They don't have to TAKE PART to be able to enjoy it. They've coped for 59 contests quite alright.

It's not about them not being able to enjoy it without, it's just a really nice little token for the 60th anniversary recognising the absolutely huge following it has out there.

 

I don't really see what we substantively LOSE from it, put it that way...it's not like there's a single other country outside the EBU which has anywhere near as big a following to justify a similar move.

I guess me and John are just OLD and BITTER. But good luck to them, they're surely the favourites to win without even hearing the song, considering the hype they've got.

We don't lose anything, but we simply gain ONE SONG, which I don't believe is justification or reason enough for such a big change, be it a ''special event'' for the 60th or not.

And I don't mean to keep spilling negativity left right and centre, but what has irked me the most is they get to vote in ALL THREE live shows. No one else is allowed to do that? Why don't they let every participating country vote in all three shows as a 'special one-off' as well?

I guess me and John are just OLD and BITTER. But good luck to them, they're surely the favourites to win without even hearing the song, considering the hype they've got.

Second favourites on Betfair, as it stands...

We don't lose anything, but we simply gain ONE SONG, which I don't believe is justification or reason enough for such a big change, be it a ''special event'' for the 60th or not.

well UK will have to settle for 24th instead of 23rd place this year :(

And I don't mean to keep spilling negativity left right and centre, but what has irked me the most is they get to vote in ALL THREE live shows. No one else is allowed to do that? Why don't they let every participating country vote in all three shows as a 'special one-off' as well?

I think the reason for that is to try and avoid any current entrants in the semis being advantaged or disadvantaged by it, especially given the number of diasporas in Australia.

And I don't mean to keep spilling negativity left right and centre, but what has irked me the most is they get to vote in ALL THREE live shows. No one else is allowed to do that? Why don't they let every participating country vote in all three shows as a 'special one-off' as well?

Are you suggesting they should've held a special draw event that assigns what Semifinal they should vote in? What are the negatives of them voting in both Semifinals anyway?

well UK will have to settle for 24th instead of 23rd place this year :(

 

HA, that really isn't a concern for me (though I am still a shade bitter about Molly given it was such an amazing song).

 

I actually think them voting in both semi's is the right thing to do, given the situation. It's the only way for it to be fair. I still think at the very heart of it it is a stupid idea and nothing beyond a stunt for ratings/headlines.

Are you suggesting they should've held a special draw event that assigns what Semifinal they should vote in? What are the negatives of them voting in both Semifinals anyway?

 

There isn't any negatives from what I can see, like I said, I'm just bitter.

Unless my Geography is off, Australia isn't in Europe?

 

Neither is israel and they enter year in year out they have to be part of the EBU that dosnt mean being part of europe it means being part of the European Broadcast Union.

Look on the bright side, if they win it might be in the UK next year :kink:

And I don't mean to keep spilling negativity left right and centre, but what has irked me the most is they get to vote in ALL THREE live shows. No one else is allowed to do that? Why don't they let every participating country vote in all three shows as a 'special one-off' as well?

 

This is my only minor niggle tbh so I get this.

 

Not denying it being a stunt but I don't really see the issue with that. Isn't more publicity for the contest a good thing?

I wouldn't even mind if they stayed in to be honest (provided they weren't autoqualifiers). It's not like anybody else outside of the Broadcasting Area would be interested, so I don't see it as a foot in the door, and to be honest the interest levels in Australia are higher than for some countries that TAKE PART ALREADY, and they're a much better cultural fit with the contest's values than the likes of Russia and Azerbaijan are.

 

And we might get the ODD POINT AS WELL! *.*

Look on the bright side, if they win it might be in the UK next year :kink:

I Heard there are talks about Germany filling in in case Aussies win

I wouldn't even mind if they stayed in to be honest (provided they weren't autoqualifiers). It's not like anybody else outside of the Broadcasting Area would be interested, so I don't see it as a foot in the door, and to be honest the interest levels in Australia are higher than for some countries that TAKE PART ALREADY, and they're a much better cultural fit with the contest's values than the likes of Russia and Azerbaijan are.

 

And we might get the ODD POINT AS WELL! *.*

 

Yes, yes, yes and yes!

On their Wikipedia it says that SBS is internally selecting an entry.

 

I was clinging onto the blind hope we could have a Melodifestivalen style national final with the likes of Ricki-Lee, Jessica Mauboy and a couple of washed up X Factor 9th placers :snif:

Very interesting piece on how SBS have been lobbying to get in for a while...

 

FOR a television director, walking into the massive Moscow Olympic arena hosting the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest was like a child visiting Disneyland for the first time.

 

Paul Clarke looked around the massive set, the 25,000 cheering fans and decided Australia had to be part of it beyond the annual SBS broadcast hosted by Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang.

 

“When we went to Moscow, it was just Julia, Sam, me and a cameraman,” Clarke recalls.

“I had never seen anything like it, this $25 million production. They had half of the world’s LED screens. I thought that day I just had to be a part of it.”

 

The man behind the Long Way To The Top series finally realised that ridiculous challenge this week when it was confirmed Australia will compete in the 60th Eurovision contest in Vienna in May.

 

For the past three years, Clarke and SBS managing director Sam Ebeid have lobbied the European Broadcasting Union for Australia to play a greater role in the world’s biggest, brightest and cheesiest singing competition.

 

They made boardroom presentations with videos which mischievously poked fun at both Australia’s obsession with this epic kitschfest and our own silly national symbols.

 

Clarke and Ebeid said it was our irreverence, rather than any sycophantic posturing, which kept the Europeans engaged in the idea of welcoming Australia into the Eurovision family.

 

The SBS boss said he and Clarke used to laugh about the possibility of us competing but he would always caution the director to “be careful what you wish for”.

 

While Clarke got to know all the producers from the various European broadcasters at each year’s contest, Ebeid started to make representations to the bosses.

 

“The first trip to seriously start lobbying the EBU was to Brussels about three years ago,” Ebeid says.

 

“I remember it was the day the Greek public broadcaster collapsed and shut down and the EBU was dealing with that crisis and we go in ‘We’re from Australia and we want to play, we want a bigger role in Eurovision.

 

“I think initially they regarded us as an amusing distraction — ‘You do realise you are not part of Europe?”

 

The keepers of the Eurovision flame didn’t get why this small country on the other side of the world had such a disproportionate passion for the contest.

 

Ebeid gave them an education in our population demographics, explaining the impact of post World War II migration from Europe.

 

He explained that families and fans would hold their own Eurovision parties each year to support the country of their heritage.

 

At the same time, the EBU was exploring the idea of creating a more global talent contest, so the SBS folk became resigned to the likelihood Australia would be tapped for that broadcast rather than Eurovision.

 

But still both men would continue to meet with EBU representatives in Geneva, Amsterdam, anywhere the powers-that-be gathered to lobby for our cause.

 

When Sweden hosted in 2013, they asked Ebeid and Clarke to produce a video they could play during the finals.

 

“Julia has the perfect mix of passion and irreverence and I had her dancing with the indigenous dancers from Descendence at Bondi to Waterloo in the video and then everyone in the stadium started to stomp to the music and clap their hands,” Clarke says.

 

“It was such a satisfying moment to have the Swedes onside.”

 

But the tipping point for Australia’s Eurovision campaign came when Denmark won the 2013 contest and the right to host last year’s event.

 

The Danes bailed up Clarke and Ebeid and said they wanted Australia involved and not just perform a song.

 

Everyone acknowledges the Princess Mary effect may have had some influence on our welcome to the Eurovision stage.

 

“They said to me ‘We want something that really f ... s s ... up’,” Clarke said, laughing.

 

So he delivered with a display of such over-the-top kitschness and that inexplicable Aboriginal flag-waving astronaut. And the unbridled talent of Jessica Mauboy.

 

The Australian pop sweetheart had put in hours and hours of rehearsal in the days leading up to her performance and despite an almost debilitating attack of nerves, did Australia proud with Sea Of Flags.

 

Mauboy had a lot to do with Australia winning the Eurovision wildcard invite.

 

“One of the Swiss producers called her a pocket-sized Tina Turner and she really won a lot of hearts there, both on and off stage. What we presented to Eurovision last year tipped the balance,” Clarke says.

 

He spent last Thursday meeting with the CEOs of the major record labels to canvas the artists and songs who might represent us in Vienna in May.

 

Other “major, major” artists called him directly to make it known they were interested. Why wouldn’t they be? With hundreds of millions of viewers, Eurovision makes The Voice and X Factor look like ratings minnows.

 

Both Ebeid and Clarke confirm all the obvious candidates are being considered ahead of the announcement in early March, including Kylie Minogue and Guy Sebastian. Duets are on the table — Tina Arena and Anthony Callea, anyone? And despite their petition popularity, TISM probably isn’t likely.

 

The next challenge for Ebeid and Clarke, who dared to dream that Australia would compete in Eurovision, is now for us to win it. Seriously.

 

The bad news is it would not be staged in Australia because of time differences and budget constraints so would be produced as a joint venture between SBS and a European

broadcasting partner. The good news is we have a shot.

 

“This is like muscling our way into the Superbowl but instead of helmets, we’re sporting feather boas,” Clarke said.

 

“A bearded lady from Austria won last year, so anything is possible.

 

“Now we have to find the right artist with the right song to give us a chance of winning it. We want to win this. It’s on.”

 

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/it-to...9-1227218786445

That's a great read, especially from a Rupert Murdoch publication!!