Azernews.Az

BAKU – The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced Azerbaijan's cellular operator Azercell as the Presenting Partner of the Eurovision song contest to be held in Baku next year.

The three shows, semi-finals on May 22 and 24 and the final on May 26, will be televised live, hosted by the Azerbaijani public broadcaster Ictimai TV (Public 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.

As the Eurovision 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 favorite TV-show," said Jorgen Franck, Director ad interim of Eurovision TV.

Ali Agan, President of Azercell Telecom LLC, said the company always places a special importance to promotion of Azerbaijan in the world and the contest is "a remarkable opportunity for all of us".

Eurovision has a rich tradition and heritage, dating back to 1956. It is one of the few truly pan-European television programs 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.