Last-minute Eurovision deal secures Israel as 2019 host
ISRAEL’S public broadcaster said on Tuesday it had resolved a funding dispute that threatened the country’s chance to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, hours ahead of a European deadline.
The country in May won the right to host next year’s Eurovision when Israeli singer Netta Barzilai won the 2018 contest in Lisbon with a song inspired by the # MeToo movement against sexual harassment.
But a fi nancial dispute between the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation ( known as Kan) and the Israeli government threatened to derail the plans, with a 12 million euro ( RM57 million) deposit due to the European Broadcasting Union on Tuesday.
State- owned Kan had sought additional government funding to cover the cost, while the fi nance ministry government insisted it pay from its existing budget.
But Kan radio announced on Tuesday evening that “the Eurovision crisis is over!”
“The broadcasting corporation will today deposit the 12 million euros guarantee for hosting the competition,” it said in a news report.
The guarantee is to cover cancellation of the competition in Israel in the event of circumstances beyond the corporation’s control such as war or natural disaster, it added.
Should the broadcast from Israel have to be cancelled and the deposit forfeited, Kan and the government would agree financial help for the broadcaster between themselves, the radio quoted the corporation’s board as saying.
“Kan sees great importance in hosting the Eurovision in Israel for the state in terms of exposure and image and as an economic booster,” the radio quoted management as saying.
“The corporation believes that the government of Israel will do all in its power to ensure the holding of a proper and dignified Eurovision in Israel and will fulfil its obligations.” — AFP