{
  "id": 3012190,
  "title": "Dutch broadcaster to boycott Eurovision for a second year, calling it a ‘platform for division’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/dutch-broadcaster-to-boycott-eurovision-for-a-second-year-calling-it-3012190",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T11:53:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/netherlands-eurovision-broadcast-boycott-israel-79c41b424dacd6be62bd67d7b739e3b0"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has announced it will boycott the Eurovision Song Contest for a second consecutive year, citing the event as a \"platform for division\" due to Israel's involvement in a military conflict. This decision follows similar actions by broadcasters in the Netherlands, Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain, who refused to participate in this year's contest. AVROTROS asserts that the Eurovision competition can no longer be considered neutral, with the participating country still embroiled in a large-scale military conflict.\n\nThe broadcaster's decision highlights the growing impact of international tensions on the Eurovision Song Contest, which was originally designed to unite people and countries. Taco Zimmerman, AVROTROS director-general, emphasized that the contest has become a divisive platform, undermining its neutral character. In response, AVROTROS has called on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to establish transparent rules for the participation of countries engaged in military conflicts.\n\nHowever, AVROTROS expressed skepticism regarding the recently announced EBU changes, stating they do not provide sufficient confidence that the contest's independent and neutral nature has been restored. The EBU, a consortium of public broadcasters from 56 countries that oversees Eurovision, has not yet commented on the matter.",
  "summary": "THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch broadcaster announced Monday it is boycotting the Eurovision Song Contest for a second year , calling it a “platform for division” because of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Dutch broadcaster to boycott Eurovision 2027",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/dutch-broadcaster-to-boycott-eurovision-2027",
        "published": "2026-08-24T08:59:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Dutch broadcaster announces withdrawal from Eurovision amidst Gaza war tensions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/dutch-broadcaster-announces-withdrawal-from-eurovision-amidst-gaza",
        "published": "2026-08-24T10:03:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Dutch broadcaster to boycott Eurovision for a second year, calling it a ‘platform for division’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/dutch-broadcaster-to-boycott-eurovision-for-a-second-year-calling-it",
        "published": "2026-08-24T11:26:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}