Today, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG signed an agreement according to which Raiffeisen International will act as the official presenting sponsor of the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, said the bank in a statement.
Raiffeisen International has been granted extensive pan-European association, event and media rights for the upcoming event in Belgrade. The sponsoring rights cover Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Slovenia and Hungary. The 53rd Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted by the Serbian national broadcaster RTS. It will comprise three live televised shows in one week: the Semi-Finals on 20 and 22 May and the Final on 24 May 2008.
„Given our continuous expansion across Central and Eastern Europe in the past years it is essential for us to further strengthen our position and awareness in this region. The Eurovision Song Contest addresses an ideal mix of viewers and provides us with an excellent communication and media platform towards existing and future customers”, said Michael Palzer, Head of Communications at Raiffeisen International.
„We are pleased to see that Europe’s biggest TV entertainment show will be supported by Raiffeisen International, a company with an excellent reputation and strong presence in many of the participating countries. The EBU welcomes Raiffeisen International as the presenting sponsor of the Eurovision Song Contest 2008”, added Bjørn Erichsen, Director of Eurovision TV.
The agreement, which is part of an international marketing platform developed by the EBU, was negotiated by T.E.A.M. (Television Event and Media Marketing AG) based in Lucerne, Switzerland. Since 2004, T.E.A.M. is the worldwide exclusive marketing partner for the Eurovision Song Contest events.
The Eurovision Song Contest has a rich tradition and heritage, dating back to 1956. It is one of the few truly pan-European television programmes transmitted live via the Eurovision satellite network, in prime-time on free-to-air television and is watched by some 100 million viewers throughout Europe and beyond.
