The European Broadcasting Union (EBU)’s Director of Media, the Fleming Jean Philip De Tender, has said in an interview with VRT News that that “It is debatable whether it is a good thing that the maximum number of televotes per SIM card or bankcard is set at 20”. Mr De Tender was responding for the first time to the controversy surrounding the televoting in last Saturday evening’s final of the Eurovision Song Contest. “We can look again at whether we can reduce the number of votes”.
EBU’s Director of Media promises review of televoting rules at the Eurovision Song Contest
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In the run-up to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest there was growing criticism about the participation of Isreal. The public broadcasters from several countries called for a debate on whether Israel should take part. However, the EBU insisted that any such debate could only take place after the Eurovision Song Contest had taken place.
There was controversy too when the results of the televoting were announced at the end of last Saturday’s Song Contest. Despite only having accrued a total of 60 votes from the juries of the other countries that had taken part in the semi-final and/or the final, the Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael received 297 votes through televoting. This was enough for second place just behind Austria. Several public broadcasters including Spain’s RTVE and the VRT have asked for an investigation into last Saturday’s televote.
The Fleming Jean Philip De Tender is Directeur of Media at the EBU. In Friday morning’s interview he reaffirmed that the European Broadcasting Union is open to a debat about Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. He adds that maybe it is time to look again at the televoting system.
Mr De Tender told VRT Radio 1’s morning news and current affairs programme ‘De ochtend’ that "We have the best partner in Europe following the voting patterns. I addition to this the votes are validated on site by Ernst & Young. Everything is correct and valid”.
"At the same time it is debatable whether the maximum number of 20 votes per SIM or bank card is a good thing. We introduced it because the Eurovision Song Contest has a real family audience. If children in the family all want to vote for a different candidate, you have to provide for that option too."
The audience is asked to vote based on the song, "but of course people also vote for a candidate for other reasons. For example, the Netherlands will have received at lot of votes from Flanders.”
“But we can review this and look at whether we can't reduce the number of televoting votes."
At the same time Mr De Tender says the role of the expert juries may also have to be reconsidered. "Currently, the votes of the professional juries do not count in the semi-finals (only audience votes count there, ed). We are looking at whether we should change this."
"High-level talks in coming weeks"
Mr De Tender also confirms that the future participation of Israel will also be discussed. In recent days artists that took part in the Song Contest, including the Austrian winner JJ have been critical of Israel still being allowed to take part.
Mr De Tender says that it will be up to the members of the EBU to decide on future Israeli participation. He added that during talks held last December not a single member of the EBU objected to the Israeli public broadcaster KAN taking part in this year’s Song Contest. “This is in line with what at the moment is happening in the worlds of sport and culture where Israeli delegations still participate”.
Mr De Tender understands the call from public broadcasters such as the VRT for a debate on future Israeli participation. He added that high-level talks on this will be held in the coming weeks.
"As an organisation, the EBU has to be neutral, it is not for the EBU to make political statements. But we also understand that something like the Eurovision Song Contest has a big impact internationally and politically. We are now taking the commitment to enter the debate."