A year after the launch of the new Monégasque national public broadcaster, TVMONACO, its representative joins the European Broadcasting Union’s board of directors – is this a signal of the country’s possible return to the Eurovision Song Contest?
The new Monégasque broadcaster, TVMONACO, has successfully placed a representative on the board of directors of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The elected member is Nathalie Biancolli, CEO of the television network. As a reminder, on September 1, 2023, the new television network was launched, replacing the TMC channel, which was privately owned by French interests. The new channel contains content primarily related to life in Monaco, ranging from documentaries, sports, lifestyle, and importantly, a news division – a necessary condition for membership in the EBU and participation in competitions overseen by the EBU.
In March of last year, TVMONACO was accepted as a full member of the EBU, which organizes and oversees the Eurovision Song Contest. Now, with Monaco becoming one of the public television networks that are members of the union, it is also given the right to participate in future Eurovision competitions starting from Eurovision 2025.
The election of Nathalie Biancolli to the EBU board of directors is of particular interest as it demonstrates Monaco’s engagement with the EBU and potentially signals interest in participating in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Monaco in Eurovision
Monaco has participated in Eurovision 24 times, with its first entry in 1959 when singer Jacques Pills finished last with only one point from Austria. Interestingly, the following year, his daughter Jacqueline Boyer represented France and won first place.
Monaco’s sole Eurovision victory came in 1971 when singer Séverine represented the small state with the song “Un banc, un arbre, une rue” (in English: “A bench, a tree, a street”). Despite this historic win, Monaco struggled to host the competition the following year, eventually passing the hosting duties to Scotland in the UK.
Monaco participated regularly in 21 contests until Eurovision 1979 held in Jerusalem. The country made a surprising return for three consecutive Eurovision contests from 2004 to 2006 but withdrew again in 2007 after failing to reach the final in any of these attempts. The establishment of the new Monégasque television network – TVMONACO – in 2023 has raised hopes among many for a future return of the country to Eurovision, possibly even in 2025.
Source: EBU
