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ESC 2008 - Semifinals dates and some details...

14. November 2007, 21:35

Last weekend, the EBU Reference Group and RTS, next year's Eurovision Song Contest host broadcaster held their second meeting in Belgrade. The topics discussed were the 2008 theme art, the launch of the official website and most importantly the dates of the two semi finals and the way the countries will be divided between them.

"This might be the most important Reference Group meeting since 2003, when the new format featuring one Semi-Final was accepted," stated Svante Stockselius, the EBU Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest.

The most important issues discussed were those of the dates and the format of the two semi finals. The Reference Group proposed that the two semis be held on two different dates, Tuesday 20th and Thursday 22nd of May. The countries have been divided in groups (pots) according to statistical data- geographical position and voting patterns since 2004 - and, in the case the proposal is approved by the TV Committee, the initial draw that will decide which country participates in which semi final will take place in January. That will ensure that broadcasters have ample time to schedule their transmissions. The final running order will be drawn as in previous years during the Head of Delegation's meeting in Belgrade next March.

RTS updated the Reference Group about the stage of the preparations and their plans for the upcoming contest. A revamped edition of the sub-logo and theme art was presented and was commented upon by the members of the Reference Group. The finalised version of the artwork as well as the stage will be decided upon before the end of the year.

The official 2008 Eurovision Song Contest website will be launched by the Interactive Unit of Eurovision TV, the TV department of the EBU, in cooperation with RTS. A live web cast of the final and both semi finals will be provided on the site, just as it was last year.

Proposals agreed at this weekend's reference group meeting will now be put forward to the EBU Television committee for final approval.

One of the biggest questions remaining for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest is whether the two semi finals will both be broadcast live or whether the Tuesday semi final will be recorded and broadcast on the Thursday during a live transmission of the second semi final.

It certainly appears from the news coming out of this weekend's reference group meeting that the two semi finals look set to be broadcast live, one on Tuesday 20th May, the second on Thursday 22nd May. Something the vast majority of Eurovision Song Contest fans had hoped for.

By holding a draw in January to determine which countries participate in each, it should make ticket purchasing easier for fans of countries participating in the semi finals. Fans will know which semi final their country will participate in before ticket sales commence.

This will also mark the first time in recent years that a draw for the Eurovision Song Contest running order will be made prior to the majority of entries being selected. Usually, all entries must be selected prior to the running order draw.

One of the most dominant themes of the Eurovision Song Contest for decades has been the so-called political voting. In recent years, neighbourly voting has become a nuisance for many, and since the start of the semi final system in 2004, a strong rise in Diasporas voting has upset many fans and commentators of the event. The move to introduce a two semi final system in 2008 was made in response to the increasing call to address this problem, but will it succeed?

Diaspora voting, a term first coined by esctoday.com in 2006, has become increasingly apparent in voting patterns at the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years. The first signs appeared when televoting replaced the jury system and it has become particularly apparent since the semi final system was adopted in 2004, strongly affecting the qualifying countries from the semi final every year.

It is hoped that the two semi-final system will reduce the impact of this phenomenon at the Eurovision Song Contest, and signs from the weekend's reference group meeting show that the EBU is looking for a formula to limit its impact in the semi final.

Using statistical data to divide countries into pots before the draw is made looks like a clear sign that the EBU has found a method for splitting countries based not merely on their geographical position or voting history, but a mixture of both.

Although some have argued in favour of splitting the former Yugoslav and former Soviet Union countries between the two semi finals, Diasporas voting shows that Turkey gains many of its points every year from countries such as Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, where large Turkish populations reside. The large Lithuanian population in Ireland now sees the Irish twelve points head to the Baltic every year, so will we see an attempt to separate Ireland and Lithuania into separate semi finals?

What is becoming clearer is that despite accusations from many fans, the EBU is clearly listening to the fans of the competition and national broadcasters who have suffered from declining viewing figures in recent years. It is actively looking for ways to appease concerns. All EBU member countries have an equal right to enter the Eurovision Song Contest, however, a clear intention can be detected to ensure that the competition is as fair and balanced as it can be.