What do you think about Big 5?

[MyHeartIsYours]

We applied to take part but missed the deadline Still like the 2nd/3rd longest participating too!

As I have always said though I would like Russia to join to make it a little fairer for people.

 

[Quent91]

I would like Russia to join to make it a little fairer for people.

Sorry, but I'm not pleased to that idea.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

Sorry, but I'm not pleased to that idea.

How come?

 

[Impressive]

Don't touch to the Big5 !

Those countries were the very first countries to participate in the 1956 contest. Just for this, they deserve to get a good spot in the final without going through the semi's.

This explains how faithful is Italy to contest, ha? So first winner comes from Switzerland, first host was Switzerland. They don't mean anything, ha? So sensible...

 

[penguinperson]

I don't really want to get into the whole Big 5 debate as I really don't care. We all know it's all about money & ratings. The whole 125 million is a myth for starters and includes the semis on top of them. The final achieves around 75 million viewers. In 2011 Germany and UK had around 25 million viewers between them a 1/3 of the viewership. Though they may not advertise as broadcasters they're figures that can attract PR buzz for adverts elsewhere. There is no way the EBU will want to lose that anytime soon, it adds credibility. Looking at the ratings of 1996 when Germany missed out it won't be ground revisited in the distant future.

Spain and Italy are poor in political terms. However it's a competition for broadcasters despite the flags involved. RAI never stopped paying for the EBU despite not entering ESC. If they had dropped out the EBU and came back to the big 5 that way then yes that would have been very wrong. Italy if any has got the final more as an incentive than the others to rebuild the brand.

 

[CC92]

Looking at the ratings of 1996 when Germany missed out it won't be ground revisited in the distant future.

Example does not work since the contest had been broadcast on a regional channel which was not available in most parts of the country at that time. Generally speaking though you have a point: The EBU wants high ratings and that is one of the reasons why the BIG5 are pre-qualified. Still it is a big unfairness.

 

[penguinperson]

Example does not work since the contest had been broadcast on a regional channel which was not available in most parts of the country at that time. Generally speaking though you have a point: The EBU wants high ratings and that is one of the reasons why the BIG5 are pre-qualified. Still it is a big unfairness.

True, but even pulling the data and shares there was still a noticed change. Plus it's not like populations are going to change to make it fairer any time soon. It's really where broadcasting will go over the next couple of decades, it may level the playing field. With many people watching things when they can and wherever to fit round them the contest may change. We just don't know.

 

[ukboy]

It's a difficult one. I would love to see all countries apart from the host in the semi final. But it does come to the fact that the big 5 are the ones who fund the majority of the contest. The BBC would not broadcast the final if they were not in it. People in the UK don't even known about the semi's and wont sit down to watch it on a Tuesday night on BBC3. I would imgaine it would be a similar story in the othere countries, maybe to a lesser extent in Germany. It comes down to mass media as well, the UK draws an average of 7-10 million viewers for the contests, the semi's get less than 500,000 viewers.

At the end of the day, its not the olympics, its a light enertainmnet programme. If you get through, then you get through. If you come 11th in a semi-final, its not like your going to go on to win the whole thing is it?

 

[CC92]

[...] I would imgaine it would be a similar story in the othere countries, maybe to a lesser extent in Germany. [...]

Why so?

 

[ukboy]

Given Germany's recent success it has gained more popularity therefore more viewrship and interest. Even so I believe its still a popular show

 

[CC92]

Given Germany's recent success it has gained more popularity therefore more viewrship and interest. Even so I believe its still a popular show

The semi-finals this year were broadcast on a channel I personally never heard of before (I even would have to do some research first if you asked me about its name) nor I could receive, but I guess pretty much every British knows BBC III, eh? Disagree here and I do not see where the connection between the semi-finals and good placings in the finals should be. However, this would change I am sure if the Big5 were to compete in the former in order to qualify. Also, the national entry would be given more and earlier attention what too would increase general interest in the contest.

 

[ukboy]

BBC3 is well known, but its not a popular channel by a long shot. Its mainly for light entertainmnet and comedy but doesn't really draw in big crowds compared to ITV2 and E4. Think the BBC would be reluctant to jiggle their TV schedules to have all 3 shows on BBC1, would upset their viewers too much, especially if they moved their flagship soap opera Eastenders out of its primetime slot at 8pm. That draws in an avergae of 9-11 million viewers each week without fail. Eurovision semi's would be a struggle.

There is a stigma in the UK over the show. For those who watch it (apart from the fans and the gay community) people love to hate it, they'll watch it and get drunk, wont pay too much attention. Ramble on about 'that Europe' and political voting. The semi's just would just not be popular in my opinion for the BBC to take an interest.

If a country in Eurovision on the night is winning, about to win, have a big artist or hosting the show its going to be more popular. 2010 Germany sends Lena, wins, then hosts the show a year later again with Lena. Popularity = Viewership.

UK sends Blue and Ireland send Jedward in 2011. Viewship for both countries goes through the roof. Think the UK beat ITV in that time slot that year. In 2009 Terry Wogan has gone, 2010 we send Josh Dubovie :?, both years are down on viewers. If there was an attraction to the UK wanting to take part except loyality and tradition then fair enough. But for now Eurovision is just ticking along, nothing special, just same old for the majority of the 63 million Britons.

 

[Mickey]

Small point: ratings went up in 2009 (compared to 2008), presumably due to the extended reality show preselection.

 

[wyq614]

I'm not against the existence of the Big 5 under the condition that they select songs seriously.