Broadcasters boycotting tomorrow’s Eurovision final because of Israel’s participation will instead offer their viewers a repeat of “Father Ted”, an alternative music show with Spanish singer Rafael or a documentary on Gaza.
The singing competition, which raised 166 million viewers in 2025 is in crisis due to Israel’s conflict in Gaza, with broadcasters in Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland not participating this year.
Israeli contestant Noam Betan said he was greeted with boos from pro-Palestinian protesters when he sang in Tuesday’s semifinal in Vienna, which is hosting this year’s event.
Participating broadcasters pay entry fees, select a contestant from their country and broadcast the voting for the competition, which is usually a celebration of Europe’s pop music and multiculturalism and is now in its 70th year.
Irish broadcaster RTE has announced that it will instead broadcast an episode of the 1990s comedy series “Father Ted” in which a hapless Catholic priest and a fellow priest are chosen to represent Ireland at Eurovision in order to ensure that the country never wins again and is not forced to bear the cost of organising the event.
Ireland won the contest four times in the 1990s.
RTE’s decision to broadcast the episode was heavily criticised by one of the show’s creators. Graham Linneham, a critic of Ireland’s pro-Palestinian stance, said via X that he was disgusted by the way the episode was being used and accused RTE of anti-Semitism. An RTE spokesman declined to comment on these statements.
Most Eurovision fans in Ireland will, however, be able to watch the contest on the BBC network, as British television channels are widely available in the country.
The director of content at state broadcaster TVE, Ana Maria Borda, said the programme would be particularly significant as it would be broadcast on the day of the UN International Day of Peaceful Reconciliation.
The Slovenian network RTV will broadcast a documentary series on the conflict in Gaza entitled “Voices of Palestine”, said Natalia Gorczak, chairwoman of the board.
The Netherlands and Iceland will broadcast the competition despite refusing to participate.
“We will broadcast it with Icelandic commentary. It continues to be a popular programme in Iceland, and it has been broadcast here for a long time, both when we participate and when we don’t,” said a spokesman for Icelandic broadcaster RUV.
The Dutch network said it was its duty to make important events available to the general TV audience. Some have said the decision to broadcast the show undermines the boycott.
Even in participating countries, those who oppose Israel’s presence are holding their own demonstrations.
In Belgium, the organisers of an alternative festival filmed this week are encouraging people to watch their own event instead of Eurovision.
The Belgian broadcaster said ratings for the Eurovision semi-finals were down by half compared to last year, which they attributed in part to Israel’s participation. The European Broadcasting Union, which organises the event, has not commented directly on the boycott but has stressed that the purpose of the contest is to avoid making it political.
