Eurovision trio's song of woe

Updated January 7 2013 - 8:08am, first published 7:48am

Three countries have pulled out of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, citing pressure from the global economy as the cause. The public broadcasters RTP (from Portugal), STV (Slovakia) and BHRT (Bosnia and Herzegovina) have flagged to the contest's organising body, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), that they will be unable to attend the contest, slated for Malmo, Sweden, in May. A spokesman for the EBU said the body was ''sensitive to the economic pressures facing its members'' and was looking at ways of reducing costs. A fourth broadcaster, Turkey's TRT, is also saying it will not attend, blaming rule changes. A total of 39 countries have confirmed their attendance at the contest.

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