The European Broadcasting Union unveiled the new format for the
2004 Eurovision Song Contest at an international press conference
held in Riga on 22 May.
From 2004 there will be two rounds of the Eurovision Song
Contest each year – a qualifying round and a grand final. The main
reason for this expansion is the increasing number of EBU Members
wishing to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.
“The two-day format will make it possible for as many as
40 countries to participate,” explained Sarah Yuen, EBU
head of Live Events and ESC coordinator. “Discussions
are continuing about the choice of the day for the qualifying
round. The final will always be on a Saturday. Different options
for the voting procedure for both rounds of the contest,
incorporating all the traditional elements, are also being
considered,” she added.
With the new format a total of 24 countries will still
participate in the grand final.
There will be guaranteed places in the grand final for the
winner of the year before: the host broadcaster, the four largest
countries in the competition (i.e. France, Germany, Spain and the
UK) and the nine highest scoring countries.
In the qualifying round, ten countries will be selected to
participate in the grand final. “This will
encourage competing Members to present very good songs in the hope
of qualifying for the grand final, thus raising the level of the
contest in general,” said Sarah.
Another issue addressed was the effect that a two-day contest
would have on the budget. Sarah Yuen explained that there would be
a slight increase in the budget but, based on a calculation by the
EBU, it would be less than 10%. However, she stressed more
countries would participate each year and therefore broadcaster
fees were more likely to be reduced rather than increased.
When asked if the ESC might eventually turn into "Worldvision", as
this year’s contest will be aired in Australia, Sarah Yuen told the
press that the contest will continue to be broadcast across
continents, but at the present time there are no plans to transform
it into a worldwide contest.
When presenting the role of the EBU at the ESC, Sarah Yuen
admitted that the biggest challenge of the event remains the
coordination of the needs of 26 broadcasters, while guaranteeing
the quality of the production and a flawless
transmission.
The EBU also confirmed that it has not received any official
complaints about fraud in the voting procedures. Additionally, each
broadcaster must engage an independent notary to verify the voting
results.
The rock duet, t.A.T.u. has dominated headlines at this year ESC.
But Sarah Yuen said “the EBU has no reason to believe
t.A.T.u would do anything to upset the show or bring the contest
into disrepute.” She insisted that the Russian delegation
had been very cooperative and that no problems were envisaged.
Finally, Sarah Yuen said “the Eurovision Song
Contest is the original format in televised music and singing
contests and with its 50th anniversary looming, it continues to go
from strength to strength.”
The 48th annual Eurovision Song Contest, with contestants from
26 participating countries, is taking place in Riga, Latvia for the
first time. Latvia has been participating in the Eurovision Song
Contest only since 2000, when the band Brainstorm, with the lead
singer Renars Kaupers, won third place. Last year, Latvia's entry
Marie N won in Estonia and therefore Latvia received the rights to
organize the contest. Marie N and Renars Kaupers will be the hosts
of the show on 24 May, which will be broadcast live from the
Olympic concert hall Skonto.
Latvian Television, the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 organizer,
is grateful for the support of Riga’s City Council and Contest
sponsors – Latvijas Mobilais Telefons and Parex Bank.
More detailed information:
www.eurovision.tv
via the Eurovision ZL HOTLINE +371 7770500.
Free photos are also available at http://www.eurovision.tv/public/25146.html
Aline Bussat Ingwersen
EBU Media Officer
+41 (0)79 774 8644
ingwersen@ebu.ch
