The Eurovision Song Contest 2003 will last three hours and ten minutes. That's ten minutes longer than usually. Ilona Berzina, spokesperson of the Latvian broadcaster LTV, told that to eurosong.be in an interview.

“It would not be fair to make the postcards shorter, which would definately not stimulate the quality of the show. The Reference Group gave permission to make the show ten minutes longer”, Berzina told. The extra ten minutes are a result of the high number of participating countries this year (26).

In the same interview, Ilona Berzina said that LTV is exactly on schedule with all preparations for the upcoming contest. “Concerning the Skonto Hall we have a surprise, but I can't tell more about it”, she said.