It has been reported that Cyprus' Eurovision 2024 representative will no longer be chosen through 'Fame Story'.
At the end of May, it was reported that Cyprus would be using the talent show Fame Story to chose their Eurovision 2024 representative. However, after updating their terms of participation, there is now no mention of Eurovision anywhere.
On the STAR website, some of the rules and regulations for Fame Story have been updated, in particular, the terms of participation. This section now mentions a prize of 50,000 euros and a recording contract with PANIK Records only.
Previously, these two things were mentioned alongside another prize of representing Cyprus in ‘the biggest European Song Contest’. This now longer appears, and there is no other mention of Eurovision anywhere else.
EBU steps in?
At the end of July, it was reported that Greek broadcaster ERT had filed a complaint with the EBU over Cyprus’ use of Fame Story to find their Eurovision 2024 representative.
ERT’s main argument was that Fame Story should not be used as Cyprus’ national selection for Eurovision 2024 because the show is organised in Greece by Greek television channel Star Greece, meaning that Cyprus’ selection for Eurovision 2024 will be organised in Greece and not Cyprus, something which ERT believes is against the Eurovision rules.
At the beginning of July, the EBU updated its rules and regulations for each country’s national selections for Eurovision 2024. They state that national selections should be organized and televised nationally in the participating broadcaster’s country and on the EBU member broadcaster’s own channel, and that organization and production cannot be contracted out, except with the prior approval of the EBU.
At the present time, it is not known how Cyprus will select their Eurovision 2024 representative. It is reported that the Cypriot broadcaster could internally select an artist, and have a national final in Nicosia to find their song, but nothing has been confirmed or mentioned by RIK as of yet.
For the last few years, Cyprus has turned to internal selections to find their song and singer for Eurovision, achieving varying results. Their best ever result came in 2018, when Eleni Foureira finished in second place with 436 points.
Cyprus’ most recent Eurovision participation saw Australian-born Andrew Lambrou singing “Break A Broken Heart” in Liverpool this May. He qualified to the final where he finished in 12th place overall with 126 points.
What are your thoughts on Fame Story being dropped as Cyprus’ national selection for Eurovision 2024? Do you think Cyprus will have another internal selection for Eurovision 2024? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Photo credit: EBU / Sarah Louise Bennett
