Show-business news

Home page

Show-business news

European Broadcasting Union TV Director resigns - PHOTO

European Broadcasting Union TV Director resigns - <font color=red>PHOTO</font>

06 January 2010 17:03 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ulkar Gasimova â€“ APA. TV Director of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) BjÃ¸rn Erichsen has resigned, APA reports quoting the official website of the Eurovision song contest organized by EBU. He has been TV Director for eight years.
"You know, I believe you have to leave when you’re at the top, before you’re asked to leave. My family would love to have my wife and me back in Denmark, and I feel it’s the right time now,â€ BjÃ¸rn Erichsen said.

Speaking about Eurovision, BjÃ¸rn Erichsen expressed his satisfaction with the Host Broadcasters and governments.
â€œEvery government instantly acknowledges the value of the Eurovision Song Contest, and no administration would let it down,â€ he said.

Erichsen also spoke about the Junior Eurovision Song Contest held since 2003.
"I took the format with me from Denmark, where we already held a junior edition of the Melodi Grand Prix. When we started with the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, it was an instant hit. But the contest is struggling right now,â€ he said.

"We have a good staff taking care of the Eurovision Song Contest, as well as a committed Reference Group that looks after the contest on behalf of the EBU Members,â€ Erichsen said.

From 1981 to 1991, BjÃ¸rn Erichsen was television producer at Danish broadcaster DR. In 1991, he founded the European Film College in Copenhagen. In 1996 he rejoined DR as TV Director and stayed on until 2001. In 2001, he was asked to come to Geneva, to lead the television department of the European Broadcasting Union.

Erichsenâ€™s successor will be publicized in a few days.

BjÃ¸rn Erichsen visited Azerbaijan to participate in the national final held to select the countryâ€™s representative for Eurovision 2008.