The public broadcasters for Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have said that they will not show the 70th anniversary Eurovision Song Contest this week, as they boycott the TV extravaganza over Israel’s participation.
The three countries, along with the Netherlands and Iceland, pulled out of this year’s event in Vienna, which kicks off on Tuesday and culminates in Saturday’s grand final.
“Instead of the Eurovision circus, the national television programme will be coloured by the thematic programme series ‘Voices of Palestine’,” Slovenian broadcaster RTV said on Monday.
During Thursday’s second semi-final, Ireland’s RTE will be showing “The End of the World with Beanz”, featuring 1993 Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh in Norway experiencing life as a reindeer herder.
And during the final, it will screen a Eurovision-themed episode of the popular 1990s Irish-made sitcom “Father Ted”.
Spain’s RTVE will run its own musical special, “The House of Music”.
Public service broadcasters in the Netherlands and Iceland will screen the competition, despite both pulling out.
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Controversy has mounted over the conduct of Israel’s war on Gaza.
Suspicions have been raised that the televoting system was being manipulated to boost Israel at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Some broadcasters also raised concerns about media freedom, with Israel preventing their journalists from accessing Gaza.
