The EBU has kept to its word, and released all voting data for this year’s contest in the name of transparency. And it’s a lot of data – not only tele voting breakdowns, but separate results for each jury member along with their full name. It’s a goldmine for statistically-minded fans, but the sheer size of it will have them poring over it for weeks to come.

However, even at first glance there are some interesting factoids and patterns to be spotted. As expected, there was a fair deal of variation in the voting. But like last year, this is even more apparent between jury results and televote within the same country. The UK provides one of the most extreme examples: Poland won the televote, while coming last for the juries. However, it’s not all discord – viewers and juries largely agreed on many songs too, like Malta (winning the UK jury vote, Netherlands, and of course, Austria all placing in the top ten for both groups.

Jury disagreements

Variation was also marked within the jury groups (with the notable exception of Georgia, following reports of their jury disqualification!). In the Austrian jury, for example, Stella Jones (Austria 1995) placed the UK on top, differing strongly from her jury companions. However, the extremes are noticeable precisely because they are so conspicuous; the songs voted top by the Austrian jury are largely those which won universal appeal.

Eyes have also been on Russia, following well-publicised controversy over anti-Conchita comments in some quarters of the media before the contest. Interestingly, although a combined jury vote would have seen her in 11th place, outside the points rankings, she won over televoting hearts and polled 3rd with Russian viewers. This was enough to secure 5 points from the combined Russian results, something that will surely not go unnoticed by media observers within and without the country.

Biggest winners and losers

Poland steps in Romania’s 2013 shoes, having suffered at the hands of the juries. With their vote removed, Cleo and Donatan shoot up to a jubilant 5th place, just behind Sweden and Armenia. Conversely, Spain and Norway have the juries to thank for sneaking them into the top ten, languishing in the mid-teens without the professionals to bolster Dancing in the Rain and Silent Storm. Outsider Sebalter was a televote hit for Switzerland, scoring a lower top ten placing before a less favourable jury vote caused him to sink into 13th, only just maintaining his left-hand scoreboard finish.

Some things don’t change, though; Austria and Netherlands retain their top two positions for both juries alone, and the combined vote. Likewise, poor France, scoring its first ever last place, would have done so with juries or televote only. It still stands that the jury / televote split, while producing some strange discrepancies, still succeeds in lifting those songs which have general appeal across the board.

With so many facts and figures to trawl through, fans will be kept busy for weeks by this gift from the EBU. Have you spotted any anomalies? Share you thoughts below!