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New voting system for Eurovision Song Contest
By MaltaMedia News
Sep 18, 2008 - 10:02:00 AM
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During a meeting in Moscow, the EBU Reference Group of the Eurovision Song Contest decided to change the Eurovision 2009 voting system to a mix between televoting and jury votes in the final.
The voting system for the semi-finals will remain unchanged. According to eurovision.tv, the outcome was the result of lengthy considerations and detailed discussion on a wide variety of models.
Ruurd Bierman, Chairman of the Reference Group, said, "We strongly believe in televoting as a way of measuring the opinion of our millions of viewers across Europe. After the public debate about neighbor- and diaspora voting, we decided to give the national juries a say in the outcome of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest."
A survey amongst delegation heads from represented countries revealed that a majority is in favor of such mixed model. Earlier today, they were informed about the outcome of the Reference Group meeting in Moscow.
"Nothing is more democratic than the vote of the public. But a jury takes the opportunity to listen to the songs several times, before they make up their minds. In Belgrade, we saw a difference in judgment of the public and the back-up juries, and we believe a combination will make the show more interesting," said Svante Stockselius, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of the EBU.
The Semi-Finals will not see any changes in the voting procedure. Televoters will again choose nine songs in each of the two Semi-Finals, and the highest ranked entry of the back-up juries that didn't qualify through televoting will also qualify.
Asked for his reactions, MaltaMedia creative direcor Dr Toni Sant said, "since the Semi-Finals will not see any changes in the voting procedure, Malta still has to struggle very hard to ensure a place in the finals. More than ever, it has become essential to seriously rethink what our country sends to this song contest. More of the same thing we've had in recent years most certainly won't do it."
In its next meeting later this year, the EBU Reference Group will decide upon the exact way the jury has to be composed, and to discuss rules to assure a fair jury vote.
The Semi-Finals of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Moscow, Russia, on 12 and 14 May, the Final on Saturday, 16 May, next year.
For more detailed information about Malta's participation in the
Eurovision
Song Contest see EurovisionMalta.com.
See also:
No Maltese participants in Eurovision dance contest
© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com
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Latest update:
Sep 20, 2008 - 12:12:53 PM CET
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