Bancherul - BANCI / ENGLISH / Raiffeisen International presents the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG acts as the main sponsor of the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest currently taking place in Belgrade. This is already the third big TV event sponsored by Raiffeisen International after last year’s Ice Hockey World Championship in Moscow and the European Figure Skating Championship, which took place in Zagreb in January. The local Raiffeisen Banks and leasing companies act as “presenting partner” in twelve Central and Eastern European countries – Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine. Raiffeisen International itself will present the final on Austria’s ORF broadcasting station, live on Saturday, 24 May, at 9.00 p.m. (CEST).

During the first semi-final on 20 May, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Greece, Israel, Norway, Poland, Romania and Russia qualified for the final. Another ten countries will be elected in today’s second semi-final. In addition, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, as well as Serbia as last year’s winner and this year’s host, will participate in the final.

"The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the largest events bringing Europe together in front of the television. It addresses an ideal mix of viewers and provides us with an excellent communication platform towards our more than 14 million customers as well as future clients in Central and Eastern Europe", said Michael Palzer, Head of Communications at Raiffeisen International.

The Eurovision Song Contest has a rich tradition and heritage, dating back to 1956. It is one of the few truly pan-European television programmes transmitted live via the Eurovision satellite network, in prime-time on free-to-air television and is watched by some 100 million viewers throughout Europe and beyond.