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Posted by: Ryan. 25th January 2015, 07:13 PM

Watch live http://www.eurovision.tv/page/webtv?program=123613 (12.25pm to 12.50pm UK time on Monday 26th January)

The 2015 Eurovision Song Contest moves into full flow tomorrow with the Semi-Final Allocation Draw and Host Insignia Ceremony taking place tomorrow afternoon. This will be hosted by Andi Knoll and by Kati Bellowitsch (pictured above) who will also be having roles during the Eurovision fortnight in Vienna in May.

As always, the 33 countries participating in the semi-finals have been allocated to 5 pots based on voting patterns from the previous ten years. These are as follows:

Pot 1: Albania, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland
Pot 2: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden
Pot 3: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Israel, Lithuania, Russia
Pot 4: Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, The Netherlands, San Marino
Pot 5: Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania

The odd number of represented countries means that the First Semi-Final will have 16 countries, and the Second Semi-Final 17 countries. At the beginning of the Semi-Final Allocation Draw it will be determined which of the six pre-qualified countries will air live and vote in which Semi-Final. Due to the request of ARD, approved by the Reference Group, Germany has already been allocated to air live and vote in the Second Semi Final on 21 May 2015. Then for planning reasons, another draw will then decide in which half of the respective Semi-Final each country will participate.

Below is an advertisement produced by ORF for the draw, and you can see the 2015 theme art in action for the first time! It looks very pretty, quite reminiscent of 2011 with the use of the Vienna skyline.



(Details from Eurovision.tv and ESC Today)

Posted by: LexC 26th January 2015, 12:14 PM

Using my day off as a chance to watch this live. Priorities!

Posted by: AdamAloud 26th January 2015, 12:21 PM

Indeed!

Posted by: Conderella 26th January 2015, 12:31 PM

Got here just in time *.*

Posted by: AdamAloud 26th January 2015, 12:33 PM

Austria, Spain and France vote in semi final 1
Germany, Italy and UK in semi final 2.

Posted by: Conderella 26th January 2015, 12:48 PM

Semifinal 1

Also voting:
France
Austria
Spain

1st half:
Greece
Macedonia
Estonia
Netherlands
Moldova
Finland
Belgium
Armenia

2nd half:
Serbia
Denmark
Belarus
Romania
Russia
Albania
Georgia
Hungary

---

Semifinal 2

Also voting:
Italy
Germany
UK

1st half:
Norway
Ireland
Czech Republic
Lithuania
San Marino
Malta
Portugal
Montenegro

2nd half:
Switzerland
Azerbaijan
Slovenia
Latvia
Poland
Iceland
Israel
Cyprus
Sweden

Posted by: Conderella 26th January 2015, 12:49 PM

Some things never change. Russia still in Semi 1 I don't think they ever were in Semi 2 oops

Posted by: Iz~ 26th January 2015, 12:52 PM

We seem to have a lot of perennial underdogs in Semi 2. That makes it quite exciting - even though it is the larger semi and therefore a bit more difficult to qualify from.

Posted by: Qassändra 26th January 2015, 12:52 PM

Literally not once since 2008! How weird.

Posted by: AdamAloud 26th January 2015, 12:58 PM

As usual there's nothing much we can take from this at the moment what with only knowing 6 of the songs but we're Eurovision loons. We'll take anything!!

Malta could be a good guess for opening semi final 2 though.

Posted by: LexC 26th January 2015, 01:00 PM

Agreed. My underdog loving support will be split in about 5 different directions in that semi (if they don't all send utter shite which is not impossible)

Posted by: *Tim 26th January 2015, 01:49 PM

Yasss Belgium and The Netherlands in the same semi *.*
our chances just doubled

Posted by: gooddelta 26th January 2015, 03:11 PM

Saade and Karin Park in the same semi

Posted by: J▲hq 26th January 2015, 04:17 PM

What I take from this is Ryan previously saying "but they need to make sure Daniel Levi doesn't win over in Estonia as they are very similar" in reference to Satin Circus, and now Estonia and Finland end up in the same half of the same semi. But eh what are the chances of them both being sent

I echo what Iz and Lex have already said. Already rooting for Czech Republic to get their first qualification from semi 2.

Posted by: Luke_ 26th January 2015, 04:50 PM

The Czech Republic and Poland in the same semi-final <3

Posted by: Ryan. 26th January 2015, 06:02 PM

Haha! We'll probably end up with neither being sent despite them being both top 10 final contenders, but hopefully Estonia don't mess up the immense hype they have at the moment. Poor Estonia though, three first half draws in a row - let's hope they can be in the latter part of the half unlike in the previous two years!

I've just watched the draw now, so exciting to see everything properly getting going now. Semi 2 definitely does seem full of underdogs on first view of the draws, despite it not looking like I'll be a big fan of the Cypriot entry I'm glad they are in the 2nd half, especially as they've been separated from Greece again. The UK being able to vote for Ireland, Malta and Cyprus though, all historically very successful in the UK semi votes so that'll be interesting!

Posted by: AdamAloud 26th January 2015, 06:08 PM

Don't forget Lithuania!

Posted by: Ryan. 26th January 2015, 06:12 PM

Didn't notice Lithuania as well! (and possibly Poland too for that matter) All of them will have been so happy they had the UK in their semi until they realised they have competition!

Posted by: Ryan. 26th January 2015, 06:38 PM

Semi 2 is even more full of underdogs than I first thought, some fascinating stats here thanks to ESC Forum!

These are the qualification percentages of each country, grouped together:

Semi Final One:

9 have qualification records of over 70%
()

5 have qualification records of between 35% and 70%
()

2 have qualification records of below 35%
()

Semi Final Two:

4 have qualification records of over 70%
()

4 have qualification records of between 35% and 70%
()

9 have qualification records of below 35%
()

If you want to see the individual statistics, here they are:

1st Semi-Final:

Greece: 100%
Macedonia: 45%
Estonia: 36%
The Netherlands: 27%
Moldova: 78%
Finland: 70%
Belgium: 20%
Armenia: 86%
------------
Serbia: 67%
Denmark: 78%
Belarus: 36%
Romania: 100%
Russia: 100%
Albania: 50%
Georgia: 71%
Hungary: 75%

2nd Semi-Final:

Norway: 75%
Ireland: 56%
Czech Republic: 0%
Lithuania: 50%
San Marino: 20%
Malta: 56%
Portugal: 30%
Montenegro: 17%
------------
Switzerland: 30%
Azerbaijan: 100%
Slovenia: 27%
Latvia: 30%
Poland: 25%
Iceland: 70%
Israel: 40%
Cyprus: 33%
Sweden: 86%

Averages:

1st Semi - 64.93%
2nd Semi - 43.82%