The Big 5 in the Semi finals

[Leydan]

So after this years contest there's been a lot of discussion on here, other forums and with the broadcasters themselves whether the big 5 countries should perform in the semi finals. Maybe as an interval act, purely to give them the exposure that the countries who go into the Semi finals get.

Eurovision*: les réflexions de la direction de France 3 pour l

The executive assistant of France 3, had a meeting in which he said the problem is the big 5 itself and the automatic qualification. Pointing out Italy who said is number 1 at home, and the UK who should have done better than it did. He said that they will attempt to get their entry for 2015 into the semi finals.

What do you all think?

 

[MrJadeEwen]

I do think it's a good Idea and puts everyone on a level playing field as such. It's only a minor disadvantage though, Germany managed to win without it. Seems to me more that France are throwing their toys of out the pram coming last.

 

[Salmon]

Please not as an interval act. That would just be weird and not 'feel' like the right thing.

Please do abolish the Big 5 altogether. It's just unfair because it's essentially like buying the qualification... and honestly, I believe the EBU does not depend on the money from these countries.

 

[greece]

Of course the should I understand why they are pre qualified but I never undetstanded why the songs aren't performed in the semi. It would help a lot Big 5

 

[Kicker]

I'd still like to see Germany competing in the Semi Finals, would be a quite interesting challenge for us. But this won't happen cause the german audience would start hating the contest if we didn't qualify one or even twice in a row. And I'm quite sure the ARD doesn't want to lose the quotes the Eurovision Final gets in Germany. ^^

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

The big 5 should absolutely NOT compete in the semi finals. However, as I have said elsewhere, we should perform as the interval acts in whichever semi we vote in (and the host country should perform in both semis).

 

[Leydan]

I do think it's a good Idea and puts everyone on a level playing field as such. It's only a minor disadvantage though, Germany managed to win without it. Seems to me more that France are throwing their toys of out the pram coming last.

They talked about that on another forum and people were saying that in 2010 the digital age of being able to download music quickly and easily of the likes of iTunes was very small back then and didn't kick off properly until 2011.

 

[Leydan]

Absolutely the big 5 should NOT compete in the semi finals. However, as I have said elsewhere, we should perform as the interval acts in whichever semi we vote in (and the host country should perform in both semis).

Thats what I think, they should perform in the semi they're voting in. Either as the interval acts or after the qualifications.

 

[LoveHate]

Atleast the past five years the big five have been represented in the top-10 every year, including Germany's victory in 2010 and Italy's 2:nd place in 2011. I don't think the exposure in the semis is as important as some might think. A top-5 song is a top-5 song regardless, but it's possible it could have an impact further down the scoreboard. On the other hand I like the idea of big five + host performing as a part of the interval act. Those short snippets they play now won't be remembered by someone who has not heard the songs before.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

Thats what I think, they should perform in the semi they're voting in. Either as the interval acts or after the qualifications.

I've no doubt that this is the fairest solution to the problem. And it means that the host doesnt have to bother getting an interval act for each semi.

 

[Andreea]

I do not agree with "interval act", they should compete like the others and abolish "big 5". They will hate not qualifying in the final, but that's it. Maybe France will send better songs if they know they have to pass a semifinal, there is no challenge for France now.

 

[Kicker]

Atleast the past five years the big five have been represented in the top-10 every year, including Germany's victory in 2010 and Italy's 2:nd place in 2011. I don't think the exposure in the semis is as important as some might think. A top-5 song is a top-5 song regardless, but it's possible it could have an impact further down the scoreboard. On the other hand I like the idea of big five + host performing as a part of the interval act. Those short snippets they play now won't be remembered by someone who has not heard the songs before.

Well, but just think about the Netherlands and Austria this year. Nobody was interested in them or would have thought they could get a good result. Then they performed in their Semis - and got totally hyped everywhere during the days until the Final. This scenario isn't that possible for a Big5 country, maybe they could do well then, but a victory would need the hype around it the few days before.

 

[kippesoep]

Both The Netherlands and Austria won the semi-finals without any good previous exposure. I don't think it makes that big of a difference.

 

[LoveHate]

Well, but just think about the Netherlands and Austria this year. Nobody was interested in them or would have thought they could get a good result. Then they performed in their Semis - and got totally hyped everywhere during the days until the Final. This scenario isn't that possible for a Big5 country, maybe they could do well then, but a victory would need the hype around it the few days before.

Semi 1:
1. Netherlands - 150
2. Sweden - 131
3. Hungary - 127

Semi 2:
1. Austria - 169
2. Romania - 125
3. Finland - 97

I'd say they did quite well even before the hype.

 

[GermanBango]

I don't know if this is a good idea tbh.

 

[Brequetter]

I m agree with big 5 should to participate in semi-finals cause I think it s important to sing twice times to show the perfomance

 

[Franco]

I'm all in favour of abolishing the big5+1. All countries should compete in the semifinals.

 

[Brequetter]

I m agree with big 5 should to participate in semi-finals cause I think it s important to sing twice times to show the perfomance

Only to show our perfomance not to compete, hehe

 

[ParadiseES]

I'd keep the current situation and I don't think big-5 results would be different if they took part in the semis, as participants or in an interval act.

And Big-5 is not only about the money (I don't think the difference of the contribution are so big nowadays), but the number of people they put in front of the TV. Imagine Germany, UK and Spain failing to qualify at the same time, that would automatically mean EBU lost many millions of viewers for the final, which means the contest is less interesting for sponsords and so on.....

 

[FilipFromSweden]

I think it would be good for them if they went through a semi-final, if they know they are going to be in the final no matter what they can just end up sending what crappy song they want.