The 2019 Eurovision Heads of Delegation Meeting is currently ongoing in Tel Aviv and today saw three positions in the Reference Group up for election.

We have an new member in the Reference group now, the Swiss Head of Delegation Mr. Reto Peritz (SRF) was elected today at the 2019 Eurovision Heads of Delegation Meeting in Tel Aviv. He will take over the position in June after the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. He will be replacing Ms. Emilie Sikinghe (AVROTROS) who will be leaving her post after serving 2 terms.

Mr. Nicola Cagliore (RAI/Italian Head of  Delegation) and Mr. Aleksandar Radic (RTVSLO/Head of Slovenian Delegation) were re-elected.

The Refence Group

The Reference Group was formed by the European Broadcasting Union’s Television Committee in 1998. The Group meets up 5-6 times a year.

The main tasks of the body include approving format developments and changes to the rules, securing financing, modernizing the brand and raising awareness of the Eurovision Song Contest and overseeing the yearly preparation by the Host Broadcaster.

The Reference Group is composed of a Chairman, three members elected by the Heads of Delegation, two Executive Producers from previous host countries, as well as the Executive Producer of the current Host Broadcaster. The EBU’s Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor is also a member of the Reference Group.

The Reference Group has a possibility to invite up to 2 extra professionals to join the group.

Current Reference Group

The Reference Group currently consists of the following members:

• Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling (ZDF/Germany)(Chairman)
• Mr. Jon Ola Sand (EBU Representative)
• Mr. Nicola Cagliore (RAI/Italy) – Elected member
  
• Ms. Carla Bugalho –(RTP/Portugal) (Eurovision 2018 Executive Producer)
• Mr. Aleksandar Radic (RTVSLO/Slovenia) – Elected member
  
• Ms. Emilie Sickinghe (AVROTROS/Netherlands) – Elected member
  
• Ms. Zivit Davidovitch (KAN/Israel) (Eurovison 2019 Executive Producer )
• Ms. Rachel Ashdown (BBC/ United Kingdom)- Appointed member
  
• Mr. Jan Lagermand Lundme (DR/Denmark)- Invited member

After the 2019 Eurovision edition the Executive Producer of the 2020 Eurovision edition will be joining the newly composed group.

The Reference Group (after Eurovision 2019)

The upcoming Reference Group includes the Heads of Delegation from the Switzerland, Slovenia, Portugal and Italy:

• Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling (ZDF/Germany)(Chairman)
• Mr. Jon Ola Sand (EBU Representative)
• Mr. Nicola Cagliore (RAI/Italy) – Elected member
  
• Yet to be determined (Eurovision 2020 Executive Producer)
• Mr. Aleksandar Radic (RTVSLO/Slovenia) – Elected member
  
• Mr. Reto Peritz (SRF/Switzerland) – Elected member
  
• Ms. Carla Bugalho Trindade (RTP/Portugal)- (Eurovision 2018 Executive Producer)
• Ms. Zivit Davidovitch (KAN/Israel) (Eurovison 2019 Executive Producer )
• Ms. Rachel Ashdown (BBC/ United Kingdom)- Appointed member
  
• Mr. Jan Lagermand Lundme (DR/Denmark)- Invited member

The Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group is the executive Committee for all Members, its purpose being to control and guide the Eurovision Song Contest and meets four to five times each year on behalf of all Participating Broadcasters, and is required to take decisions in the general interest of the Eurovision Song Contest.