As we previously reported, the EBU has announced a change in the voting system for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm. Both the juries and the televote will have their own set of votes, in lieu of one combined score. ESC United received communication from the team in charge of the San Marino team voicing their displeasure and concern with the newly implemented system.
Considered the recently announced changes in the voting system of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, the Director General of San Marino RTV Mr. Carlo Romeo stated the following:
”Small States are, once again, discriminated. Not only, now the discrimination is even formalized. This is barely tolerable and the San Marino national Radio and Television is unsure whether it can tolerate it next year too. It is unbearable that certain decisions are simply communicated and not shared with the involved broadcasters. That said, this is, from our point of view, unacceptable”.
This is the first thread of a broadcaster to withdraw from the contest due to these changes. Since the deadline for the current contest has passed, a withdrawal from this year’s contest is not possible without a major penalty fee. With this announcement, the question comes up: How many broadcasters share the sentiment? Was this a deal behind closed doors and will other broadcasters follow suit? Make sure to check back for the latest developements.
