How much does it cost the U.K. to host the Eurovision Song Contest

The U.K. will host the 67 th Eurovision Song Contest on May 13.

Celebrated and spoofed by audiences around the world, the world’s biggest singing competitors has actually ended up being something of a cultural organization in the 7 years given that its launch.

But behind the adventurous efficiencies and much more extravagant clothing, the yearly contest is likewise viewed as a lorry of political and financial powerplay.

In 2023, that’s more the case than ever.

With the war continuous in Ukraine (2022’s winner), hosting responsibilities have actually been presumed by second-place Great Britain, and Russia has actually been booted from the contest. Rising expenses have actually triggered some nations to bail out prior to the competitors has actually even started.

So simply what is the expense of the contest– and is it worth it?

First kept in Lugano, Switzerland, in 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest was thought up by the European Broadcasting Union, an alliance of public broadcasters, as a method of commemorating the culture and unity of a freshly specified post-war Europe.

Though the EBU states the Eurovision is apolitical, the contest’s crossway with European relations has actually been kept in mind.

“Every year on the Eurovision stage we’ve seen political, social messages being projected through the songs, through the performances of artists,” stated Dean Vuletic, historian of modern Europe at the University of Vienna and author of “Postwar Europe and the European Song Contest.”

“This is why people love to watch Eurovision because it’s always a reflection of the political zeitgeist in Europe,” he included.

In the years given that it was developed, the contest has actually grown considerably, integrating even non-European nations such asAustralia Yet it stays a co-production in between EBU public broadcasters, with all taking part nations– usually around 40– paying a charge to participate.

Europe’s greatest economies– Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Spain, otherwise referred to as the Big Five– pay the most, based upon the EBU’s “solidarity principle,” which mentions that the greatest shoulders must “carry the most weight.” They likewise instantly receive the last.

Other nations then contribute differing total up to the pot, which recently has actually amounted to around $7 million. But with inflationary pressures taxing Europe in 2023, those charges were considered excessive for some, with Bulgaria, Montenegro and North Macedonia taking out of this year’s occasion for monetary factors.

Still, the primary expense of holding the contest is taken on by the host nation– usually the previous year’s winner– whose duty it is to place on a program to bear in mind. Those amounts have actually differed greatly throughout the years– with some nations more upcoming than others.

In 2013, the Swedish city of Malmo supposedly took pride in hosting its occasion for around $20 million. That’s well listed below the $42 million invested by Moscow in 2009, the approximately $30 million paid by Dusseldorf in 2011, and the $54 million dispensed by Copenhagen in 2014.

But the crown for the most costly Eurovision to date is held by Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, which in 2012 invested in between a massive $64 million and $76 million on the occasion alone– not to point out the $100 million it invested in a brand-new arena to host it.

In 2023, the U.K. is anticipated to invest as much as $30 million to hold the contest, as host Liverpool looks for to show Ukrainian culture while showcasing the very best of British music and imagination.

As host broadcaster, the BBC will foot the bulk of the costs– an approximated $10 million to $21 million– while the U.K. federal government has stated it will contribute $12 million.

That budget plan is topped up by ticket sales, sponsorship offers and profits from online platforms. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s regional authorities will invest a more $5 million, mostly on occasions beyond the arena.

“Culture’s really important to this country, and the way that we portray our culture and portray our identity internationally is hugely important. Tourism in Liverpool is worth 47% of our economy. So this isn’t chicken feed for us, this is really, really important,” Claire McColgan, director of culture at Liverpool City Council, stated.

The occasion comes at a tough time for the U.K. economy, which is having a hard time to stay up to date with its European next-door neighbors amidst skyrocketing inflation and low financial development. In 2022, the U.K. was the only significant economy that stopped working to go back to pre-pandemic development rates, rather taping a contraction. In 2023, it is anticipated to diminish by a more 0.3%.

It likewise comes as the BBC goes through significant cuts and attempts to plug a ₤ 1.4 billion hole in its financial resources after the federal government froze the license charge.

“Rarely have we had the opportunity to stage Eurovision, but it’s our time. We were obviously really, really honored to take it on on behalf of Ukraine, and hopefully it’s a great opportunity to show what the BBC does really well,” stated Martin Green, handling director of BBC Eurovision 2023.

“We’ll probably put a full figure out when we’re done,” he included of the BBC budget plan. “It’s a moveable feast at the moment and we’re right in the middle of it.”

With all that expenditure, why would the U.K. wish to host the occasion, specifically after scoring badly or being infamously granted the feared null points a lot of times in current years?

For one, the competitors can be a terrific advert for the host city– and nation– which can withstand well after the celebration is over. In 2019, Tel Aviv’s occasion reached over 180 million television audiences in over 40 markets, and millions more online.

“It’s something that countries put on their C.V. when they’re aspiring to host events like the Olympic Games or the World Cup,” Vuletic stated. “Just think about Russia: It hosted Eurovision in 2009 and afterwards hosted the winter Olympic Games in Sochi and the World Cup for Soccer.”

That can likewise draw in tourist costs and enhance the regional economy. 2022’s host Turin, a city in northern Italy, invested around $11 million hosting the occasion however stated it made that refund 7 times over through tourist.

James Bates, handling director at Maray Restaurants in Liverpool, stated he prepares for a 50% uptick in service throughout the occasion alone.

“People discuss the causal sequence, and we definitely saw that in 2008, when we were Capital ofCulture The city is speaking about the increase in visitor numbers as comparable to [that], which was sort of transformative for the city,” he stated.

“Liverpool city council invested £2 million and within six weeks we’ve brought in £15 million of actual cash investment to help us put this brilliant competition on. But the economic impact is bigger than that,” McColgan stated. “We’ve estimated the economic impact I think at £22 million. I think it’s going to exceed that completely, because the visitor numbers exceeded that on day one.”

The occasion plays a crucial function in showcasing a nation’s soft power, too, through arts and culture– something both the U.K. and Ukraine aspire to do.

“We can show the world our courage, our bravery, our strength, and inspire all people to be like Ukrainians, be united, be strong, fight for your freedom, fight for your land, and for your families,” stated Ukraine’s 2023 entrant, Tvorchi.

“That soft side and that promotion of U.K. PLC internationally makes the investment well worth it,” the BBC’s Green included.

Crucially, however, the contest represents another act of uniformity with Ukraine, and a reformulation of U.K.-EU relations as Britain looks for to re-establish its existence in Europe afterBrexit

“The other political context that we have to also view the contest in this year is that of Brexit,” Vuletic stated. “For many Eurosceptics in Britain, Eurovision has been a symbol of what is wrong with Europe. Since 2000, British entries have tended to score quite low of the scoreboard, leading Britons to criticize Europeans for not liking Britain anymore.”

“Last year, that changed. The United Kingdom came second,” he included. “So we also have to see this edition of Eurovision as being a rekindling of a British love affair with Eurovision and of British relations with Europe.”