EBU & ORF meet to prepare for Eurovision Song Contest 2015


Post Eurovision Depression. What Post Eurovision Depression? The preparations for Eurovision Song Contest are already underway just over a week after Conchita Wurst took victory home to Austria. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster of Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) met for the first time in Vienna yesterday.

From the EBU, it was the Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand and the Event Supervisor Sietse Bakker attending the meeting. From ORF, Dr. Alexander Wrabetz (Director General), Richard Grasl (Commercial Director), Kathrin Zechner (TV Director) and Michael Götzhaber (Technical Director) were present.

At the winner’s press conference that took place minutes after the Grand Final ended in Copenhagen, Jon Ola Sand presented what he calls a “starter pack” to the Austrian delegation to prepare them for hosting next year’s contest.

Two things were made clear. The arena should be available for six weeks before the live shows and the arena should be closed, with no issues of intruding daylight.

Jon Ola Sand said “We appreciate the early invitation for this kick-off meeting, which shows ORF’s commitment to a successful Eurovision Song Contest in 2015. The foundation of that success is an early start, and we are looking forward to the challenge ahead!”

The preliminary dates for the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest are still set for the 12th, 14th and 16th of May with no news of any change. It has been said that a final decision of the dates will be taken in the summer.

Dr Alexander Wrabetz said “With a major international event such as the Eurovision Song Contest, it is important not to lose time and to start the preparation work. In this sense, we also have already started initial discussions – just a week after the victory. All are highly motivated and with the EBU, we have a top professional partner on our side. It is sure that a mega project of this magnitude can only be realised as a pan-Austrian cooperation between ORF, the state, municipal and private partners.”

Photograph (ORF/Milenko Badzic) left to right: Michael Götzhaber, Richard Grasl, Kathrin Zechner, Jon Ola Sand, Alexander Wrabetz, Sietse Bakker.