The Portuguese financial magazine Dinheiro Vivo is reporting that the host broadcaster of Eurovision 2018, RTP, has made a 4 Million Euro loss on the organisation of the Contest.

Although the outlay for hosting was 20 Million Euros, the revenues of 16 Million Euros was not enough to cover what was required to break even.  The loss has caused the RTP Workers Committee (Comissão de Trabalhadores) to call for the broadcaster’s accounts to be audited.

The broadcaster’s finances were also called into question after spending 12.6 Million Euros on the Football World Cup rights.

The Workers Committee stated that the spending required:

A financial effort that conditions the RTP universe and the strategic choices would affect the future of the workers.

The broadcaster responded as follows:

The situation of this year is very complicated and that the budget is tight and will have to be managed with rigor after the investment in the realisation of the Eurovision Song Contest and the Football World Cup.

Will RTP’s losses make future potential host countries wary of putting together a Contest?  Let us know your thoughts on our social media channels.