U2 performing at MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin
Photo: Getty Images Image Bank
Israel may host next MTV awards
Following efforts by Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, MTV official announces Jewish state to compete with Greece, Turkey, Spain to host prestigious music event next November
Israel may host the prestigious MTV Europe Music Awards next November, at the cost of some $10 million, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported Monday.
This year's ceremony was held in Berlin last month, with the world's leading artists participating.
El Al Airlines, which sponsors the "Let Music Fly" project, will also be sponsoring the event along with MTV, should it be held in Israel.
The idea to hold the annual event in Israel was brought up last month in a meeting between Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and Bhavneet Singh, managing director and executive vice president, of MTV Networks International's Emerging Markets.
During the meeting, Singh told Steinitz that the popular network was searching for an attractive and unconventional location to hold the 2010 awards.
The finance minister proposed that the event be held in Tel Aviv, and Singh announced that Israel would compete with Greece, Turkey and Spain over who will host the next ceremony.
"From that very moment the finance minister just got into this plan," said David Sharan, the finance minister's chief of staff.
'Great exposure'
According to Sharan, Steinitz ordered his ministry's budge department and director general to work to have the event held in Israel, since it is of international importance."Such an event would give Israel great exposure in the world and Israel's name will be brought up at every MTV show. This is publicity that is worth expenses of hundreds of millions of dollars," Sharan said.
Following Steinitz's instructions, a Finance Ministry representative attended the ceremony in Berlin some three weeks ago, in order to witness up close the importance of the event.
The Finance Ministry representative attended the event along with the German tourism minister, and upon his return to Israel, preparations began.
If Israel is selected, the event will be held in the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv.
"We have already held meetings with representatives of the tourism and culture ministries which will also take part in the plan," Sharan said, adding that a meeting in the matter was also held with Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.
