Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina, BHRT, confirmed yesterday that they will not send an entry to Eurovision 2020 in The Netherlands.
BHRT told ESCToday that it remains under EBU sanctions thanks to its outstanding large debt it still owes to the Union, and that in cannot compete again in the song contest until it respects this debt.
Financial woes
Coupled with this, financial woes have plagued the national broadcaster in recent years. In June 2016, the cash strapped broadcaster temporarily suspended all programmes due to serious financial issues.
Even though BHRT still remains an operating entity, financing problems remain a severe issue for the broadcaster. This makes a return to Eurovision in the near future seem unlikely.
The last time the Heart-Shaped Land competed in Eurovision was in Stockholm in 2016, when Dalal & Deen placed 11th in Semi-final 1 with their song ‘Ljubav je’. The duo were agonisingly only one place and 29 points off from a converted place in the Grand Final.
Since it’s first entry in 1993, Bosnia & Herzegovina have participated a total of 19 times at Eurovision. Their highest placed finish came in 2006 when Hari Mata Hari came third with their song ‘Lejla’. While the country’s lowest finish came in 1996 when Amila Glamoča came second bottom with her song ‘Za našu ljubav’.
Never nice to see a country sadly forced to miss the song contest, I’m sure Eurovision fans everywhere will be hoping that BHRT can soon rectify their financial troubles and we will see the nation once again compete on the Eurovision stage, Escxtra reports.
