Lebanon in the Eurovision Song Contest
Encyclopedia
Lebanon has never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. The country's broadcasting organization, Télé Liban
, was set to make the country's debut at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005
with the song "Quand tout s'enfuit" performed by Aline Lahoud
, but withdrew due to Lebanon
's laws barring the broadcast of Israel
i content.
, stated that Lebanon intended to make its debut at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005
in Kiev
, Ukraine
. On November 3, 2004, it was announced that Aline Lahoud
was internally selected by the network to represent Lebanon. Her orient
-occident song "Quand tout s'enfuit", sung in French
and written by Jad Rahbani and Romeo Lahoud, was chosen in mid-February. Lahoud was scheduled to present her song in the semi-final held on May 19, 2005.
. However, five days later, the European Broadcasting Union
(EBU) reached an agreement with Télé Liban and Lebanon was put on the official list of participants.
In early March 2005, the official Lebanese Eurovision Song Contest website did not list Israel as a participant. After the EBU asked Télé Liban to resolve the issue within 24 hours or face disqualification, the site removed the complete list of participants and replaced the page with a link to Eurovision.tv, the official Eurovision website.
Later that month, the EBU asked Télé-Liban to assure that they would broadcast the entire contest, including the Israeli entry, without interruption. Télé Liban could not guarantee that request, so on March 18, 2005, it once again announced its withdrawal from the contest. Lebanese legislation prohibited the broadcast of Israeli content on Lebanese television networks. Télé-Liban wrote on its website that it "is not permitted to broadcast the performance of the Israeli participant, thereby breaching the rules of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005" and forcing its withdrawal. Since Télé Liban withdrew almost three months after the December 15 "no consequence" withdrawal deadline, the broadcaster was penalized, losing its participation fee and being given a three year ban.
.
In 2007, Lebanon-born singer Mika
, stated that he was interested in entering the contest for Lebanon
in 2008, but for one of the other Lebanese television stations not serving a ban, such as the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation
(LBC) or Future Television
, either of which could have joined the EBU. His participation never came to be and the country has not made another attempt to join the contest following the conclusion of its broadcaster's ban.
Télé Liban
Télé Liban became the first Lebanese public television network, owned by the Lebanese government. Télé Liban was a result of the merger of two privately-owned stations, CLT and Télé Orient in 1977. Currently, it mainly broadcasts terrestrially throughout Lebanon. TL is the current Lebanese...
, was set to make the country's debut at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005
Eurovision Song Contest 2005
The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 was the 50th Eurovision Song Contest, which was held at the Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine. The winner was Greece's My Number One, written by Christos Dantis and Natalia Germanou and performed by Swedish-born Greek singer Elena Paparizou, who scored 230 points,...
with the song "Quand tout s'enfuit" performed by Aline Lahoud
Aline Lahoud
Aline Lahoud is a Lebanese singer, and the daughter of well-known singer Salwa Al Katrib and producer Nahi Lahoud. She was selected to sing for Lebanon at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 in Kiev, where the nation had been due to make its debut in the competition...
, but withdrew due to Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
's laws barring the broadcast of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i content.
Internal selection
On October 21, 2004, Ibrahim El Khoury, President Director General of Télé LibanTélé Liban
Télé Liban became the first Lebanese public television network, owned by the Lebanese government. Télé Liban was a result of the merger of two privately-owned stations, CLT and Télé Orient in 1977. Currently, it mainly broadcasts terrestrially throughout Lebanon. TL is the current Lebanese...
, stated that Lebanon intended to make its debut at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005
Eurovision Song Contest 2005
The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 was the 50th Eurovision Song Contest, which was held at the Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine. The winner was Greece's My Number One, written by Christos Dantis and Natalia Germanou and performed by Swedish-born Greek singer Elena Paparizou, who scored 230 points,...
in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. On November 3, 2004, it was announced that Aline Lahoud
Aline Lahoud
Aline Lahoud is a Lebanese singer, and the daughter of well-known singer Salwa Al Katrib and producer Nahi Lahoud. She was selected to sing for Lebanon at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 in Kiev, where the nation had been due to make its debut in the competition...
was internally selected by the network to represent Lebanon. Her orient
Orient
The Orient means "the East." It is a traditional designation for anything that belongs to the Eastern world or the Far East, in relation to Europe. In English it is a metonym that means various parts of Asia.- Derivation :...
-occident song "Quand tout s'enfuit", sung in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and written by Jad Rahbani and Romeo Lahoud, was chosen in mid-February. Lahoud was scheduled to present her song in the semi-final held on May 19, 2005.
Withdrawal
On December 15, 2004, Télé Liban announced that financial constraints forced them to withdraw from the contest, and denied reports that it was due to political conflicts with IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. However, five days later, the European Broadcasting Union
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
(EBU) reached an agreement with Télé Liban and Lebanon was put on the official list of participants.
In early March 2005, the official Lebanese Eurovision Song Contest website did not list Israel as a participant. After the EBU asked Télé Liban to resolve the issue within 24 hours or face disqualification, the site removed the complete list of participants and replaced the page with a link to Eurovision.tv, the official Eurovision website.
Later that month, the EBU asked Télé-Liban to assure that they would broadcast the entire contest, including the Israeli entry, without interruption. Télé Liban could not guarantee that request, so on March 18, 2005, it once again announced its withdrawal from the contest. Lebanese legislation prohibited the broadcast of Israeli content on Lebanese television networks. Télé-Liban wrote on its website that it "is not permitted to broadcast the performance of the Israeli participant, thereby breaching the rules of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005" and forcing its withdrawal. Since Télé Liban withdrew almost three months after the December 15 "no consequence" withdrawal deadline, the broadcaster was penalized, losing its participation fee and being given a three year ban.
Post-2005
With the three-year ban, Télé Liban was not eligible enter the Eurovision Song Contest until the 2009 ContestEurovision Song Contest 2009
The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was hosted by Russia after their win in 2008. It took place between 12 and 16 May 2009 at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, Russia....
.
In 2007, Lebanon-born singer Mika
Mika (singer)
Mika is a British singer-songwriter.After recording his first extended play, Dodgy Holiday EP, Mika released his first full-length studio album, Life in Cartoon Motion, on Island Records in 2007. Life in Cartoon Motion sold more than 5.6 million copies worldwide and helped Mika win a Brit...
, stated that he was interested in entering the contest for Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 2008, but for one of the other Lebanese television stations not serving a ban, such as the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation
Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation
The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation , widely known as LBC, is the first private television station in Lebanon. It went global in 1996 when it launched its satellite channel LBC Al-Fadha'iya Al-Lubnaniya covering the Arab World. It now has several channels covering Europe, America, Australia, and...
(LBC) or Future Television
Future Television
Future Television a television station broadcasting from Lebanon. It was founded in 1993 by Rafik Hariri, a former Prime Minister of Lebanon. Future TV is also available via satellite in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Politically, the channel supports the views of the Future...
, either of which could have joined the EBU. His participation never came to be and the country has not made another attempt to join the contest following the conclusion of its broadcaster's ban.