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Eurovision fans push for Australia Decides return

Fans weigh in on Electric Fields entry and how an entry should be chosen for Eurovision 2025.

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Fans of Eurovision Song Contest have urged for the return of Eurovision: Australia Decides to choose a 2025 act.

Readers at fan site AussieVision completed a detailed site survey surrounding all things Eurovision.

The site received 382 respondents with 343 residing in Australia -it stuck to Aussie based votes in its result.

The site asked fans to rate Australia’s 2024 placing and entry as either: Very good, good, neutral/average, poor or very poor.

Very good – 6%
Good – 23%
Neutral/Average – 44%
Poor – 21%
Very poor – 6%

Approximately the same amount of people rated it positively (29%) as negatively (27%).

While neutral (44%) didn’t have a majority, with positives and negatives “cancelling” each other out, the overall response from fans was neutral/average.

It asked fans: should Australia return to Eurovision next year?

Yes, definitely regardless 66%
Yes, but only if change happens within the Contest – 23%
Unsure – 6%
No – 4%
Other – 1%

A clear majority of 89% want Australia to return with just 4% opposed.

Even though many other broadcasters and fans have shared concerns, the majority of those wanting a return think Australia should return regardless of the situation.

How should Australia select their entry?

If Australia did compete, the survey asked fans how they would like the entry selected.

National selection show like Australia Decides – 80%
Internal choice – 8%
Unsure – 9%
Other – 4%

Overwhelmingly fans want a return to a national selection show like Australia Decides (80%). Additionally many of the other (4%) for variants of public choice.

The results follow several years with SBS and Blink TV choosing the entry internally.

SBS is yet to confirm if Australia will return to Eurovision in 2025.

You can read more here.

9 Responses

  1. Arguably, the last 2 years were decided by Australia Decides anyway.
    It would be nice to know why SBS was silently cancelled AD one year early.
    I’ve read speculation the costs don’t justify AD and it’s easier to select internally. If true, SBS could do a smaller studio based one of 5 or 6 songs, like Ireland do.

  2. I loved Australia Decides as it’s a nice opportunity to showcase local talent who don’t usually get much promotion. Even established acts like Casey Donovan and Vanessa Amorosi aren’t seen on our screens that much.

    Also, without Australia Decides would we ever have Voyager and Electric Fields represent us at Eurovision? Doubtful.

  4. Presumably the Queensland Government was heavily subsidising Australia Decides. It winds up being a very expensive exercise for SBS without support like that.

    1. 2022: In association with the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland, Major Events Gold Coast, Screen Queensland, APRA AMCOS, and official artist accommodation partner Dorsett Gold Coast, Eurovision – Australia Decides will be presented at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 February.

  5. I would love Australia Decides to return, but with a few tweaks.
    Namely, after acts register their interest, the producers pick the top 50 acts and put them online.
    The public can watch each acts video, self-made, and vote in the same way we vote for Eurovision. I.e. Give your top act 12 points, and work your way down.
    After a fair and reasonable time, the top 10 acts are then invited to perform at A.D.
    And the public vote once more for a winner.
    But no jury at this stage. (They can help pick the top 50 if there really needs to be one.)

    1. 50 acts is probably a lot to ask. Most entries are in demo form, and I remember the first year of AD that artists and songs needed matching. Online voting is also subject to manipulation or becoming a popularity contest due to name recognition. A smaller event of 5 or 6 songs in a TV studio is probably the better path if AD is to return at all.

  6. Is it about winning or is it about just participation only? The UK’s attitude for Eurovision entries nowadays seems to be more about doing your best instead of trying to win or produce a competitive song or performance. It may not be the correct path if it loses interest in Eurovision. Make it as interactive as possible.

    1. Everyone tries for the best result! Most countries just hope to reach the grand final and anything after that is a bonus. Britain usually hope not to finish last.
      Given a song is enigmatic in itself, it’s impossible to out compete and make a winner out of nothing. Even selecting a high profile artist with a vast array of songwriting resources is no guarantee.

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