I always remember Mark Durden-Smith from the Millionaire Manor days, where he was once described, in Radio Times, as having all "the pizzazz of a tortoise".

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We've had an answer as to why the BBC retains the Eurovision rights, so is Andy going to keep asking until he gets an answer he likes, such as Simon Cowell being allowed to buy the rights for ITV?

We haven't had an answer though, other than the BBC get asked because they broadcast it last time.

ITV have EBU membership, could they in theory broadcast it as well as the BBC ? Or can it only be shown by one broadcaster in any territory?

Does the contest move between broadcasters in other countries ?

I'm pretty sure at least one country has swapped broadcasters but that was because the original broadcaster dropped the show, not because the new broadcaster 'bought' it off them.

A few people have said the BBC get first refusal. I have no reason to doubt them.

Let's be honest, if the BBC didn't have first refusal, ITV would have poached the rights long before now.

Only the participating broadcaster can broadcast it.

Yes, it does move between broadcasters in Belgium. The Flemish broadcaster and Walloon broadcaster take it in turns to be in charge of the entry but they both broadcast the contest in their respective parts of Belgium.

In the Netherlands, NOS was the participating broadcaster for decades but decided to hand it over to another broadcaster called TROS from 2009.

Where exactly would ITV put the ads. there is really only 1 or 2 breaks where they could be placed so there would be little opportunity to recoup income from it.

It seems like the ratings were why they never continued looking at the particular ratings for BBC1 and ITV1 for that day:

Saturday 15th November 2003
BBC1
19:50 - Lottery - Wright Around the World: 7.03m
20:30 - Casualty: 9.49m
21:20 - BBC News: 6.17m
21:40 - Parkinson: 7.00m

ITV1
17:50 - Pop Idol: 8.45m
19:00 - Junior Eurovision Song Contest: 5.06m
21:05 - Pop Idol Results: 7.56m

The figures for the previous week and the week after in between the Pop Idol shows were a good 1m, and if you're only getting 5.1m in 2003, you're not going to do much better today.

It went to ITV2 for its last year-2005 iirc with Michael Underwood .

Those Pop Idol ratings are way below what the X Factor gets now. I know Pop Idol wasn't as big as the XF, but I thought it did a little higher than that.

fiar enough ratings may have been rubbish, but I get the impression ITV had agreed to host it, signed contracts etc, and pulled at way past when they were given the option to, leaving the EBU in a last minute panic to find someone new.

Blimey, that was only 8 years ago - I never knew Casualty hit that kind of level in the 2000s!

Blimey, those BBC One ratings look magical now. Parky did well, and, as per usual, he was not in the football highlights slot he claimed he'd have lost if he'd stayed at the BBC when Premier League highlights returned the following season.

They did, they pulled out just 6 months beforehand. Leaving the EBU in the lurch, it was then supposed to go to Croatia but they couldn't find a venue on such short notice and so it eventually ended up in Norway.

That to me could be where Eurovision become interested in ITV - if they could offer a bigger build up and a selection process similar to Sweden - who effectively hold their own song contest, but over 5 weeks with heats and finals touring around Sweden.


Most other countries air ads - that's what those awkward green-room moments with presenters are for. However, they are limited - the first break came after song number 12 for example, and they're usually a minute in length.

Over the entire show there would probably only be 6-8 minutes of ads max - which on the surface is a huge problem, but if ITV put their heads together and perhaps offered each break in it's entirity to one company (so a 60-second ad) perhaps by limiting the ad slots further they could drive up the value. Indeed if the EBU could co-ordinate something European wide perhaps they could make the ads as important to Eurovision as they are to the Superbowl.

Yeah because ITV and the EBU are best friends

It was never as hyped as much and was more down to earth.

It was also scheduled nearly as early as BBC1's hare show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LNn6T2qfwI

Got to love the vultures suddenly circling around Eurovision, now its ratings have gone up.

When will we know the Britain's Got Talent semi-final week scheduling?

EDIT - Just seen Monday 30 May schedule:

7.00pm- Emmerdale
7.30pm- Britain's Got Talent
9.00pm- Coronation Street
9.30pm- Britain's Got Talent

Should think it'll be like that most of the week then.

I think people are just interested in how it works, but ITV don't stand a chance of getting it (and nor do any other broadcasters) as the BBC won't let it go, and rightly so as they've had it for however many years.

I agree with what you said about Popstar To Operastar. It could well bellyflop. Sundays before 8pm are difficult for ITV in the Summer and this show didn't do that well in a 9pm spot in the middle of Winter. Whilst the new slot is certainly more family friendly, it's a bit of a demotion and BBC1 have strong shows in those slots. It could find it difficult. On the plus side, those who watched it last year seemed to like it and ratings increased slightly over the run unlike SYTYCD which fell across its run last year, so it may have a loyal 4m or so base from last year. They can't be certain of that though, particularly as it will have been 18 months since the last series.

I think that tells us all we need to know.

There is no need for any of this, it is getting in the way of an interesting hyperthetical discussion

I was just speculating about the rights. I wasn't sure how it worked, so I appreciate those who have explained it more clearly.

I'm sure ITV would love to get their hands on it but clearly that won't be happening!

Would have been interesting if we'd ended up with So You Think You Can Dance and Popstar to Operastar clashing on Saturday nights.