After weeks of various information, it has now been officially confirmed that Austria will not return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010. ORF executive Wolfgang Lorenz stated that high costs are the reason considering that the contest has been “ruined by the regulations”.

Lorenz stated that Austria's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest would cost about 400,000 Euros and that he prefers using the money for other programs. Furthermore, he says that the regulations and the conditions of participation in the final do not back up the expenses.

Austria has not been taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2007, when Eric Papilaya finished 27th (second last) in the semi final. Austria won the contest once back in 1966 with Udo Jürgens and Merci Chérie.