Gibraltar is the smallest territory to have broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest but participated, now GBC has revealed why it used to broadcast the contest.
Speaking to El Nacional, the Director General of the Gibrlatarian broadcaster GBC has revealed why the channel used to broadcast the contest in the late 00s. GBC aired the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest between 2006 and 2008, and has not aired the contest since.
GBC is the public service broadcaster for Gibraltar. Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation was set up in 1963 and currently broadcasts local interest programming, international imports and sporting events.
Mr Teuma explained that GBC bought the rights to the contest for the Gibraltar market for a period of three years from 2006 to 2008. The purchase came as a result of a new consitiution on “the rock”. It enabled GBC to purchase rights to EBU events without having to receive the permission of the UK public broadcaster the BBC.
Mr Teuma confirmed to Eurovoix that the broadcaster has not aquired the rights to the contest next week in Israel. Regarding whether Gibraltar would ever be interested in participating in the competition. Mr Teuma stated:
Currently, our participation in the organisation is limited and we can only do so with all rights and obligations when Gibraltar becomes a sovereign and independent State recognized by the international community
Source: El Nacional, GBC
