.
