The Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group that met in Oslo on 10th September did discuss Spain's breach of Eurovision Song Contest rules by broadcasting the semi final on a time delay, rendering a televote impossible. It has also concluded it's investigation into whether Azeri broadcaster Ictimai deliberately blocked or distorted the picture to blur out the voting number for Armenia.
The Reference Group recommendations about any action to be taken against Spanish broadcaster after the decision was made to broadcast the conclusion of a livetennis match meant that the Eurovision Song Contest semi final show was delayed for Spanish viewers by approximately one hour. As a result, no televote could take place in Spain and the country's semi final vote was made via the back-up jury.
Several reports that Ictimai, the national broadcaster of Azerbaijan, blurred or blocked the voting number for Armenia during the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest final have also been investigated. If they are proved to be true, the broadcaster would face punishment. Earlier today, Ictimai avoided any action by the EBU concerning the national telecom company issuing records of Eurovision Song Contest voting to the government, and the ministry of the interior questioning people that voted for Armenia. The issue of blocking the voting number is howeverbeing investigated separately.
If any punishment is to be made, the decisions would need to be ratified by the EBU Television Committee. It is likely that the final decisions will be made public in the next two weeks.
