OK, bare with me...I've been doing some thinking theoretically...
So, let's say in 2013 there are 45 countries participating in Sweden, which is looking more and more likely I have to say. Now, this year there was a lot of hoo-ha about countries that maybe should have qualified but didn't (Netherlands, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland & Finland to name but a few...) so I have come up with a theory.
3 semi-finals!
Now before you all start saying well that wouldn't work, because of money issues that the broadcasters would have to pay etc etc but when it comes down to it I think it could work and could work well.
It was announced in the EBU conference in Baku that they were looking at cutting down the number of rehearsals that they have each year, so what if they only needed one dress (jury) rehearsal and 2 x normal rehearsals for each act. Sufficient enough? I think so. The show rehearsal (minus the participants but maybe just the props) could be put into another rehearsal before the dress ones. You following so far? So anyway, let's say the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the days of the semi finals. The jury rehearsal being on the day of the semi final itself also. Monday and Friday would be the show rehearsal for the props, presenters and interval acts etc for all semi finals and the final. The Saturday also having the jury rehearsal and final on the same day.
So that's that bit covered, now to the interesting part...
So, for instance sake there are 45 countries participating so we need to split them out. Imagining the Big 5 + host country stay in the final, that leaves 39. 39 / 3 = 13. Obviously some years there may be less countries, but as close to divided by 3 as can be anyway.
So, 13 countries in each semi final. Every country isn't obliged to broadcast every semi-final so only the countries that participate in each semi would be obliged to broadcast that semi. Also this applies to the Big 5 + host country that would be divided equally to each semi like they do at the moment.
From each semi, only a total of 6 can qualify. 6 X 3 = 18 plus the big 5 etc bringing it to 24. A nice number that doesn't let the final drag on too much (which I felt it did this year).
So how would this differentiate from the 2 semi finals that we have at the moment? Well, of course the countries would be split up fairly and equally from pots. What you will find though is the more semis that there are, less chance of neighbourly voting in a large amount of countries as these would hopefully be split up more and more. Take semi 2 from this year as example, a total of 5 ex-yu countries bundled into one semi. I don't want to get into an argument over politics etc but I think nobody can argue that there are cultural/neighbour votes going on here which I don't particularly have a problem with, until it knocks out other countries who are not part of these groups.
Also, it would mean more chances for different countries to qualify each year, without the fate of never qualifying in 8 years (spare a thought for the dutch). An example of this? Well, before 2008 there was no sign of Iceland qualifying, or Albania, Portugal, Belgium. You name it - having just the one semi final with all countries bundled together did not work at all, and I doubt even for a second that even if juries were included we would see much of a difference.
Anyway, something to think on of course. But i'm interested to hear your views on the matter. I personally think it would be a positive thing and would make things more exciting (for a die hard eurovision fan anyway) and more fair of course.
So, let's say in 2013 there are 45 countries participating in Sweden, which is looking more and more likely I have to say. Now, this year there was a lot of hoo-ha about countries that maybe should have qualified but didn't (Netherlands, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland & Finland to name but a few...) so I have come up with a theory.
3 semi-finals!
Now before you all start saying well that wouldn't work, because of money issues that the broadcasters would have to pay etc etc but when it comes down to it I think it could work and could work well.
It was announced in the EBU conference in Baku that they were looking at cutting down the number of rehearsals that they have each year, so what if they only needed one dress (jury) rehearsal and 2 x normal rehearsals for each act. Sufficient enough? I think so. The show rehearsal (minus the participants but maybe just the props) could be put into another rehearsal before the dress ones. You following so far? So anyway, let's say the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the days of the semi finals. The jury rehearsal being on the day of the semi final itself also. Monday and Friday would be the show rehearsal for the props, presenters and interval acts etc for all semi finals and the final. The Saturday also having the jury rehearsal and final on the same day.
So that's that bit covered, now to the interesting part...
So, for instance sake there are 45 countries participating so we need to split them out. Imagining the Big 5 + host country stay in the final, that leaves 39. 39 / 3 = 13. Obviously some years there may be less countries, but as close to divided by 3 as can be anyway.
So, 13 countries in each semi final. Every country isn't obliged to broadcast every semi-final so only the countries that participate in each semi would be obliged to broadcast that semi. Also this applies to the Big 5 + host country that would be divided equally to each semi like they do at the moment.
From each semi, only a total of 6 can qualify. 6 X 3 = 18 plus the big 5 etc bringing it to 24. A nice number that doesn't let the final drag on too much (which I felt it did this year).
So how would this differentiate from the 2 semi finals that we have at the moment? Well, of course the countries would be split up fairly and equally from pots. What you will find though is the more semis that there are, less chance of neighbourly voting in a large amount of countries as these would hopefully be split up more and more. Take semi 2 from this year as example, a total of 5 ex-yu countries bundled into one semi. I don't want to get into an argument over politics etc but I think nobody can argue that there are cultural/neighbour votes going on here which I don't particularly have a problem with, until it knocks out other countries who are not part of these groups.
Also, it would mean more chances for different countries to qualify each year, without the fate of never qualifying in 8 years (spare a thought for the dutch). An example of this? Well, before 2008 there was no sign of Iceland qualifying, or Albania, Portugal, Belgium. You name it - having just the one semi final with all countries bundled together did not work at all, and I doubt even for a second that even if juries were included we would see much of a difference.
Anyway, something to think on of course. But i'm interested to hear your views on the matter. I personally think it would be a positive thing and would make things more exciting (for a die hard eurovision fan anyway) and more fair of course.
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