Canada now eligible to compete in Eurovision song contest
CBC/Radio-Canada becomes full member of European Broadcasting Union after Thursday vote. Canada can now send artists to the international song competition.
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Canada is now eligible to participate in the Eurovision song contest after CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union following a vote Thursday at the union's general assembly in Prague.
The federal government had signalled in last fall's budget that it was exploring Canada's entry into the international song competition, which has been running for decades and features performers from various countries.
Full membership in the European Broadcasting Union grants Canada access to participate in Eurovision. A CBC/Radio-Canada spokesperson said the public broadcaster would have more to say about the song contest later.
The new membership also gives Canada access to the union's networks for investigative journalism, data verification, and digital news. According to Marie-Philippe Bouchard, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, the membership "reinforces our collaboration at a crucial moment in our history, where the collective impact of public service media is essential."
Canada will participate fully in the Eurovision News Exchange, allowing the country to share reportage and Canadian perspectives with Europe while offering international content to Canadian audiences. The exchange enables members to share live and edited reports.
