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Austria: No return to Eurovision in 2009
Austria withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest after failing to reach the final in 2005. They returned in 2007 but Eric Papilaya finished 27th in the semi final and ORF withdrew again before the 2008 competition. ORF's Wolfgang Lorenz stated that in the contest "the quality of the entries is not important but only which countries sent them".
Austria won the Eurovision Song Contest once in 1966 with Udo Jürgens and Merci Chérie but with only six top five placings in 43 years, Austria is one of the less succesful countries in the competition.
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@lina
I don't think there would me more political withdrawals apart of Georgia, but it's quite possible there would be financial withdrawals due the international crisis: some broadcasters are close to bankruptcy.
@mario, i dont thing any other countrey is going to withdraw for any reason especially after Georgian withdrawin, beacuse they want good relations with Russia.
@ Andreas Blaschke:
What does "Nocturne" have to do with some of the horrid songs you mentioned as well? If you think that song has no quality, something might be wrong in your ears.
Well, according with the references posted in the English Wikipedia there are now 29 countries that have expressed their intention to participate: Albania, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia (of course), Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the U.K.
I think Armenia, Croatia, Israel and Romania will confirm their participation soon. As we know Georgia will withdraw, it will remain a group of nine undecided countries (FYROM, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, San Marino and Ukraine). I think that two-three of them could withdraw, mainly for economic reasons. I have especially bad feelings about Hungary, Moldova and Montenegro.
@ Sims Moyal
Then you should read more carefully...
DAAAAMN 
Austria get back
As I have said earlier this week: Let's wait for the headline: "According to ORF..." - not this regional newspaper.
"and Secondly Mina, i think you made your point without posting 5 times in a row..." sorry about that 
not surprised about Austria decision not to take part in 2009... i wonder if more countries will follow
and Secondly Mina, i think you made your point without posting 5 times in a row...
That was lina, not me...LOL
@ Sims Moyal:
Btw, I really love your profile picture!
Omar was also my big favourite in 2005 and he is still one of my alltime favourites!
His song has touched me deeply in all versions, Slovenian and English, Eurovision and ballad- version!
The fact that he wrote the song himself makes it even better!
What a scandal he didn't go the finals!
Now it's confirmed: Austria will definitely not come back in 2009.
I've read on the internet and in Austria's most popular paper today.
This guy from ORF explained it like that: "If EBU doesn't change the rules, there is no reason to be back and there is no reason to send a talented singer who will only gain disadvantages out of this experience."
I think that statement speaks more than clear for the endless ignorance of Austrian television!
EBU ALREADY stated they will change the rules!!!
And as for sending a talented singer... well, it's been a long time ago since they did that. And nobody got disadvantages from performing in the world's biggest musical event. They were all unknown and not very successful before, if anything, their Eurovision performance made them a little more known.
I am really not said for Austria not participating, there are enough countries who DO care about ESC but such ignorant statements make me furious!
Send an orchestra piece.... with an proper operatic diva.... I think that would do well. xD
@Max Raspail
Yes, my last likes from Austria, but than again i haven't heard anyone here stating otherwise...
and Secondly Mina, i think you made your point without posting 5 times in a row...
the problem is not wich countrey is going to win ESC, the problem is the rule of EBU who says that "the winning countrey must host next year ESC" , if EBU choose the countrey who is going to host ESC ( like JESC ) everything is going to be ok 
the problem is not which countrey is going to win eurovision ,the problem is the rule of EBU who says that the winning countrey must to host the next ESC. If EBU choose the country who each year is going to host ESC ( like JESC) everything would be ok !
"Perhaps we should ask EBU to make a rule that says that Greece or eastern countries are forbidden to win? Would that be ok? " Mina this is very good idea lol ,but i doubt if that stop ESC fighting, after we will have fight with scandinavia countreys VS rest of western countreys lol
before televoting Austria have a success? always was in the bottom of the scoreboard exept of 1-2 times, and my personal opinion is that Austria send always bullshits ,is the only countrey who send bad songs without any interest. some countreys must to find the problem why always is in the bottom and not to speak about quility of songs.
My God, Mina, don't crick yourself by trying to prove how marginal the reasons for the Western countries are to complain about the current voting system...
Complaining about the voting system is one thing.
Saying that it won't be a surprise if Greece or an eastern country wins, it's a different thing.
Greece has won ONCE in the 55 years of Eurovision.
Plus, EBU decided to have juries back next year...noone here knows how things will be in 2009, what the percentage of the juries will be and who will win.
Seeing a comment like 'oh, we know who will win' at a moment when we expect a new voting system (a change that most people here wanted) to my ears it sounds like 'I don't care about any changes, if Greece or an eastern country wins, it means the new system will still be wrong'...which is why I said perhaps there should be a rule against Greece or eastern countries winning under ANY system and then maybe some people would be happy
@ Sims Moyal
The last song YOU liked - you said it...
My God, Mina, don't crick yourself by trying to prove how marginal the reasons for the Western countries are to complain about the current voting system...
Maybe it was Alf Poyer that convinced austria that good old europe is dying and that Austria lost interest!....
They are right saying that it doesn't matter the song but which country sends it
BUT
They dont have any reason to complain about their placing
the last entry that i liked from them was in 1994 !
there is no doubt that it's the country who for some reason send the least effective songs.
i'm sure they'll return in 2010 if next year's voting reform works.
As for a good Austrian entry I nominate Reflection by Bobbie Singer from 1999. But one bright side to all this... Turkey lose 12 points, Serbia 10, Croatia, Bosnia etc... so rotten was the Austrian televote.
@ Björn Lin.
what's quality in your eyes is SIMPY YOUR PERSONAL taste or personal taste of any other person.
A winning song is NO GUATRANTEE at all for a quality song:
Or are these songs quality songs?
EVERYBODY, TAKE ME TO YOUR HEAVEN, ROCK ME, LA DET SWINGE, NOCTURNE, LALALA, SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME, I WANNA, ETC. ETC.
SO PLEASE STOP TALKING ABOUT QUALITY!
SO PLEASE THINK BEFORE WRITING!
SO PLEASE STOP ATTACKING CERTAIN COUNTRIES!
We all know, that the whole voting process is not fair! And have NOTHING to do with quality!
The winner will be in 2009 Greece or an Eastern country. Without surprise thus
Of course..since Greece has won SO MANY TIMES, no surprise indeed! Hey, we've been winning for 40 years after all, haven't we?
So, even though the EBU decided to add juries to the mixture, if Greece or an eastern country wins, people will still complain. Nice!
Perhaps we should ask EBU to make a rule that says that Greece or eastern countries are forbidden to win? Would that be ok?
They are right! The winner will be in 2009 Greece or an Eastern country. Without surprise thus ...
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