The 2003 Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday maintained it's huge popularity in Israel.
The live broadcast from Riga received 32% ratings in average during the whole transmission. During Israel's performance in the contest, IBA (Israel's broadcaster) gained 40% of the TV ratings, defeating the rest of TV channels in Israel.
Israeli media and, infact, television viewers, also regarded Saturday's show as one of the best contest in years, and one of most exciting ones, with Russia's t.A.T.u, Israel's Tzvika Pick as Ukraine's composer, with an impressive performance of the Israeli entrant and a deserving winner.
Since the 2004 contest will be held in Turkey, vast interest started to raise among Israeli Eurovision fans in travelling to the contest, since Turkey is a popular travelling destination among Israelis, And also since its the first time the contest will be only a short trip away (not counting the 1999 contest in Jerusalem).
