Azercell becomes Eurovision 2012 Presenting Partner

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) today announced Azercell, Azerbaijan's largest mobile operator and member of the TeliaSonera Group, as the Presenting Partner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The three shows, Semi-Finals on 22nd and 24th of May and the Final on 26th of May, will be televised live, hosted by the Azerbaijan public broadcaster Ictimai TV.

Azercell is Azerbaijan's largest mobile operator with over 55 percent market share and known as a trend setter in mobile communications in Azerbaijan, applying new technologies and offering a wide range of products and services.

Azercell is part of TeliaSonera, Europe's fifth largest telecommunication company with presence in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Spain and the emerging markets of Eurasia, including Russia and Turkey. TeliaSonera was also the Presenting Partner of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki.

As the Eurovision Song Contest's Presenting Partner for 2012, Azercell has been granted extensive pan-European media, association, event and new media rights for the upcoming events in Azerbaijan.

"We are excited to have Azercell as the Presenting Partner of the contest already at this stage, manifesting the huge interest for Europe's favourite TV-show," Jørgen Franck, Director ad interim of Eurovision TV said.

"We are proud to become a Presenting Partner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku. Azercell always places a special importance to promotion of Azerbaijan in the world and this contest is a remarkable opportunity for all of us. We are proud to be part of the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku and share this joy with our country in 2012.", said Ali Agan, President of Azercell Telecom LLC.

The agreement, which is part of an international commercial and marketing platform developed by the EBU for the Eurovision Song Contest, was negotiated by T.E.A.M. (Television Event and Media Marketing AG) based in Lucerne, Switzerland. T.E.A.M. is the worldwide exclusive marketing agency for the commercial rights of the Eurovision Song Contest since 2004.

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, as well as online. The three shows attract a total of over 100 million viewers throughout Europe and beyond.


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