2-evening event in the future?

[SRBIJA]

How possible is this? In 2013 already have quite small semifinals (Only 6/7 countries were left of the final ). Several countries are now considering withdrawal because of the financial reasons or small interest. Once number of particpants decreases significatly it will be interesting to see will EBU try to bring back only one semifinal ( that would maybe mean some kind of prequalified entries too (e.g TOP 5 from the past year )). Two semifinals with lets say 12 or 13 particpants seem quite pointless. It means more hours of coverage during ESC week and makes the whole thing much more expensive.
Cant tell anything about 2014 yet since and are coming back apparently so decrease doesnt seem that dramatic ( countries like are still under big question mark though. ) Also will be interesting to see how will these new rules affect the whole situation.

What are your views and would you like to see this happening? Discuss/.

 

[DanielLuis]

I'd like to see it happen if the number of participants is like 35. No point in having two semi-finals with 14 countries or even less in each one.
The bad thing is block voting will be more effective, but then again block voting has decreased a lot in the past few years so I think that wouldn't be a major problem.

 

[Matt]

While there is always the possiblity of dropping to 35 countries, the odds are rather low. I'd think that as long as there are 16 countries per Semi, we shouldn't have to worry. The 2014 contest will have two Semis scheduled so they won't change that at this point.

Plus how are they're going to do one Semi? In the past only 10 songs qualified with the Top 10 (Minus the Big Four) from the previous year pre-qualified. I certainly would NOT want to return to that system. Remember 2007 when 27 nations fought for 10 spots? No thank you.

 

[henhu]

I hope no!! Do you mean that when there is 34 participants for example, there is 1 semi-final with 28 artists and 20 tickets to the final?
I see no point for it... Semi-finals with 15-18 artists are perfect for me. And why do you think we'll have less than 30 countries in future? I think we have 40+ countries next year if Poland is returning too...

 

[DanielLuis]

I hope no!! Do you mean that when there is 34 participants for example, there is 1 semi-final with 28 artists and 20 tickets to the final?
I see no point for it... Semi-finals with 15-18 artists are perfect for me. And why do you think we'll have less than 30 countries in future? I think we have 40+ countries next year if Poland is returning too...

If there are 34 participants each semi-final would have 14 songs competing for 10 places...how exciting. If the number is ever that low I think a single semi-final system is better. But obviously some songs would need to be pre-qualified.

 

[henhu]

But which songs? top 10 songs qualifying for next year was horrible idea and probably never returns... (too long semi-finals and Ukraine, Russia, Greece, Azerbaijan etc 100% finalists every year and other good songs have less chance)

 

[MrGerbear]

I agree with henhu. One semifinal would make block voting so much easier. The two semifinal system they have now, where performances are randomly drawn from pots designed on voting patterns makes it more difficult for neighboring countries to just give each other 12 points.

 

[Leydan]

Having one semifinal though would seriously damage first - eighth countries to sing, chances of qualifying. Because so many in the line up they're simply forgotten.

 

[Verjamem]

If EBU won't take a action, we could have a only 2-evening Eurovision. One semifinal is too overflowing, political and boring. But maybe if we will have a songs like in 2011 and 2013, choosing the 10 songs from 22-23 won't be very injustice.

 

[cassio]

Oh I allways like speculations in forums...

Well here is my bid...

I think that were ever there will be only two shows or one depends on how many there will participate. In the current format I would say:

6 qulified for the final + 20 participants or less = only one show = the final
6 qulified for the final + 21 participants = no idea...
6 qulified for the final + 22 participants or more = 2 shows...

Other wise I think they would have change the qualification rules and like Mate Im not found of the privies qualify rules (1996) (2007)

 

[GRE]

If the participants will be less than 36,
then of course one semifinal.
How that could be?
In the Final there would be Big5 & First5 of previous year.
So the semi would have about 24 countries,and half of them would qualify to the Final.

 

[Verjamem]

In each 2004-2007 semi, I have something around 13-15 countries which I want to advance. So in case of only one qualifying round at 2014, 12-14 songs should qualify (least to me)

 

[SRBIJA]

If the participants will be less than 36,
then of course one semifinal.
How that could be?
In the Final there would be Big5 & First5 of previous year.
So the semi would have about 24 countries,and half of them would qualify to the Final.

I was never a big fan of prequalified entries based on previous year's results, but if this is the case then it sounds like a really good solution to me.

 

[Terence]

I'm not a fan of prequalified entries either. In 2006 and 2007 most pre-qualified entries were crap and would have better been stuck in the semifinal!

 

[FilipFromSweden]

I also dislike the pre-qualified entries (those who we're not in the big 5).
But yes, two semi-finals with only 6 qualifiers sounds good.

 

[GRE]

So the problem is 4 more countries?
How can people dont have problem with big5+host country,and they do have with 4 more countries?

 

[Paddy]

So the problem is 4 more countries?
How can people dont have problem with big5+host country,and they do have with 4 more countries?

Because without the Big 5 there wouldn't be Eurovision and as the host it would be unfair to miss the final. Imagine you host this big event and than your own country is not even in the final.

 

[GRE]

Because without the Big 5 there wouldn't be Eurovision and as the host it would be unfair to miss the final. Imagine you host this big event and than your own country is not even in the final.

Well dont be so sure that all Europe depends on these 5 countries.
Big 5 could also be Russia,Sweden,Denmark,Netherlands,Turkey,Norway,Switzerland,Azerbaijan.

 

[Paddy]

Well dont be so sure that all Europe depends on these 5 countries.
Big 5 could also be Russia,Sweden,Denmark,Netherlands,Turkey,Norway,Switzerland,Azerbaijan.

Yes than do that, I wouldn't have a problem with Germany paying less

 

[cegs5]

Well dont be so sure that all Europe depends on these 5 countries.
Big 5 could also be Russia,Sweden,Denmark,Netherlands,Turkey,Norway,Switzerland,Azerbaijan.

But they don't pay the party. In fact, Turkey is out of it.
I doubt that The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden or Switzerland could pay as much as the big 5 pays. Those are countries with a good life-quality standard but not a big economies like big 5 (even in a deep crisis)

Luckily you didn't mention Finland, as many people think that everybody is rich in Nordic countries. Yes, Nordics have the money to pay the shows but to support EBU bills is another story.