Thumbs up for Eurovision party

The good folk at SBS have sent me a reversible “thumbs up / thumbs down” paddle and Australian and Indigenous flags in readiness for a big Eurovision weekend (avoid spoilers, SF1 has already taken place in Copenhagen).

SBS is again collating Australian votes on their most-interactive website, sbs.com.au/Eurovision

There is even a car being given away to one lucky fan.

SBS Director of Television Tony Iffland said: “SBS prides itself on creating bold event television each year with the Eurovision Song Contest broadcast. We are thrilled with the way our immersive social TV experience allows people throughout Australia and across the world to interact with and join in our broadcast with Tweets and Facebook messages displayed on screen.”

Last year when the SBS and Blink TV produced video ‘Why Australia loves Eurovision’ aired during the international broadcast the hashtag #SBSEurovision trended world-wide.

This year, SBS is going beyond twitter feeds on screen. Across each of the finals nights (May 9-11), SBS will offer Australian fans the chance to have their say, with enhanced online and mobile voting where they can vote for or against any of the performers. Results will be tallied in real-time and displayed on screen during the TV broadcast, immediately after each song.

Australia will also get a chance to vote for their overall favourite each night, with an online scorecard where viewers can allocate points to their top three countries. Votes will be tallied from across the nation and the results will be displayed at the end of each night’s TV broadcast, to uncover the “unofficial Australian favourite”.

SBS will be tracking social media activity during broadcast, displaying a steady stream of Facebook comments, Tweets, as well as Instagram pictures to sum up the social chatter each night throughout the event.

Listeners to SBS Radio will be able to request their favourite Eurovision tracks or tune in to exclusive news bulletins from SBS Eurovision Reporter Alistair Birch, live in Copenhagen. SBS Radio will also simulcast the semi-finals and grand final from May 9 to 11.

Hosts of the Eurovision Song Contest Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang will be in Denmark bringing the glitz, glamour and madness direct from Copenhagen. Australia’s performance and Jessica Mauboy will feature during semi-final 2 on Saturday May 10 from 8:30pm on SBS ONE.

The SBS Eurovision website has been designed and built for all screens. It integrates a dedicated 24/7 pop-up radio stream, exclusive videos, and Twitter and Facebook social streams.

The online content offering will be as over-the-top as the performances, complementing the TV broadcast. Throughout the Eurovision period, the site will feature behind the scenes video interviews with the artists and key players. It also offers country profiles, combining performer videos, factoids and recipes.

Once again the ‘Party Guide’ is back with more tips on ‘what to eat’, ‘what to say’, and of course ‘what to wear!’ with opportunities to share party plans, games and trivia on Facebook and Twitter.

Wednesday May 7 – Friday May 9
8pm Eurovision Quiz Contest (SBS 2)

SBS ONE:
Friday May 9
7:30am Semi Final 2
8:30pm Semi Final 1

Saturday May 10
7:30pm Jess Mauboy’s Road To Eurovision
8:30pm Semi Final 2

Sunday May 11
7:30pm Final