Eurovision bows to pressure, adds juries.

Bowing to pressure to block European blocs, Eurovision organisers have announced juries will return next year in addition to public voting. The event will combine a yet-to-be determined mix of jury and public voting.

Over the years the contest has modified voting systems a number of times. The European Broadcasting Union first adopted the idea of international juries by telephone from 1957. Although mass televoting was introduced in 1998 some juries continued in limited form until 2003.

In recent years the contest has been criticised by some countries voting for neighbours, a problem compounded since the downfall of the Iron Curtain.

Commentator Terry Wogan quit the job he has held for 37 years after Russia won this year’s contest, while the UK came equal last. The UK has only finished in the top 10 once in the last 10 contests, resulting in the BBC, a pivotal financier of the event to exert its pressure.

Svante Stockselius, executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: “Nothing is more democratic than the vote of the public. But a jury takes the opportunity to listen to the songs several times, before they make up their minds. In Belgrade, we saw a difference in judgment of the public and the back-up juries, and we believe a combination will make the show more interesting.”

No change will be made in the voting during the Semi-Finals. In its next meeting, later this year, organisers will decide upon the exact way the jury has to be composed, and to discuss rules to assure a fair jury vote.

A BBC spokeswoman said: “We are waiting with interest to hear the details of how the mix of jury and telephone voting will work.”

Source: Press Association