The EBU is pleased to announce the signing of contracts with two companies to deliver supporting services connected to the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and Eurovision Family of Events (EFE). These events are the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Eurovision Young Dancers and Eurovision Young Musicians.

In October 2015 an Invitation to Tender (ITT) was issued to bid for 4 packages:

Package 1 - Management of ESC & EFE online editorial & commercial activities

Package 2 - Management of ESC & EFE online logistics tools

Package 3 - Providing IT facilities and support for ESC & EFE online activities

Package 4 - Management of ESC & EFE communications & press relationships

Packages 1, 2, 3 have been awarded to Amsterdam-based digital communications agency Scrn, a division of Wow!works.

Package 4 has been given to award-winning British creative communications agency Premier which has worked on major entertainment based projects such as the BFI London Film Festival and Doctor Who.

The contracts will begin on 1 July 2016 for an initial duration of 3 years. For package 4 a three month handover period from the current provider will take place between March and June 2016. This is to enable Premier to have access to information regarding the planning, production and promotion of the Eurovision Song Contest - the flagship show of the Eurovision Family of Events.

Bids were received from 9 companies from 4 different countries for one or more of the packages. A committee made up of representatives from the EBU’s Legal. Finance, Technology and Innovation, Media, Public Affairs & Communications and Procurement departments scrutinised each bid in order to draw up a shortlist. The shortlisted companies then presented their ideas in person in Geneva in mid-January.

“In Scrn and Premier we have two very experienced partners to take forward our vision for the future of the Eurovision Family of Events. Both companies have proven track records and have provided us with dynamic plans to help build on the success of these world renowned entertainment events,” said the EBU’s Head of Live Events Jon Ola Sand.

EBU Media Director Jean Philip De Tender added: “60 years ago we launched the Eurovision Song Contest. The Eurovision Young Dancers and Young Musicians competitions followed in the 1980s and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest is celebrating its 14^th edition this year."

"This thorough process has ensured that we will be working with the most qualified companies going forward. We have full confidence that the successful bidders are the best partners for the EBU. We are excited to have two excellent, creative companies on board to help us secure the future of these brands.”

The EBU continually reviews its procedures in order to secure strong services and brands. It was decided in 2015 to restructure the supporting services around the Eurovision Song Contest and, to be more cost-effective to EBU Members, combine these services with those of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Eurovision Young Musicians and Eurovision Young Dancers. Following this decision a tender was launched to find the best organisations that meet the EBU’s full criteria to deliver web, communications and IT services around all 4 events.

Sietse Bakker, CEO of Scrn, said: “We are incredibly proud to continue serving the EBU, its Members and the Eurovision Family of Events for the next three years. We are also looking forward to working with Premier, a collaboration that will foster innovation and creativity as we work together to take the events to the next level."

Christina Joyce, Director of Special Projects for Premier said: "It's a great honour to work with the EBU on the Eurovision Song Contest - easily the world's greatest party.  Premier specialises in Entertainment, Arts and Culture and in our work across PR and social media for the Eurovision Family of Events, we will undoubtedly be covering all three and then some. We look forward to collaborating with Scrn and starting the next exciting chapter of Europe's favourite TV show."