Key Highlights
- Eurovision Song Contest tightens rules following controversy over Israel’s result.
- Public voting limit reduced from 20 to 10 votes per person; juries return for semi-finals.
- Organizers ban contestants and broadcasters from promotional campaigns by third parties, including governments.
- New measures aim to ensure the contest remains a neutral space and not influenced by external factors.
Eurovision Tightens Rules After Voting Controversy
The prestigious Eurovision Song Contest is making significant changes to its voting and promotional policies following controversy surrounding Israel’s result at this year’s competition. These new measures are aimed at ensuring the contest remains a neutral space, free from undue external influence.
Reduced Public Voting and Jury Involvement
In response to concerns raised by some countries about Israel topping the public vote in May, Eurovision has decided to cut down on public voting. Contestants will now be able to cast only 10 votes each instead of the previous 20. This reduction is intended to ensure that fans can spread their support more widely across the acts.
Additionally, juries will return for the semi-finals, a move designed to “make sure we’re assuring that quality, that diversity of music,” according to Eurovision director Martin Green. The jury votes were not previously involved in deciding the final rankings until this year’s contest where they played a significant role in determining the winner.
Banning Promotional Campaigns
Another key change concerns promotional activities. Organisers have banned contestants and broadcasters from participating in promotional campaigns by third parties, including governments. This follows reports that an Israeli government agency had paid for advertisements and used state social media accounts to encourage people to vote for its entry last year.
Green explained: “There was a little fear that we’re seeing some undue promotion particularly by third parties, perhaps governments, that are out of proportion of the rest of the natural promotion that you should see in the show.” He added that these changes were prompted by “a lot of feedback from members and our fans” who wanted Eurovision to have a good look at its rules.
Ensuring Neutrality
The new measures are part of an effort to reassure broadcasters that the contest will remain impartial. Green hopes this package of changes will give participating broadcasters “the reassurance they need to ensure Eurovision remains a neutral and impartial space.” He emphasized: “The contest should remain a neutral space and must not be instrumentalised.”
In addition, organisers plan to improve technical monitoring to detect and prevent fraudulent or co-ordinated voting activity. Green also noted that the presence of Israel at Eurovision has faced opposition from some participating countries due to the ongoing war in Gaza. However, he did not address Israel’s participation directly.
Israel’s Participation
The final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest will be held on 16 May with Israel finishing second overall this year. Its singer Yuval Raphael received the largest combined public vote, but the addition of jury votes led to Austria’s JJ being declared the winner for his song “Wasted Love.” Despite opposition from some countries, Green expressed hope that these new measures would give broadcasters and fans reassurance.
Austrian broadcaster ORF has previously urged countries not to boycott next year’s contest. A vote on Israel’s participation had been due in November but was cancelled due to recent developments in the Middle East.
It is unclear if a vote will still take place at an in-person meeting in December.
Eurovision Song Contest continues to be one of the most-watched television events globally, with millions tuning in each year for this celebration of music and unity. The changes announced aim to strengthen its neutral stance and ensure fair competition among all participating nations.
