Ukraine UKRAINE 2015 - not taking part

[EDC0708]

Here's the BBC news article mentioned above.
BBC News - Eurovision 2015: Ukraine announces exits

"We don't want to do something badly, and we don't have the money to do something well," said Zurab Alasania, of the state broadcaster NTU.

I think it was mentioned on ESCnation that the participation in JESC was agreed by the old management of NTU, presumably it was the new management that decided on their withdrawal.

 

[Paddy]

Eurovision without Ukraine won't be the same... but whatever I even got used to the withdrawal of Turkey & Bosnia after the years

 

[Leydan]

Eurovision without Ukraine won't be the same... but whatever I even got used to the withdrawal of Turkey & Bosnia after the years

I always see withdrawals from big successful countries as giving opportunities to less successful countries who don't often qualify. Would San Marino and Slovenia qualified this year if Bosnia and Turkey were taking part? in all likelihood, probably not.

 

[pressman]

Mika Newton producer Timofey Nagorny: I will arrange Eurovision for Ukraine

There's hope, fingers crossed

 

[Mlyn]

Ukraine withdrew for political reasons, so I don't think they will accept this.

 

[yulichka]

There is absolutely no logic in their press release. If the war was the reason, what will they be broadcasting in the coming months - black screen with sad background music? Maybe they will stop broadcasting sports, remove the beautiful girls from presenting the weather forecast and everything else which could make people in Ukraine smile for a second. And the most funny part is that they will broadcast the same competition, where they don't wanna taking part as there it's time only for teadrops. Missing the opportunity to cast a message in front of 190 millions people worldwide is not the most clever thing that a country in the situation of Ukraine could do.

Let's say your hand is chopped off and your leg is being stung by scorpions, how does your whole body feel. Or one of your relative is dying in pain, would the rest of family go to a party or care for him or her, spend the money on caring or buy themselves a karaoke system to have some fun. There are priorities in people's lives. There are sacrifices. Not participating in Eurovision for one year is pretty much nothing in comparison to what is going on in the east of my country. You cannot associate it with yourself, cannot visualize the hell in my country, which is a good thing, means you live in a peaceful country.

 

[dizzydjc]

I think fundamentally it's more about a financial position than it is political, that's what NTU have said anyway. I think people forget that NTU are also in great debt to the EBU so they're probably just holding back on costs in a year where their country is war-torn.

I agree with the comments about having light-hearted competition on the screens and I have a feeling Eurovision is also very popular in Ukraine but having to organise a NF and then all of the participation costs, funding for the delegation etc it would all add up. I think Ukraine have made a smart decision and the fact they're talking about 2016 already shows this is not a permanent thing at all.

I will miss them next year though.

 

[Matt]

So there is still hope, Ukraine: NTU offered a lifeline? | ESCunited.com

Fingers crossed, this would kill two birds with one stone.

 

[BGN]

Let's say your hand is chopped off and your leg is being stung by scorpions, how does your whole body feel. Or one of your relative is dying in pain, would the rest of family go to a party or care for him or her, spend the money on caring or buy themselves a karaoke system to have some fun. There are priorities in people's lives. There are sacrifices. Not participating in Eurovision for one year is pretty much nothing in comparison to what is going on in the east of my country. You cannot associate it with yourself, cannot visualize the hell in my country, which is a good thing, means you live in a peaceful country.

OK why there are still football (and sports in general) games in Ukraine, why are music clubs and other entertainment productions available? I suppose that other channels has not ceased their entertaining programmes as well. Eurovision is not different than that besides its more excesive media exposure. I can't see how a potential Eurovision participation could hurt Ukraine now - quite the opposite. I think no matter how tough is the situation over there, two hours fun in three nights of May won't hurt anyone. Don't get me wrong - I'm perfectly aware what is goin on in Ukraine, but I can't believe that people there currently are only interested in bloodbaths and want to watch or listen to ONLY the same bad news over and over again.

 

[Leydan]

So there is still hope, Ukraine: NTU offered a lifeline? | ESCunited.com

Fingers crossed, this would kill two birds with one stone.

How is it possible? Have they applied to take part? just in case they find a sponsor? If they haven't then it's impossible for them to take part.

 

[Matt]

How is it possible? Have they applied to take part? just in case they find a sponsor? If they haven't then it's impossible for them to take part.

The actual deadline is not until next month. So they can still decide on their participation. They specifically said that if private funding can be arranged then there is still the option for them to take part.

 

[Leydan]

The actual deadline is not until next month. So they can still decide on their participation. They specifically said that if private funding can be arranged then there is still the option for them to take part.

I see. I thought the application deadline was the other day, and countries could back out from it without penalty by the deadline in October.

 

[anto475]

I see. I thought the application deadline was the other day, and countries could back out from it without penalty by the deadline in October.

Maybe they've confirmed to the EBU already, and are giving potential private investors until October to make themselves known

 

[Matt]

Maybe they've confirmed to the EBU already, and are giving potential private investors until October to make themselves known

Yes, whether or not they confirmed to the EBU is basically irrelevant as any country (I'm looking at you Bulgaria, Slovenia and Serbia) can still pull out without penalty. Even if they already confirmed.

 

[doctormalisimo]

Unpopular opinion: I hate most Ukraine entries and won't really be sad to see them withdraw.

 

[yulichka]

OK why there are still football (and sports in general) games in Ukraine, why are music clubs and other entertainment productions available? I suppose that other channels has not ceased their entertaining programmes as well. Eurovision is not different than that besides its more excesive media exposure. I can't see how a potential Eurovision participation could hurt Ukraine now - quite the opposite. I think no matter how tough is the situation over there, two hours fun in three nights of May won't hurt anyone. Don't get me wrong - I'm perfectly aware what is goin on in Ukraine, but I can't believe that people there currently are only interested in bloodbaths and want to watch or listen to ONLY the same bad news over and over again.

Sport is sponsored by companies owned by private people, Eurovision is sponsored by NTU, national broadcaster, money go from the Ukrainian budget.

 

[DanielLuis]

Yes, whether or not they confirmed to the EBU is basically irrelevant as any country (I'm looking at you Bulgaria, Slovenia and Serbia) can still pull out without penalty. Even if they already confirmed.

Still if Ukraine wants to participate they must have sent the pre-application already. All the countries that didnt send in the pre application will not be able to participate, unless the EBU bends the rules again.

 

[Scooby]

Still if Ukraine wants to participate they must have sent the pre-application already. All the countries that didnt send in the pre application will not be able to participate, unless the EBU bends the rules again.

EBU and their rules

 

[theCONWEL]

Such a shame about Ukraine

 

[Mlyn]

Unpopular opinion: I hate most Ukraine entries and won't really be sad to see them withdraw.

Well, I'm happy Turkey is gone, but I am not happy about Ukraine. But I think Ukraine is one of the most overrated countries in recent history.

If Ukraine had the Slovenian songs, they would have won most of the recent ESC's, whereas Slovenia would have struggled to qualify with most Ukrainian songs.