Finding a formula for success: Eurovision workshop takes place in Berlin

14 September 2016 at 19:00 CEST
The Eurovision Creative Forum showcases the most innovative and engaging programme formats from public service media around the world. EBU
The fourth annual workshop dedicated to the Eurovision Song Contest has taken place in Berlin, Germany. The event, which was part of the EBU's Eurovision Creative Forum, is an opportunity for EBU Members to share knowledge, ideas and best practice around the Eurovision Song Contest. The workshop also marks the beginning of a new season where broadcasters turn their attention to the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Kyiv, Ukraine, in May 2017.

42 participants from 28 Member Broadcasters across 20 countries took part in the Eurovision Song Contest workshop this year. During the course of the afternoon delegates heard from a variety of guest speakers including the national broadcaster in Ukraine, and current Host Broadcaster of the Eurovision Song Contest, NTU. Victoria Romanova, NTU's Deputy Director General recalled her experiences when Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm: 

"It was my tenth year in the Green Room as Head of Delegation for Ukraine. We didn't discuss winning prior to the contest. In fact, the next day Jamala's sister, who was sitting with us during the voting, asked if it really happened. For Jamala it was the culmination of all her work, but for NTU, winning the Eurovision Song Contest was only the beginning".

Attendees were given an insight into the Host City Bid Process which determined which Ukrainian city would host the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. The Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, Jon Ola Sand, explained the benefits of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest for a city:

"The city really needs to be behind any bid to host the competition. From security, to transportation and other logistics, the city is crucial when producing an event such as the Eurovision Song Contest. For the city there are major benefits, not least the level of press coverage that is generated from hosting an event such as this. That's why cities are fighting for the right to host". 

The workshop was also an opportunity for Members to meet the new Event Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, Nadja Burkhardt. Nadja is a long-standing member of the EBU team and first attended the contest in 2011 , she took over the role at the beginning of the summer. She reflected on the preparations for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine. "The city bid process gave each potential host city the opportunity to showcase itself. There was an amazing level of motivation amongst all the teams in Ukraine".

Other speakers at the event included Paul Clark, Head of Delegation for Australia, who shared his experiences of building suspense down under. He also updated Members on the new format which is being developed in Asia. Edoardo Grassi, Head of Delegation for France, was able to explain the selection process that France2 went through this year which resulted in the country's best placing in the Eurovision Song Contest for more than a decade.

Earlier in the day, the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, the governing body of the Eurovision Song Contest, met to discuss the plans for the 2017 edition of the programme which will take place in Kyiv, Ukraine.