The change in format is likely to improve the chances of qualification for some countries, others will feel aggreved at the proposed change. What of the viewers and the fans? The changes made public so far seem sure to mean a less predictable outcome and more fun in the show.
The most notable losers initially are Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Belarus, Greece, Armenia, Hungary and Moldova, who all lose their automatic place in the 2008 final. Although the rules of the 2007 event clearly stated that a top ten finish would not guarantee an automatic place in the 2008 final, it is likely that these countries will feel aggrieved. This is especially true for Bulgaria andBelarus, as they have never qualified from the semi finals before.
The news is not all bad for them, as the history of the Eurovision Song Contest since the semi final was introduced is that pre-qualified songs fair badly at the event. In 2006, only two of the fourteen pre-qualified finalists finished in the top half of the scoreboard. Only five countries from fourteen that did not take part in the 2007 semi final finished in the top half of the final scoreboard in Helsinki.
The winners are most likely to be European island nations such Iceland, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus who have all seen their results fall sharply since the introduction of so many new countries. Countries such as Portugal and Israel, Belgium and The Netherlands will also feel additional hope. They are also more likely to attract stronger candidates due to a greater chance of qualification.
The counter argument to the political voting view is that 'Western Countries' do not send good enough entries. Therein lies a catch 22 situation, because performers in many countries do not see how they could qualify even with a good song. As a result some countries have struggled to find suitable singers for a national selection show or an internal selection. Evridiki and Edsilia Rombley were both big names at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007, and both tipped to do well in the final, neither succeeded in passing from the semi final.
The Big Four (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the host country are guaranteed a place in the final, however this has been a disadvantage since the introduction of the semi final system with the Big Four consistently featuring near the bottom of the scoreboard. Their song is only heard once, whereas the semi finalists songs are heard twice by people watching both shows. By splitting the comeptition in half, this effect may be reduced slightly, but it still seems that being a high financial contributor is ironically, a serious disadvantage to success at the competition.
The greatest winner here seems to be the Eurovision Song Contest and its fans and viewers. The contest will become (slightly) less predictable, it is likely to promote and attract higher quality names and talents to the event.
