Eurovision: Montenegro and North Macedonia pull out of Liverpool contest

Broadcasters pay a fee to take part in the competition but the amount differs depending on the size of the country.

BBC News understands some countries have been asked to pay more after Russia was banned from the contest.

Russia, a large financial contributor, was expelled from this year's competition after it invaded Ukraine.

"In addition to the significant costs of registration fees, as well as the cost of staying in Great Britain - we also faced a lack of interest from sponsors, so we decided to direct existing resources to the financing of current and planned national projects," Montenegro's public service broadcaster RTCG said.

The total cost for all broadcasters involved to enter normally adds up to around £5m, but exactly how much each participant pays isn't made public.

It is also understood some other countries considered withdrawing as a result of the additional cost.

Between £8m and £17m is expected to be paid by the BBC to stage the event, on behalf of Ukraine, in Liverpool in May 2023.

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The two broadcasters which have pulled out - RTCG and MRT - both failed to make it past the semi-final stage s of this year's contest in Turin, Italy.

MRT said in a statement "the increased registration fee for the participation", as well as the energy crisis in North Macedonia, forced them to make the decision.

Song contest organisers - the EBU - said it is "committed to keeping the costs of taking part as affordable as possible" and its fees are "calculated based on the number of countries competing" while taking into account "the member's relative size and financial status".

A full list of countries heading to Merseyside in 2023 is expected to be confirmed later this week.

Montenegro has become the latest country to drop out of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 after North Macedonia announced it had quit to save on energy costs.

Both countries have added that they were concerned about the cost of staying in the UK, with Liverpool hosting the contest for 2022 winners Ukraine.

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Explaining the decision, Montenegro's public service broadcaster RTCG said: "In addition to the significant costs of registration fees, as well as the cost of staying in Great Britain - we also faced a lack of interest from sponsors, so we decided to direct existing resources to the financing of current and planned national projects."

Montenegro's 2022 Eurovision contestant Vladana. (AFP via Getty Images)

Costs for countries to take part vary according to size and there are rumours that other countries have also considered quitting after entry fees increased when Russia, a major financial contributor, was banned from competing.

North Macedonia's news was announced by the country's state broadcaster MRT, who shared that the decision had been made that it would cost too much to pay the entry fee and send a delegation to Liverpool for the contest.

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It was recently confirmed that Liverpool will be the host city for the 2023 contest, after the UK stepped in as runners up to stage the next event in place of winners Ukraine.

But MRT posted on Facebook: "Due to the economic and energy crisis and high costs, Macedonia will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, scheduled to be held in May in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The decision to cancel Eurosong participation is valid for this year, and for the future we will see."

In a longer statement on the MRT website, they explained: "Macedonian Radio Television informs the public about the decision it has made, not to participate at the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in the United Kingdom.