Country Greece Selected song "Alcohol Is Free" | Selection date(s) 18 February 2013 Selected songwriter(s) Elias Kozas | |
Selection process Eurosong 2013 – a MAD show
50% Tele-Voting/SMS
50% Judging panel Selected entrant Koza Mostra feat. Agathonas Iakovidis | ||
Greece confirmed its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, to be held between 14 and 18 May 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. The Greek national broadcaster Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), announced on 15 January 2013 that it had reached an agreement with private music channel MAD TV to take on the organization and production of a national final to select a song to represent Greece in the contest. Additionally, MAD TV will also handle all related preparations associated with the contest. ERT stated that it had taken this decision, after reaching out to record labels and failing to secure a deal with them as in previous years. A national final was held on 18 February 2013, with Koza Mostra & Agathonas Iakovidis winning with the song "Alcohol is Free".
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Greece placed 2nd in the second semi-final of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, with 121 points, and ultimately got 6th place in the Final with 152 points.
Background
Prior to the 2013 contest, Greece had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest thirty-three times since its first entry in 1974, winning it in 2005 with the song "My Number One" performed by Elena Paparizou, and having placed third three times: in 2001 with the song "Die for You" performed by the duo Antique; in 2004 with "Shake It" performed by Sakis Rouvas; and in 2008 with "Secret Combination" performed by Kalomoira. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004 contest, Greece has had a top ten placing each year (except on 2012). Its least successful result was in 1998 when it placed twentieth with the song "Mia Krifi Evesthisia" by Thalassa, receiving only twelve points in total, all from Cyprus.
The Greek national broadcaster, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), is in charge of Greece's participation each year, including the selection process for its entry. Although its selection techniques have varied over the decades, the most common has been a national final in which various acts compete against each other with pre-selected songs, voted on by a jury, televoters, or both. In most cases, internal selections have been reserved for high-profile acts, with the song either being selected internally or with multiple songs—by one or multiple composers—performed by the artist during a televised final. One of the more unusual methods was a reality television talent competition format inspired by the Idol series that ran for many months in 2004, ultimately being scrapped. The notability of the participants has also varied, from previously unsigned acts to established music superstars. Since the 2010s, ERT has used national finals with generally less-established acts.
In mid-November 2012, Johnny Kalimeris, executive member of the ERT board, initially confirmed that Greece would take part in the contest despite ongoing financial problems Greece was facing. Despite the earlier confirmation, the country's participation came into doubt later in the same month due to budget cuts the broadcaster had endured, the high costs associated with the contest, and the difficulty said costs would present in finding sponsors to cover the expenses. Additionally, various Greek politicians and the current government spokesman suggested that a participation in the 2013 contest would be distasteful during a time that Greeks were enduring drastic economic cuts to keep the economy afloat due to the ongoing finical crisis. Despite the uncertainty, Greece's participation was officially confirmed on 21 December 2012 when the European Broadcasting Union released a list of the countries that would participate in the 2013 contest. ERT later stated that its participation was decided on taking into consideration the high viewership and popularity of the event, on the condition that the broadcaster would not be burdened financially.
Eurosong 2013 - a MAD show
ERT announced on 15 January 2013 that it had reached an agreement with private music channel MAD TV to take on the organization and production of a national final to select a song to represent Greece in the contest. Additionally, MAD TV will also handle all related preparations associated with the contest.
On 21 January 2013, ERT and MAD TV officially announced four acts that will take part in a national final. All four acts are signed to the record label Panik Records or its imprint Platinum Records. A special press conference to present the selected songs was held on 6 February 2013. The national final would take place on 18 February 2013 at the Gazi Music Hall, with the winner being chosen via 50% Televoting/SMS Messaging and 50% internal jury.
At Eurovision
Greece was allocated to compete in the second semi-final on 16 May for a place in the final on 18 May. In the second semifinal, the producers of the show decided that Greece would perform 9th, following Iceland and preceding Israel.
Greece qualified from the second semi-final. At the second semi-final winners' press conference, Greece was allocated to perform in the second half of the final. In the final, the producers of the show decided that Greece would perform 21st, following Azerbaijan and preceding Ukraine.
Eurovision Channel ERT powered by MAD
On February 7, 2013, ERT and MAD TV launched a special 24/7 channel called Eurovision Channel ERT powered by MAD exclusively on OTE TV. The channel is exclusively devoted to Eurovision coverage, and features clips of songs throughout the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, as well as special Eurovision programs.