Spanish media outlet Maldita.es have shared the recent participation costs of the Spanish broadcaster RTVE at the Eurovision Song Contest.
It has been reported that RTVE has an estimated budget of 617,403 Euros regarding its 2021 participation. Compared to recent editions, this amount does not stand out. At their last attempt in 2019, RTVE has allegedly spent 782,044 Euros on their participation, making 2019 one of their most expensive participations in recent years. In 2011, when Lucía Pérez has represented the country at the contest, the broadcaster is said to have paid a total of 1.2 million Euros for its participation and organisation of the pre-selection shows.
Spain is one of the ‘Big Five’, meaning that the country does not have to take part in the semi finals and receives an automatic spot in the grand final due to them paying a higher participation fee than other countries. Spain will be represented by Blas Cantó at the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam.
Who is Blas Cantó?
Blas Cantó was born on October 26 1991 in Ricote in Murcia in southeastern Spain. He made his first television appearance in 2000 in the children’s talent show Veo Veo. In 2004 he competed in the Spanish Junior Eurovision selection and in In 2009, he founded the group AURYN. The group gained fame after taking part in Destino Eurovisión, the Spanish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.
Blas was internally selected to represent Spain in Rotterdam, becoming the first internally selected Spanish Eurovision entrant since 2015. He was due to sing “Universo” (Universe) at the 2020 contest before its cancellation.
Image Source: EBU / Thomas Hanses | Source: Lavanguardia
Spain debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 and has competed annually since. Spain has won the contest on two occasions the first being in 1968 and the second time in 1969. 1969 is the only year where more than one song has won the contest. The 1969 contest saw a four-way tie between Spain, France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Since 2000 Spain has only managed to finish in the top 10 on five occasions, the last time being in 2014 with Ruth Lorenzo. However, the country has finished 20th or below on ten occasions, the worst placement being 26th in 2017.
