North Macedonia: MKRTV pulls out from Eurovision 2023

• The North Macedonia national broadcaster, MKRTV has decided to pull out from Eurovision 2023 set to take place in Liverpool, UK. 

  Sad news coming from the landlocked country of North Macedonia, as the public television has taken the deicision to withdraw from next year Eurovision Song Contest. 

  The decision for withdrawing came as a consequence of the difficult financial circumstances the broadcaster is facing due to the energy crisis worldwide and the substantial conditions of the country's economy that don't allow the country to keep up with the high costs such a participation requires.  On their facebook account the broadcaster mentions the following: 

  "Due to the economic and energy crisis and high costs, Macedonia will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, scheduled to be held in May in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The decision to cancel Eurosong participation is valid for this year, and for the future we will see."

   

  The official press released confirming MRKTV's withdrawal reads as following: 

  “Such a decision is in the best interest of the citizens, taking into account the increased costs due to the energy crisis, which occupy a large part of the budget of the Public Service, as well as the increased registration fee for the participation in Eurovision 2023, which until last year was 39,143.00 euros, and the next year is expected to be higher. This decision will enable the saving of funds that should be set aside for the Macedonian delegation’s stay in Liverpool, where Eurovision 2023 is being held.”
  “However, MRT will broadcast the event, the two semi-final evenings and the grand final on its services. MRT hopes that the situation will stabilize, after which the country will return again with participation in Eurovision in 2024.”

   

  Despite withdrawing from next year's competitin the public broadcaster will be airing all three live shows of the 67th Eurovision for the North Macedonian viwers.

   

   

  North Macedonia in Eurovision

   

  The Balkan country debuted at the comeptition in 1998 with the name FYR Macedonia. As FYR Macedonia the country attempted to participate for the first time at the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo with Kaliopi, but didn’t make through the special premliminary audio semi-final.

  In its 19 years of participation the best result came this year with Tamara Todevska and her entry “Proud” which finished 7th in the final , while it has qualified only 9 times in the final.In 2019 internally selected Tamara , not only interrupted the six years of non qualifying results by coming 7th in the final, but also achieved to top the jury voting. This was the country’s first top ten placing.

  In 2020 Vasil was internally selected to represent the country at Eurovision 2020 with his entry "You"  but unfortunately didn't have the chance to complete his Eurovision journey as the contest was cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak. However, Vasil had the chance to reach the stage in Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam with the song 'Here I Stand' which finished 15th in the semi-final failing to make it to the final show. 

  This year, Andrea won the national final with her song 'Circles' which competed in the semi-final where and came 11th only a spot away from qualifying to the final. 

   

  News Source: MKRTV

  Image: EBU/ Andres Putting

   

   

   

AUTHORS

Angelos D.
Loyal follower of the Eurovision Song Contest since 1987, I've made the competition one of the stories of my life. After attending as accredited press the event for 13 consecutive years along with the 2017-2024 JESC editions, I also enjoy the last three years sharing more Eurovision music through the Eurofans radio's project.