10 years of semi-finals

[doctormalisimo]

2013 marks the 10th edition since semi-finals were introduced to Eurovision. What impact have they had? Well they've divided ESC nations into 4 tiers - the Big 4/5, the eternal qualifiers (a list that's getting shorter every year), the nations whose chances of qualifications reflect the song they sent, and the no-hopers (eg Netherlands, Bulgaria). Do you like the semi-finals concept? Do you wish there were 3 or 4, or just one, or maybe none at all with just one big show with ~40 songs on the Saturday night?

 

[mono]

A final show with 40 countries it would be terrible. It's too much of a song (even to a song contest), and it would take HOURS (not counting with interval acts and voting).

The concept of the semi-finals works fine, i just think that there shouldn't be the BIG 5 (do they really pay much more? what makes a country worth of being part of the big 5, regardless of what they paid?).

Eurovision is fine just how it is and I honestly think EBU is trying to prevent block and diaspora voting as much as possible and Turkey and Armenia failing to qualify in 2011 was a living proof of that.

 

[CPV4931]

I have to say, that I like the concept of the semi finals (and also would if Germany wasn´t already qualified for the final).
Eurovision should be open for every country, that wants to participate (and is eligible).
But in my opinion the "average viewer" - at least in Germany - should pay more attention to the Semis than they do now. Some even don´t know, that there are Semis in Eurovision.

 

[GRE]

I want 3 semifinals.

 

[CC92]

I want 3 semifinals.

With eleven participants each?

 

[Impressive]

I like that system, it adds another exacting moments to contest but I wish qualifier songs would be always deserved ones, not politic, also I am decidedly against with Pre Qualifing except of host country.

Remember deserved final songs;

2009
2009 2012
2009
2010 2011
2010
2010 2012
2010
2010
2011
2011
2011 2012
2012
2012
2012

Semi finals could be better without politic voting

 

[Yamarus]

I like semi-finals, but they should be put "to better use'': instead of being mere repetitions for the Grand Final, they should distinguish themselves from it more, because apart from ESC fans who wants to sit through three almost identical evenings of Eurovision?

 

[aletem]

No 40 finalists! Sometimes I think FSC should have semifinals! I like the system, though if there are one or two countries dropping next year, we should have the 1 semi-final, like 2004-2007!

 

[Impressive]

No 40 finalists! Sometimes I think FSC should have semifinals! I like the system, though if there are one or two countries dropping next year, we should have the 1 semi-final, like 2004-2007!

Nah, I don't think this is healthy. If you say "Top 10 qualifies and semi is just for the rest", it makes final weaker and possibly more boring. If you say "Winner and Big 5 qualify, the semi is just for the rest", it makes semi final too long, with over 30 songs. Also... We love Eurovision and 3 nights of a show even is not enough, why would we make it for 2 nights?

 

[Terence]

I've always backed the semifinals, and 2-semifinals are better than 1, especially now that countries are split according to voting patterns. The 2007 semifinal was too long even for me as a fan + a number of songs got left out (now whether that was because of diaspora voting we'll never know).

So I'd rather have 2 semifinals with few songs rather than one big semifinal with 20+ songs.

 

[aletem]

Nah, I don't think this is healthy. If you say "Top 10 qualifies and semi is just for the rest", it makes final weaker and possibly more boring. If you say "Winner and Big 5 qualify, the semi is just for the rest", it makes semi final too long, with over 30 songs. Also... We love Eurovision and 3 nights of a show even is not enough, why would we make it for 2 nights?

It cuts the costs of the host with one semi. And there won't be 30-so songs, but rather 23-25 songs in the semi. So I rather have that instead of a semi with 15 countries. But I see what you mean with the two semis.