According to Latvian media (NRA.lv), the budget required for Latvian broadcaster LTV to participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest has yet to be agreed upon with just a few weeks before the entry deadline remaining.

€300,000 needed for full program

Reports state that LTV requires a total of €300,000 to hold its selection process, Supernova, as well as take a delegation to Rotterdam.

If part of the funding can be found, alternative solutions are being discussed to secure Latvia’s participation in Eurovision 2020. For example, either an internal selection or a one-night national final could reduce the financial resources needed for LTV to find their entry for Rotterdam.

A wider funding problem?

In response to the reports, LTV board member, Ivars Priede, explains that there is a concern over whether the Latvian Parliament is allocating enough funds to public service broadcasting. If LTV’s budget was to be cut, Priede explains that the amount of original programming produced by LTV would be severely reduced and the station would have to show lots of “repeats”.

LTV must declare their interest in participating in Eurovision 2020 by mid-September with a view to submitting the relevant documents in early October.

Three consecutive non-qualifications

In Tel Aviv, Latvia was represented by Carousel with the song “That Night”. The group placed 15th in the second semi-final, unfortunately failing to qualify for the final. This marked a third consecutive non-qualification for Latvia with the nation’s last appearance in a Eurovision final coming courtesy of Justs in 2016.