BHRT, the Bosnia & Herzegovina broadcaster, has confirmed that they will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
BHRT confirmed to ESCToday that they will not return to Eurovision in 2023. BHRT last took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 but withdraw from the contest in 2017 due to financial issues at the broadcaster. BHRT has in the past explained that it is unlikely to return to the Eurovision Song Contest in the near term unless the method by which it is funded is resolved.
BHRT is a member of the European Broadcasting Union but is currently denied access to all of its services due to outstanding debts. This has meant that since December 2016 BHRT has been unable to compete in the Eurovision family of events including the Eurovision Song Contest.
The broadcaster is under severe financial pressures and is on the verge of shutting down. Since 2017 Radio Television of the Republika Srpska has failed to provide BHRT with its allocation of the feeds collected in the region and as a result triggered a funding shortfall of over 32 million Euro as of the end of 2021.
Image source: Albin Olsson | Source: ESCToday
Bosnia & Herzegovina debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993, at the time the country was at war with Yugoslavia, with the singers having to leave Sarajevo under the cover of darkness to make it to Millstreet, Ireland. The countries best result in the Eurovision Song Contest came in 2006 when Hari Mata Hari made it to the final in Athens and finished 3rd with 229 points, the country received eight sets of 12 points, more than any other country. Bosnia last participated in 2016 where Dalal & Deen feat. Ana Rucner & Jala finished 11th in their semi final and failed to reach the final.
