The Eurovision Song Contest format - just what Putin needs

The EBU owns and sells the format for one of the most-watched annual television events in Europe to countries across the world.

“Why not have the Song Contest in China, and Central Asia? We own the rights  to an international song contest. We would be happy to sell the format to  Prime Minister Putin,” said Bjørn Erichsen, Television Director at the EBU. “Investors have  already signed a deal to make a version of the contest in the Middle East and North Africa. We are close  to finalising a deal for a contest called Songs of Africa in sub-Saharan  Africa,” he explained.

Putin made his statement at a recent meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Russia's capital Moscow hosted the Eurovision Song Contest earlier this year. The Russian Prime Minister visited the contest's venue to be informed about the preparations, just days before the first Semi-Final. His visit was captured on camera by Eurovision.tv's video crew: