Overview
- After a meeting of participating broadcasters, the EBU confirmed Israel will not be excluded from the next contest.
- AVROTROS cites violations of humanity and press freedom and argues political interference has compromised Eurovision’s neutrality.
- The move was coordinated with the NPO, which says Dutch viewers will still be able to watch the contest though the channel or platform is not yet decided.
- Public broadcasters in Spain, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia also pulled out, while Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova plan to return, for an expected field of 31 in Vienna in May.
- The EBU introduced rule changes including juries returning in the semi-finals, a cap of ten televotes per viewer and tighter promotion limits; a poll finds 47% of a Dutch panel favors maintaining a boycott.