Eurovision: Montenegro and North Macedonia pull out of Liverpool contest

Montenegro and North Macedonia volition not vie successful adjacent year's Eurovision Song Contest due to the fact that of however overmuch it volition outgo them to enter.

Broadcasters wage a interest to instrumentality portion successful the contention but the magnitude differs depending connected the size of the country.

BBC News understands immoderate countries person been asked to wage much aft Russia was banned from the contest.

"In summation to the important costs of registration fees, arsenic good arsenic the outgo of staying successful Great Britain - we besides faced a deficiency of involvement from sponsors, truthful we decided to nonstop existing resources to the financing of existent and planned nationalist projects," Montenegro's nationalist work broadcaster RTCG said.

The full outgo for each broadcasters progressive to participate usually adds up to astir £5m, but precisely however overmuch each subordinate pays isn't made public.

It is besides understood immoderate different countries considered withdrawing arsenic a effect of the further cost.

Between £8m and £17m is expected to beryllium paid by the BBC to signifier the event, connected behalf of Ukraine, successful Liverpool successful May 2023.

The 2 broadcasters which person pulled retired - RTCG and MRT - some failed to marque it past the semi-final stages of this year's contention successful Turin, Italy.

MRT said in a statement "the accrued registration interest for the participation", arsenic good arsenic the vigor situation successful North Macedonia, forced them to marque the decision.

Song contention organisers - the EBU - said it is "committed to keeping the costs of taking portion arsenic affordable arsenic possible" and its fees are "calculated based connected the fig of countries competing" portion taking into relationship "the member's comparative size and fiscal status".

A afloat database of countries heading to Merseyside successful 2023 is expected to beryllium confirmed aboriginal this week.