New Eurovision Song Contest Rules
Michael Hedges October 2, 2007
The next Eurovision Song Contest will be different. Details are sketchy but two semi-finals will determine the finalists and maybe a wild-card
Vote whinging passed the pain threshold after Marija Serifovic from Serbia won last May. It was not so much about Serbia winning but more about artists nominated by legacy EBU member broadcasters losing year after year. Eurovision producer Svante Stockselius was less than moved by last years’ whinging outburst and said with deft correctness that rule changes would be discussed and might be implemented in 2009 or later. Obviously, the issue was kicked upstairs.(read EBU statement here)
 All entries – save those from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and the previous years’ winner – will be divided into two groups, presumably at random. Nine finalists will be chosen by tele-voting from each group and one, maybe, by jury. The two groups of ten will then join the rest in the final show…and voting. The semi-finals – two different shows - may or may not be broadcast simultaneously, airing live only in the countries of the participants. See how complicated this gets?
Meanwhile, Serbian public broadcaster RTS – hosts of next years’ events - unveiled the 2008 logo.
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