Finnish Eurovision commentator Mikko Silvennoinen will not travel to Switzerland for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Instead, he will provide his commentary remotely from the broadcaster’s studio in Pasila, Helsinki. The decision is due to increased production costs and cuts to the broadcaster’s funding.
Mikko Silvennoinen has announced the news during an appearance on Huomenta Suomi on 28 April. He will only travel to Basel for the opening weekend before returning to Finland to cover the live shows.
According to Anssi Autio, Executive producer of the Finnish Eurovision broadcast, rising costs have forced broadcasters to reconsider their participation setups.
You can’t afford everything. If prices go up and we don’t have as much money, the decision is pretty simple.
Autio explained that the cost of a commentary booth and necessary technical equipment at the host venue is substantial. Though no specific savings were disclosed, he stressed the financial impact is significant.
Despite being remote, Silvennoinen said he looks forward to learning how audiences react to the live performances. Autio reassured that the commentator will be kept informed.
The decision follows a Finnish parliamentary ruling in autumn 2024 that freezes index-based increases to the broadcaster’s funding until 2027. This will result in an estimated €47 million cut to the broadcaster’s overall budget.
The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will be held on 13 May at 21:00 CET, followed by the second on 15 May. The grand final takes place on 17 May. This year, Finland is represented by Erika Vikman with Ich komme.
https://youtu.be/Kg3QoTpnqyw
Source: Iltalehti | Huomenta Suomi
Photo source: voice.fi
