Friday, 02 October 2009 17:18 | Written by Adi |

Estonian rumour

The CEO for Eesti Rahvusringhääling (Estonian Public Broadcasting, ERR) has told the major newspaper Postimees website elu24.ee that the Baltic country's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo in May 2010 is now under serious reconsideration. This is after the Estonian Ministry of Culture announced serious budget cuts for ERR.

Margus Allikmaa, the CEO for ERR says that as most European broadcasters now face serious economic difficulties, coming at first place at the Eurovision Song Contest no longer is a victory. He says both the Norwegian broadcaster NRK and the winner of 2010 will find it hard to find the financing for the contest. Winning the contest would place an impossible burden on the Estonian broadcaster to organise the following year's contest in the current economic climate. ERR is only financed by a government grant and receives no licence fee or has no advertising, the only public broadcaster of its kind in the EU.

ERR has to save 28 million krooni (almost 1.8 million Euro), or 7 % of the total budget. Personally I think canceling Eurovision participation is the easiest option, Mr Allikmaa says. We know that it is a very popular show in Estonia, and the ratings we get are good, but staying at home for one year would not change anything, he says. The broadcaster may also choose to organise the Estonian Song Contest, Eesti laul, but still not take part in the Oslo contest. ERR also wants to maintain news, community, children's and sports programming, so entertainment will be the one to suffer according to Allikmaa. Also the broadcaster is not going to withdraw from broadcasting major sports events like the Olympic Games of Football World Cup next year.

Heidy Purga, the Radio 2 chief and Eurovision Song Contest manager tells Postimees that no discussions have been had about cuts yet. She expects the discussions to happen very soon, though. Mr Allikmaa also says no final decisions have been taken, but there will have to be some cuts announced in the coming weeks, including cutting salaries and programming. Eesti laul and participation in the Eurovision Song Contest cost ERR 3.5 million krooni (223700 Euro).

Article by Sander.

Tuesday, 29 September 2009 18:30 | Written by Adi |

Hot NEWS

Sandra is going to sing for an Estonian Cancer Charity!

“All you need is love” is an Estonian Cancer Charity which is held every year on 1^st October. Inspired by The Beatles band actions, many Estonian artists including Sandra Nurmsalu (from Urban Symphony) will participate.

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ESTONIAN SONG CONTEST

There will be some kind of Eurovision concert in Estonia, where different artists, who have represented Estonia in Eurovision along the years, will perform. Urban Symphony will participate too! The other music groups are: Vanilla Ninja (actually represented Switzerland in 2005, but they are still Estonian group), Maarja (1996 and 1997), Ivo Linna (1997 among Maarja) and Ines (2000). The tickets are already sold, the concert will take place in Narva on 17^th October.

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ESCTODAY RESEARCH

Esctoday is making these days a research for "The best song of the decade". Estonia’s representative was chosen, of course, Urban Symphony, with the best song for Estonia since 2000! It has qualified already in the final by finishing the first in the semifinals! There are only good words for Sven and the girls, because this can only make us smile. The grand final's results aren't revealed yet, but Urban Symphony will have a very hard work with musicians like Lordi or Helena Paparizoiu! Urban Symphony came 6^th in 2009 (Eurovision Song Contest) and this is very important for Estonia and for the group.

Cheers for Urban Symphony and we are waiting for the result!

Thursday, 10 September 2009 06:39 | Written by Adi |

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