Dr. Jürgen Meier-Beer withdraws from his job as German head of delegation for the Eurovision Song Contest, as broadcaster NDR announced today. Meier-Beer was responsible for the Contest in Germany for the last ten years.

“After ten years, I would like to lay the responsibilty for the Eurovision Song Contest into someone else's hands. I am happy that, in spite of difficult circumstances, the Song Contest made a comeback as a crowd-puller. Although I would have wished for a better result for the German entry for my parting”, Meier-Beer said in a personal statement, adding that he would wish for a “stronger engagement of the German music industry next time”.

NDR's program director Volker Herres said: “Jürgen Meier-Beer gave a new image to the Grand Prix in Germany and developed the Eurovision Song Contest into an entertainment trademark for the First Channel (ARD). I am happy that he, with his analytic and strategic skills, will further on count to our team.” Meier-Beer will lead the department for “International projects and music” at NDR from 1st July. His successor as head of entertainment at NDR will be Dr. Jan Schulte Kellinghaus.

Dr. Jürgen Meier-Beer took over the responsibility as German head of delegation in 1996 after Germany finished last in the Eurovision Song Contest one year ago with Stone & Stone's Verliebt in Dich. After years of fading media and public interest in the contest, with the Eurovision Song Contest suffering from an obscure and boring image in Germany, he managed to re-establish the contest as a trendy and not-to-miss television spectacle, especially attracting new and younger viewers to what was once seen as “granny entertainment”. Without his strong personal engagement, Germany would surely have pulled out of the Contest years ago.

Esctoday.com would like to thank Dr. Meier-Beer for everything he has done for the Eurovision Song Contest over the last ten years and wish him the best of luck for the future.