Eurovision - should we continue participating?

[AndyAudi]

There’s a thread already i know, but think it’s mainly for supporters.

I am not, & today’s news isn’t a surprise, we have in my opinion poor acts & are viewed poorly by other.countries. Why then are we throwing public money at it to buy our way into the finals every year?
I can’t imagine judges from other countries who’ve had to qualify look kindly at the U.K. just strolling into the final.

What should we do going forward?
(Fyi I can’t find out how much we throw at the competition as it doesn’t appear to be published, but it’s enough to differentiate us not to have to qualify)

[Slow.Patrol]

We could have Freddy Mercury singing Bohemian Rhapsody and we wouldn't win.

Sam Ryder mad a good attempt and it was our efforts in the Ukraine war that boosted our vote, but ultimately, it's about politics.

[LRDefender]

Isn't it just a bit of harmless fun?

An excuse to get together and have a few drinks and play along. It's not my kind of thing but it does no harm and keeps people entertained so let it continue IMO.

E.T.A - who pays, the TV companies or the British tax payer.

[mmm-five]

I don't remember the last time I watched, so I can't really complain about any of the acts/politics/voting/wokeness/LBGTQ+ involved.

Last time I saw any of it, I think Graham Norton was presenting it...but that was only as I happened to notice the results were underway as I was switching channels.

[AndyAudi]

LRDefender said:

E.T.A - who pays, the TV companies or the British tax payer.

If this is to be believed licence fee payers & taxpayers when hosting.
https://oneurope.net/editorial/eurovision-price-of...

Does the bbc with no advertisers benefit from trying to have higher ratings?

[eldar]

LRDefender said:

Isn't it just a bit of harmless fun?

An excuse to get together and have a few drinks and play along. It's not my kind of thing but it does no harm and keeps people entertained so let it continue IMO.

E.T.A - who pays, the TV companies or the British tax payer.

It was, once upon a time. Now just another vehicle for the perpetually angry to hijack. Rename it something meaningful like unidin.

[bloomen]

Slow.Patrol said:

We could have Freddy Mercury singing Bohemian Rhapsody and we wouldn't win.

They're out to GET us.

I find the whole thing piffling to the max, but it's very strange how many of our entries have been oddities that would be glassed off stage in the average Lincolnshire pub considering our depth of talent.

Maybe there's some set of unwritten rules. And if you've experienced the charts in many other places in mainland Europe, it's clear that tastes, and tolerances, are very different.

I do find it kind of dinky that it still means something to many nations.

As for the funding, I think it's a few hundred grand for the more established nations when they're not hosting. It's just as uninteresting to me as stuff that tens of millions is spent on and it's more internationally unifying, so whatevers.

Edited by bloomen on Sunday 17th May 14:25

[OIC]

We shouldn't be getting into the final by default.

I didn't know that's what happens.

If we have a good song and have to qualify we will probably do OK.

I'm not convinced that there's a massive bias against the UK due to Brexit.

I just think we pump out crap songs every year.

Public voting seems to be more relevant now so get writing your entry for next year.

TL:DR - not something I'm that bothered about but a win would be nice.

[AndyAudi]

bloomen said:

As for the funding, I think it's a few hundred grand for the more established nations when they're not hosting. It's just as uninteresting to me as stuff that tens of millions is spent on and it's more internationally unifying, so whatevers.
[

The funding is fairly trivial in grand scheme of things but it smacks to me that it’s wrong we fund something we don’t seem to be too welcome in.

[Countdown]

Why not set up our own equivalent and call it BritVision?

We could have the 4 home nations, a selection of British Overseas Territories, and all former members of the Empire/Commonwealth

We'll still get nul pointe though

[bloomen]

AndyAudi said:

The funding is fairly trivial in grand scheme of things but it smacks to me that it s wrong we fund something we don t seem to be too welcome in.

I assume everyone else knows that Brits have treated it as a kitsch joke for decades so we've kind of hobbled ourselves.

In no known universe will it ever be meaningful to most of us, but it seems to be in other countries.

And coming up with better tunes would be handy.

[SodiumThiopental]

Europe are never getting on board with any of the U.K. entries ( because politics) we may as well stop bankrolling the ste show.