Is it time to abolish the big 5?

[FoxOfShadows]

The bottom four consisted of all pre qualified entries. Spain also did not do well. Does this mean it's time to make the big 5 perform in semi finals and have to qualify? Or at least perform on stage during the voting?

 

[0scar]

No, because it hasn't to do with results, it has to do with the amount of money they pay. The bottom four being all pre-qualified countries doesn't change anything. I personally don't think there's anything wrong with them being already qualified.

If they, however, want to take part in the semi finals, they should have the freedom to do so too.

 

[JamieBrown]

If that means we will listen only to ~21 songs, so maybe each semi will have 11 qualifiers+only host is prequalified, I will go with that...If the songs are good, we will qualify and a final with more than 24 songs is a mess. I wanted to turn off after Hungary, because I know nothing better would've come and hearing 5 more songs is butthurt

 

[Staewi]

Definetly!
Instead they just should let the top five of the last contest prequalify for the next edition. So there are 25 entries (10 from each semi + the five).

 

[Gera11]

Do you want apocalypse? UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain will never want to lose their precious PQ place

 

[Fluke]

It's time to abolish the juries.

 

[lowyby]

Yup, abolish the big 5 and let the top 5 qualify directly, with 10 qualifiers from each semi
Sending quality should be promoted, not sending money

 

[Gera11]

What I felt this year is that the BIG 7 didn't appear too much in the whole Eurovision week. And some of the PQs are acting like master race and then they are outraged by the mediocre result. (ie. UK )

 

[Brandt]

This is what it meant to be since the first time semi finals arrived. I was always, and always against pre qualifing except for the host. I am mostly mad at Italy's PQ, because of obvious reasons. But that is never going to happen.

It's time to abolish the juries.

Besides, fully agree with this one.

 

[Fluke]

What I felt this year is that the BIG 7 didn't appear too much in the whole Eurovision week.

But, they actually promoted the DTF entries more than they have in previous years, with the interviews in the semis and everything..... but that didn't help, except for Australia obviously.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

This is a nonsensical idea.

 

[Eurovisionified]

I see nothing wrong with them being pre-qualifed. I just wish they would stop sending loads of junk. But who can blame them? Famous artists drop in, almost ruining their career by ending up at the bottom half. It's not worth it. That's why we send things directly off the trashbin, while the bigger acts make huge world tours, selling out football stadiums in USA, Brazil, Wembley, etc. Eurovision Song Contest is a competition for free agents, C/D-graded artists and amateurs. Nothing else. It's a Jippo. Take it as such, and you won't be dissapointed.

 

[Carrie]

Yup, abolish the big 5 and let the top 5 qualify directly, with 10 qualifiers from each semi
Sending quality should be promoted, not sending money

Money is the reason we exist. Everybody knows it, it's a fact kiss kiss.

But in all seriousness, if the Big 5 were to lose their pre qualifying slots and fail to make the final constantly they would withdraw. Subsequently, the ESC would lose a lot of it's funding.

 

[LoveHate]

No. A big country withdrawing would become more likely, which in turn could eventually lead to the end of ESC.

 

[lowyby]

Money is the reason we exist. Everybody knows it, it's a fact kiss kiss.

But in all seriousness, if the Big 5 were to lose their pre qualifying slots and fail to make the final constantly they would withdraw. Subsequently, the ESC would lose a lot of it's funding.

Lana del rey right??
And just lure China in then ;;

 

[Luki]

I don't have a problem with them being prequalified. My only concern is some of them being constantly underrated (France).

 

[GermanBango]

If people want that to happen, why not? But as always they should calculate the consequences.
Why should the Big 5 pay more when they have no guaranteed qualification? Then it would be fair that they pay just as much as the others and that would mean the whole thing would be much more expansive for everyone

 

[Leydan]

If people want that to happen, why not? But as always they should calculate the consequences.
Why should the Big 5 pay more when they have no guaranteed qualification? Then it would be fair that they pay just as much as the others and that would mean the whole thing would be much more expansive for everyone

Yes. My mum kept saying similar things last night. "Why are countries like UK, Germany and France paying loads of money in to this contest if they're constantly getting poor results in return? They will all reach a point where enough is enough" (yeah because the entries are usually rubbish but the point still stands). People don't realise if we wasn't forking a tonne of money in then poorer countries would be unable to participate. I am interested as to what will happen to the BIG 5 next year though. 20th place, 25th, 26th & 27th. all with 15 or less points.

 

[revallsay]

After reading everything you have writtne so far, I think EBU should find a balance. On the one had, it would be fair if they TOP5 was prequalified in the next edition and get rid of BIG5 instead, but on the other they pay a lot of money, so they should be in the final. Coming back to the negative acpect of the BIG5 in each final is that they entries are usually weak (but this is my personal opinion) and it takes about 20 minutes of the show to watch the postacrd and listen to teir songs. The show could be that 20 minutes (or so) less. The next good thing is it bring kind of the respect for that countries - they have a huge population and they are the biggest, you know, visually it gives respect. Please don't start abour Russia here, because most of Russia is in Asia.

 

[Morty]

I say yes. I've been against the idea of big countries being prequalified for a long time. I'd rather have the top 5 in the results be directly qualified instead. And I do realize this would mean less money for the contest, but I think there's way too much money involved in this, I'd rather have a smaller show with better music, than huge countries not caring about sending good music. I did end up voting for the UK (and Australia, altho they're different) this year, but I usually don't bother voting for prequalified countries, as it's pretty much a waste of money, since they will be in the next final anyway...