Tel Aviv 2019

Monaco will not return to Eurovision in 2019

In the last couple of days, Monegasque broadcaster TMC has confirmed to esctoday.com that Monaco will not return to the Eurovision Song Contest next year in Israel. This will be the principality’s thirteenth consecutive year of non-participation.


Part of the French broadcasting group

Whilst no exact reasoning was given by TMC for their latest non-participation, one key reason is perhaps that the Monegasque broadcaster is no longer a public broadcaster. Indeed, whilst TMC remains an EBU member, the channel is part of the TF1 group. The TF1 group is the largest private French broadcaster and owns 80% of the channel, with the 20% belonging to the principality of Monaco. Now, TMC focuses on broadcasting French programmes for the French public.

The only micro-state to win

Monaco won the Eurovision Song Contest once, back in 1971. Parisian-born singer Séverine represented the principality with the song Un banc, un arbre, une rue. Scoring 128 points, Séverine took victory by 12 points ahead of second-placed Karina from Spain.

Monaco debuted in the contest in 1959, finishing 11th and last. However, Monaco was largely successful at the contest, only placing outside the top ten on five occasions between 1959 and 1979. In 1980, TMC withdrew from the contest, not returning until 2004. Three further participations between 2004 and 2006 resulted in three non-qualifications and TMC has not participated since.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ8V7-oS6yk

Are you disappointed by Monaco’s continued absence from the world’s biggest entertainment show? Let us know in the comments below!

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