The European Broadcasting Union has provided the national broadcasters with the rules for next year's Eurovision Song Contest. One important change can be noticed: all participating countries are obliged to broadcast the qualifier round on 19th May! Reliable sources told that to esctoday.com.
This year's Eurovision Song Contest, the first spread over two nights, caused a lot of commotion when France, Poland and Russia, who were directly qualified for the final, refused to broadcast the qualifyer round.
Therefore, the European Broadcasting Union adapted the rules for next year's Eurovision Song Contest. All countries participating in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest, including those directly qualified for the final, are now obliged to broadcast the qualifier round. It's likely that the disappointing viewing figures motivated the EBU to add this rule for 2005.
The qualifier round will take place on Thursday 19th May in Kiev. More about the rules can be expected in the upcoming week!
