Latvian broadcaster (LTV) announces, through the official website of the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest, Eurovision.tv, of new appointments in the production team of the contest, including a new executive producer.

It seems now that the pressure put upon LTV by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has its results now: LTV's Arvids Babris was Latvia's head of delegation in Tallinn last year and later on was appointed as the 2003 contest's executive producer. Babris has now been dismissed of this duty and will only advise his successor, Brigita Rozenbrika. She has organised major international concerts that have featured such major stars as Elton John, Depeche Mode, the Kelly Family, Bryan Adams and Joe Cocker in Rīga, Marilyn Manson in Moscow and Sting in Kiev.

According to LTV, process of technical production has been going smoothly. “Sadly, the creative issues that are related to the competition have not been developed in accordance with the schedule, nor has the harmonisation of the various issues that relate to the artistic aspects of the contest”, as the contest's official site say.

Swedish Television's (SVT) director, Marius Bratten, who had already been appointed as this year's director, has now gained an additional post, as the creative director and producer. Bratten was also the director of the 2000 and 2002 contests. The technical director of the last contest in Tallinn will now co-operate with his Latvian counterpart, Aigars Raits.

The 26 entries head of delegations will meet in Riga this Thursday and Friday, to learn about LTV's production achievements so far, as well as to hand over the details of their chosen entries to the contest.