After manipulation: Big change at the Eurovision Song Contest

At this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, there were indications of manipulation. As announced by the organizer, there were irregularities in the jury voting from six countries in the second semi-final of the ESC 2022. Read all about it here. That now has consequences. The commissions are losing importance.

Because at next year’s music competition, only a televoting must decide which countries survive the semi-finals. This has been announced by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Accordingly, the jury voting for these two shows is left out.

In addition, fans whose countries do not send candidates to the ESC will be able to vote online for a fee in the future. The votes are added up and converted into points. These have the same weight as a participating country in both the semi-final and the final. In the final, however, the juries are again asked, whose votes then account for 50 percent of the points.

Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor at ESC, said of the changes: “Throughout its 67-year history, the Eurovision Song Contest has constantly evolved to remain relevant and exciting. These changes recognize the immense popularity of the show by bringing the show’s audience more power for the world’s biggest live music events.”

In 2023, the music competition will take place in Liverpool, even though Kalush Orchestra won the ESC in Turin for Ukraine with “Stefania”. Due to the war in Ukraine, the Reference Group, the board of the ESC, had stated “that, given the current circumstances, the security and operational guarantees required for a broadcaster to host, organize and produce the Eurovision Song Contest in accordance with the ESC rules, cannot be given”.

The final will now take place on May 13 in the English metropolis, the first and second semi-finals before that on May 9 and 11. The BBC is working with representatives of Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne to bring Ukrainian elements to the shows, highlighting the country’s culture. It is the first time since 1980 that the winning country will not host the ESC.