The Monaguesque national broadcaster TMC does not intend to return to the Eurovision Song Contest, former head of delegation Phil Bosco told the media today; the reason being that TMC does not possess the financial resources to fund a Eurovision participation.

At the time being, TF1, a French broadcaster, owns 80% of TMC, while the rest lies in the Principality’s hands. In 2010, the Monegasque broadcaster was acquisited by TF1, but the Audiovisual Council put conditions to the agreement, and one of these was a clear separation between the two entities, which only enables TF1 to provide editorial support to TMC. Thus, financial assistance or sponsoring cannot be accepted in any case, leading to the lack of a sustainable budget to cover the costs of a Eurovision participation.

Monaco first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959. The country's first and only win in the contest came in 1971, when Séverine Ferrer. performed "Un banc, un arbre, une rue". In 1972 Monaco was expected to host the contest, but declined. It remains the only winning country never to have hosted it. The Principality withdrew in 1979 and didn’t return until 2004. Their last participation to date was back in the year 2006, with Séverine Ferrer once again, with the song, ‘La coco-dance’ in Athens, which placed in position number #21 in the semifinal with just 14 points.

Source: TMC, Eurovision-Info