United Kingdom UNITED KINGDOM 2014 - Molly - Children of the Universe

[toinou03]

Also;
Sugababes are "pretty much done", Jade Ewen reveals - Music News - Digital Spy

This band is so weird... It has constantly changed its line up because these 3 girls always become jealous one from the other... They have pulled out Siobhan Donaghy, because she wasn't hum hum enough... The leavers never broke through after leaving (like any UK girl band going solo)... And eventually, we have 3 singers now who weren't in the original line up...though the band exists indeed since 15 years...

 

[penguinperson]

I forgot when does BGT air ? Surely moving the voice earlier so it finishes before the ESC deadline in march is a good sign ?

Saturday Night Takeaway will face the Voice now and it beat it each time this year. BGT will start at the usual time I would imagine but what the BBC will put up against it who knows. If the Voice starts in Feb they will still overlap. If really early it could leave ESC in the wilderness a bit. It would be good for the Voice to finish the week before then at least a saturday night audience still exists. Then after ESC a few weeks of filler and it's the World Cup. The World Cup could push BGT forward as well but maybe only by a week (it was a week later this year anyway)

 

[NeonProject]

I really wish we have some form of National Final or slot on Saturday for a UK esc programme. They really need to throw us a bone now with this.

 

[Leydan]

I really wish we have some form of National Final or slot on Saturday for a UK esc programme. They really need to throw us a bone now with this.

Well i would also love the return of the national final, last time we had it our choice came 5th? and i prefer them but anyway i have no issue with internally choosing as long as they do a good a job at it, which they don't do at all. With a National final it involves viewers so much more, and without it i suspect the viewer ratings will decrease further until they involve public again.

 

[watersoup]

Well i would also love the return of the national final, last time we had it our choice came 5th?

As much as a national final sounds good to me, this isn't quite accurate.

 

[penguinperson]

Well i would also love the return of the national final, last time we had it our choice came 5th? and i prefer them but anyway i have no issue with internally choosing as long as they do a good a job at it, which they don't do at all. With a National final it involves viewers so much more, and without it i suspect the viewer ratings will decrease further until they involve public again.

When the last NF rated 2.92 million I see no reasoning to bring back a NF now especially as it clashes with a bigger brand in a similar style (as we've said). Ratings going up against much tougher competition from 2012 to 2013 will mean they see no wrong in what they are doing if the purpose is to get bums on seats. If the song charts well (people buy it) ratings tend to be better than if the song bombs domestically. People will tune in if the public think we have a chance of doing well. If not, why bother? Same applies pretty much in every country. It does not matter if the song has been picked by a panel or viewers on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night. It is quite consistent in that respect for UK ratings.

 

[LalehForWD]

When the last NF rated 2.92 million I see no reasoning to bring back a NF now especially as it clashes with a bigger brand in a similar style (as we've said). Ratings going up against much tougher competition from 2012 to 2013 will mean they see no wrong in what they are doing if the purpose is to get bums on seats. If the song charts well (people buy it) ratings tend to be better than if the song bombs domestically. People will tune in if the public think we have a chance of doing well. If not, why bother? Same applies pretty much in every country. It does not matter if the song has been picked by a panel or viewers on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night. It is quite consistent in that respect for UK ratings.

I'm not sure what you mean in the end, but isn't it a bit to simplify things saying BBC being concerned only about British viewer figures? I guess you're right on some sense though. Also, you state that British spectators will only bother to watch if there's a chance of a British win, a kind complete focus on the competition part of ESC. I doubt it's true or I sincerely hope that this isn't the case. If it was, why bother to watch at all as competing in music is impossible to carry out in any seriously meant way other than for fun. Most countries don't qualify to the final and very few have a realistic chance to win, still they tune in to watch the final.

It's rather confusing to look at how BBC historically have made the song/artist selection. They seemed to have changed the format almost every year, never really given the ideas a chance to settle and develop. Many argues against a NF due to stupid public votes, but isn't this drama surrounding the selection exactly what is needed? Isn't a vivid British ESC culture more important than a British ESC win?

 

[NeonProject]

I think it's important to have some kind of democratic process in the selection. Whilst it is realistically the broadcasters that take part in this contest, they do it in the name of their respective nations. How can you truly claim to compete for your nation when they have absolutely zero chance in having a say.
Other nations do have internal selections and do well, this is true, but half the time these internal selections are done when a nation has made a massive demand for and artist to take part, as was the case with Anouk.
I wouldn't mind so much the internal selection if the Delegation listened to criticism and took on board things that the fans say, but they don't. Even the tabloids and newspapers are tired of blaming politics and ignorantly laughing at the other wonderful cultures we have on our door-step. Unfortunately the BBC are clearly still blind to all these things the rest of the nation now believes.
The BBC do not represent the UK whatsoever, they do not send acts or songs that represent our taste in music, they do not represent the attitude we now have toward the contest, and they do not represent the democratic values our nation holds.

I only hope that the other nations in this contest see that we are being mis-represented and punish the poor decisions our delegation consistently make.

 

[Leydan]

I think it's important to have some kind of democratic process in the selection. Whilst it is realistically the broadcasters that take part in this contest, they do it in the name of their respective nations. How can you truly claim to compete for your nation when they have absolutely zero chance in having a say.
Other nations do have internal selections and do well, this is true, but half the time these internal selections are done when a nation has made a massive demand for and artist to take part, as was the case with Anouk.
I wouldn't mind so much the internal selection if the Delegation listened to criticism and took on board things that the fans say, but they don't. Even the tabloids and newspapers are tired of blaming politics and ignorantly laughing at the other wonderful cultures we have on our door-step. Unfortunately the BBC are clearly still blind to all these things the rest of the nation now believes.
The BBC do not represent the UK whatsoever, they do not send acts or songs that represent our taste in music, they do not represent the attitude we now have toward the contest, and they do not represent the democratic values our nation holds.

I only hope that the other nations in this contest see that we are being mis-represented and punish the poor decisions our delegation consistently make.

No one could put it better than that. Like how you kinda make the BBC sound like a ruthless dictatorship, ruling with an iron fist supressing the people.

 

[penguinperson]

I'm not sure what you mean in the end, but isn't it a bit to simplify things saying BBC being concerned only about British viewer figures? I guess you're right on some sense though. Also, you state that British spectators will only bother to watch if there's a chance of a British win, a kind complete focus on the competition part of ESC. I doubt it's true or I sincerely hope that this isn't the case. If it was, why bother to watch at all as competing in music is impossible to carry out in any seriously meant way other than for fun. Most countries don't qualify to the final and very few have a realistic chance to win, still they tune in to watch the final.

It's rather confusing to look at how BBC historically have made the song/artist selection. They seemed to have changed the format almost every year, never really given the ideas a chance to settle and develop. Many argues against a NF due to stupid public votes, but isn't this drama surrounding the selection exactly what is needed? Isn't a vivid British ESC culture more important than a British ESC win?

I would say it is true of every nation that takes part. I suppose you could say the public have a larger investment mainly if they have bought into it. They will only care for the British viewer in that they pay their wages which makes the choices dull. The thing with NFs is when acts have talked about ESC the biggest stumbling block has been the lack of desire to compete against other domestic acts and lose out there. I think there is a fear of getting an image of not good enough for Eurovision - whether that would occur or not we will never know.


The ratings here reflect that having a finalist and therefore part of the competition is highly important to the people tuning in. With the Big 5 the better ratings have more or less have matched with their best results. So for the casual viewer it is very important.

Albania
2012 692,900 44.1%

Australia
2013 595,000
2012 500,000
2011 504,000 8,9%

Austria
2013 350,000 20%
2012 633,000
2011 1,059,000 50,3%

Bosnia
2011 1,000,000
Bulgaria
2012 442,486 24.7%
Croatia
2012 400,000

Cyprus
2012 223,200 82.1%
2011 133,600 59,9%.

Denmark
2013 1.700.000
2012 990,000
2011 1,587,000
2010 1,658,00
2009 1,450,000
2007 ?
2006 1,709,000
2005 1,394,000

Estonia
2013 317 000 (24.8 %)
2012 400,000
2011 351,000
Finland
2013 1,128,000
2012 558,00
2011 1,323,000
2010 625,000
2009 1,324,000
2008 1,208,000
2007 1,905,00 Host
2006 1,479,00
2005 369,000
2004 549,000
2003 602,000
2002 1,276,000
2001 385,000
2000 1,276,000
1999 449,000
1998 1,028,000

Flanders
2013 956.865 (50,95%)
2012 559.550
2010 1,522,000 58%

France
2013 2.740.000 (13.9%)
2012: 3.98m 23%
2011: 4.9m 26.7%
2010: 3.9
2009 5.7m
2008 3.1m
2007: 3.5m
2006: 5.2m

Germany
2013 8.21m (34%)
2012 - 8.29m (36.6%)
2011 - 13.93m (host) 49.3%
2010 - 14.69m
2009 - 7.33m
2008 - 6.38m
2007 - 7.41m
2006 - 10.41m
2005 - 7m
2004 - 11.13m
2003 - 8.65m
2002 - 9.75m
2001 - 8.16m
2000 - 10m
1999 - 4.79m
1998 - 12.6m

Greece
2013 2,687,000 66,9%
2012 2,437,000 59,8%
2011 2,905,000 68,6%
2010 3,119,000 72,5%
2009 3,631,000 78,9%
2008 3,225,000 78,8%
2007 2,822,000 74,4%
2006 3,252,000 82,6% Host
2005 3,198,000 82,3%
2004 3,166,000 75,5%
2003 1,954,000 58,9%
2002 1,522,000 50,0%
2001 24,3%
2000 9,8%
1999 14,6%
1998 16,4%
1997 19,3%
1996 16,0%
1995 14,9%
1994 19,9%
1993 38,1%
1992 32,9%

Hungary
2013 1,133,000
2012 601,913 18.3%
2011 1,006,000 30,2%

Iceland
2013 98.9%

Ireland

2013 799,700
2011 1,174,300 63.89%
2010 719,000 65%

Israel
2013 125,000 4.3%
2012 120,000 4%
2011 125 000 4.6%
2010 332,000 35%

Italy
2013 1.878.000 (9.17%)
2012: 1.410.000 (7.51%)
2011: 1.291.000 (6.43%)

Latvia
2013 - 132,000 (32.1%)
2012 – 284,500 (51.8%
2011 – 196,900 (41.6%)
2010 – 283,200 (49.2%)
2009 – 312,100 (48%)
2008 – 364,600 (51.2%)
2007 – 549,800 (68.3%)
2006 – 487,800 (59.5%)
2005 – 526,200 (66.5%)
2004 – 425,100 (58.8%)

Lithuania
2013 - 14.4%
2012 1,300,000

Macedonia
2012 326,032 (62%)

The Netherlands
2013 4,859,000 (65.1%)
2012 1,100,000 22.1%
2011 1,126,000 21,8%
2010 1,200,00

Norway
2013 1,519,000 - 84 %
2012 1,094,000 75%
2011 993,000

Poland
2010 2,050,000

Portugal
2013 579,500 (6,1%)
2012 650,000 15.8%
2011 640,000 19,6%
2010 1,400,000 39.1%

Romania
2013 1.515.000 22.8%
2012 2,300,000
2011 859,000 15,7%

Russia
2013 31%
2012 40.5%
2011 34.9%
2010 4,300,000 37.2%
2009 7,500,000 53.8% (host)
2008 46.4%
2007 43.6%
2006 51.8%
2005 45%
2004 53.6%
2003 45.5%
2002 37.7%
2001 33.1%

Serbia
2012 3,100,000
2010 3,500,000 95%

Slovakia
2012 119,000 8.5%

Slovenia
2013 162,000 30%

Spain
2013 5,369,000 33.1%
2012 6,542,000 43.5%
2011 4,172,000 28,9%
2010 5,700,000

Sweden
2013 3,372,000
2012 3,230,000 84.2%
2011 2,885,000
2010 1,700,000
2009 3,120,000
2008 2,810,000
2007 3,425,000
2006 3,285,000
2005 3,320,000
2004 3,556,000
2003 3,455,000
2002 3,340,000
2001 3,585,000
2000 3,790,000

Ukraine
2013 1,104,675 12.82%
2012 3,700,000 20.7%
2011 12.86%
2005 41.52%
2003 9.23%

UK
2013 7.70m (35.3%), * peak: 9.28m (48.4%) at 22:55 +536,000 iPlayer 7.83 official
2012 -7.6m (36.2%) peak: 9.6m (52.9%) 23:00
2011 - 9.5m (40%) * 5-min peak: 12.9m (64%)
2010 - 5.8m (26%)
2009 - 7.8m (35%) * peak: 9.8m (52%)
2008 - 7.1m (35%) * peak: 9.3m (50%)
2007 - 8.7m (40%) * peak: 10.9m (53%)
2006 - 8.2m (37%) * peak: 10.6m
2005 - 7.9m (39%) * peak: 9.4m
2004 - 8.3m (42%)
2003 - 7.9m (38%) * peak: 10.8m
2002 - 7.8m (36%) * peak: 10.9m (54%)
2001 - 6.9m (37%)
2000 - 6.54m official
1999 - 8.91m official

Wallonia
2013 371,335 26.1%
2011 185,000

What NeonProject has said is correct it is the picking of the complete irrelevant on part of the BBC on pleas to pick better acts from fans,music press and now the normal press. This is the biggest danger to ratings as the songs will be irrelevant nobody will buy them or care, so Europeans won't buyit or care and therefore the resultwillbe bad, repeat over and over. This is not exclusive to ESC with the BBC there light entertainment programming is shocking even when they adapt proven hits they buy in the **** it up.

 

[LalehForWD]

Interesting figures

The thing with NFs is when acts have talked about ESC the biggest stumbling block has been the lack of desire to compete against other domestic acts and lose out there. I think there is a fear of getting an image of not good enough for Eurovision - whether that would occur or not we will never know.

I think credibility is probably a very important factor in amateur and semi-professional musician circles (as it is even in Sweden), but for a "serious" artist struggling with the brutal competition in the British music industry? Can he or she afford to overlook any chances? It is clear that participating in ESC has its pros and cons. Loreen for example has to balance her efforts to gain the very much needed credibility as an artist among various skepticalists, against building "career" and appearing in various ESCesque TV shows.

How fantastic wouldn't a British Melodifestival be? (not that I'm saying you should copy the format) ;D

 

[penguinperson]

I think credibility is probably a very important factor in amateur and semi-professional musician circles (as it is even in Sweden), but for a "serious" artist struggling with the brutal competition in the British music industry? Can he or she afford to overlook any chances? It is clear that participating in ESC has its pros and cons. Loreen for example has to balance her efforts to gain the very much needed credibility as an artist among various skepticalists, against building "career" and appearing in various ESCesque TV shows.

How fantastic wouldn't a British Melodifestival be? (not that I'm saying you should copy the format) ;D

I think there needs to be a format to showcase acts that are established and not just wannabe idol singers in this country. I think Jools Holland waves that flag alone which is sad. Whether if it was ESC related I don't care. Would I trust the BBC to make such a format with its current employees, no. Even if it was non esc related having a format where they could show new music would be good, but even then I would not trust them.

The problem with the beeb is not with ESC imo or anything to do with lack of interest or effort. I think the whole bbc mindset when it comes to shiny floor entertainment is awful, they have nobody in house that has an actual clue as to what people want in the real world. They have it right with Strictly so they can do it and they had a small hit with let's dance which is now dead in the water. The Voice has done ok but the show is poorly put together when it comes to live music. The only things which have had a good run since 2000 is SCD and ESC. So the answer could be ESC for the bbc to become stronger in programs that don't involve dancing as an audience exists for Eurovision the lowest ratings are above 5 million. Yet we get back to the beebs own stupidity of not being able to see and this in front of their faces. As I said the 2010 numbers were awful, 2009 had better ratings than flops such as The Magicians, Britain's Brightest and So You Think You Can Dance. They dumped the best rating show and tried these others again. This is the stupidity of this organisation when it comes to light entertainment. ITV aren't much better to be honest and it is a problem that British TV needs to look at as buying in foreign hits certainly is not working.

 

[Jeansy]

To be fair we don't need a NF we have The Voice why don't we just use that?

 

[NeonProject]

How fantastic wouldn't a British Melodifestival be? (not that I'm saying you should copy the format) ;D

I think this is something the UK desperately needs, not for Eurovision, but for TV and our Music Industry as a whole.
Whilst the brits are doing good, our charts are a bit too predictable when an event happens or when X-Factor airs.
I'd like to see current artists competing with each other in a heavy-weight song writing kind of show, and I know this would garner millions of viewer.

We have been missing this kind of thing since Top Of The Pops and I think the Melodifestivalen format gives us that dramatic edge that we get with X-Fcator but got bored with in TOTP.

To be fair we don't need a NF we have The Voice why don't we just use that?

The Voice is a huge flop and to me it screams of when X-Factor was just a glorified karaoke contest.
The problem with our entrants has been a complete lack of originality, both on the delegations part and on the part of the artist, this even applies to Blue and Jade.

 

[Leydan]

I was exploring what articles were going about eurovision and i came upon the bbc eurovision site, and saw an article announcing Ana Matronic as a commentator for the semi's. Then i realised, Its got to be the Scissor Sisters, or Ana Matronic herself representing us next year. I know that SS have apparently broken up but you never know! Remember how Duncan James presented our points in 2010 and then Blue went on to represent us in 2011. Maybe this is again is that situation? Ive mentioned SS before but just as an example? but now i have something to back it up with. Clever thinking aye ?

 

[DanielLuis]

I was exploring what articles were going about eurovision and i came upon the bbc eurovision site, and saw an article announcing Ana Matronic as a commentator for the semi's. Then i realised, Its got to be the Scissor Sisters, or Ana Matronic herself representing us next year. I know that SS have apparently broken up but you never know! Remember how Duncan James presented our points in 2010 and then Blue went on to represent us in 2011. Maybe this is again is that situation? Ive mentioned SS before but just as an example? but now i have something to back it up with. Clever thinking aye ?

That has been talked about a lot of tims, and I do think it's likely.
They could get a good result too.

 

[penguinperson]

To be fair we don't need a NF we have The Voice why don't we just use that?

look at what the public voted as the winner compared to what's on offer. Would be another disaster

 

[Mrm]

Female rap/hip hop would be smth new for ESC! I'd like to see that!!

Big Brovaz should have won British NF in 2007 instead of Scooch!

 

[NeonProject]

I thought this might have been of interest to this thread...
Graham Norton's BBC pay packet tops £2m mark | Metro News

 

[LalehForWD]

I thought this might have been of interest to this thread...
Graham Norton's BBC pay packet tops £2m mark | Metro News

He's the one commenting Eurovision 2013 for BBC, right?

Poking around to get some figures, I stumbled upon the article and quote below:

Eurovision has popular support, and the BBC budget planners will support it as well. The entrance fee for Eurovision is around £295,000. I’m extrapolating that from our Freedom of Information request on the 2009 and 2010 Contests which cost £279,805 and £283,190 to enter respectively. EBU membership for the BBC is around £10 million per year, so it’s a very small part of our contribution.
Production costs on top of that? That’s a tougher call, but my best guess is there’s another £200,000 in there for all the BBC activites – with no National Final to produce in the last two years the Eurovsion department has managed to weather the cuts the BBC implemented across the board better than some.
Total estimated cost, about half a million pounds.

Where’s the UK Stefan Raab? He’s hiding at BBC Scotland