The Maltese broadcaster PBS has confirmed it has formally appealed against the EBU ruling that “Kant” must change its lyrics.
TVM News reports that PBS has sent a letter to the European Broadcasting Union expressing its disappointment and disagreement with the decision to rule that Malta must remove “Kant” from its Eurovision 2025 entry. PBS has described the decision as “unfair, disproportionate and discriminatory”.
The broadcaster according to TVM News argues that the EBU is censoring and discriminatory to the Maltese language and that the decision is not consistent with the practices of the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years. In addition, PBS is considering legal action in Switzerland to challenge the decision which it states is “abuse of power and unfair application of the rules.”
The broadcaster will, at the same time, continue to honour the order of the EBU and is working to change the song to remove “Kant” from the song.
How did the ruling come about?
According to TVM News reporting on March 4, a broadcaster which they understand to be the BBC, requested that the song title be changed and the word be removed from the song.
The word that “Kant” sounds like is viewed as a highly offensive term in the United Kingdom. Broadcasters in the United Kingdom need to comply with OFCOM rules regarding swearing and strong language. OFCOM rules set clear criteria and guidelines that prohibit its use before 21:00. Broadcasters state that the use of the term requires clear justification for its use after 21:00 due to its offensive nature.
Image Source: PBS | Source: TVM
Malta debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 and was represented by Joe Grech and the song “Marija L-Maltija”, which finished last. Malta competed again in 1972 and 1975 but then withdrew until their return in 1991. During the 1990s Malta only once finished outside of the top 10, and in 1998 they came within just 7 points of victory. It was Chiara who brought the country their 3rd place finish in 1998, and who went on to finish in 2nd at the 2005 contest in Kyiv. The only other artist to finish 2nd for Malta is Ira Losco, who was 12 points away from victory in 2002. They are the longest and most successful participating country never to have won the Eurovision Song Contest.
