NRK Urges Thorough Review of Eurovision Voting System Amid Credibility Concerns

Norwegian public broadcaster NRK has formally requested a comprehensive review of the Eurovision Song Contest’s voting procedures, citing concerns over the contest’s integrity following the controversial outcome of the 2025 Grand Final in Basel.

Charlo Halvorsen, Head of Entertainment at NRK, confirmed on Thursday that the broadcaster had contacted the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to express its unease regarding the current voting structure. Halvorsen emphasised that public trust in Eurovision — long considered a cultural cornerstone across the continent — is being put to the test.

“It becomes a serious issue when there is doubt about whether the results genuinely reflect the will of the public. We cannot allow that kind of uncertainty to linger,” Halvorsen stated. “We therefore support a thorough review of the voting system to ensure confidence in the competition remains intact.”

NRK, a longstanding member of the EBU, is requesting to be actively involved in the process. According to Halvorsen, the aim of the review should be to uphold fairness and transparency in line with Eurovision’s foundational principles — though those principles have, over time, shown a curious flexibility.

Norway is the latest in a growing list of national broadcasters to raise questions over this year’s contest. Finland’s Yle, Spain’s RTVE, Iceland’s RÚV, Belgium’s VRT, Slovenia’s RTVSLO and the Netherlands’ AVROTROS have all taken issue with either the voting procedure or the broader political climate surrounding the show — suggesting that the famously apolitical spirit of Eurovision might, once again, have misplaced its passport.

With discussions around televote transparency, jury-public balance, and geopolitical influence all gaining traction, the 2025 contest may have delivered more post-show drama than the green room itself. Whether this leads to structural reform or simply another year of impassioned press releases remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: Eurovision’s greatest love affair has always been with controversy.

Source: NRK