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Eurovision limits voting powers


In an effort to limit the increasing power of Eastern European bloc voting in the Eurovision Song Contest, next year there will be two semi-finals instead of one.

In recent years the power of Eastern European countries has enabled smaller nations to dominate the voting system, and long-standing participants have been snubbed missing out on the Final.

Following continued criticism the ESC has opted for two Semi Finals next year. Only the Host Country, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, are automatically qualified for the Final.

Meanwhile the stage design for Belgrade has been revealed. The stage design symbolises the two Serbian rivers and their meeting point, Kalegmedan Park, in the center.

The stage, that looks much like a river flowing, has three circular island stages around its main body. The main one is connected by a bridge to the body of the stage.

Source: ESCtoday.com

7 Responses

  1. the “big fours” host broadcasters fund about 70% of the thing, hence why they go straight to the final..and its one of the highest rating events on SBS each year so I dare say they will air both!

  2. Can someone explain to me why Italy is never in the Eurovision Song Contest? I know they have their own San Remo Song Contest but I’m sure they used to be part of the Eurovision and they are part of Europe.
    Ps – SBS used to show the Italian Children’s Song Contest – whatever happened to that? (i used to watch it when I was a child).

  3. Eurovision is a product of the European Broadcasters, financed by the Big 4.

    It also explains why Israel is ‘part of Europe’.

    – SBS is very committed to SBS, including furnishing me with this info. You can bet they will be looking to air both semi finals.

  4. I actually did find the whole thing unfair in previous years but at the same time why do the ‘big 4’ go automatically through to the finals? If you wanted to be fair, then everyone would start out in the semi finals and work there way through the finals.

  5. thank god! the voting the last few years has been a joke! intersting only the winner of the prev year and the “big 4″go through to final,all other have to qualify through the two semis and only the countries that are participating in the semis can vote!

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