Jedward Ramdomly Select Their Running Order for Eurovision 2012. Photograph AFP/Getty Images

In advance of our on-line chat with the Junior Eurovision Song Contest Team (JESC) we read an interesting article today from our good friends at ESC Insight on the running order at Eurovision and JESC

You may remember that we wrote some time back about the decision by JESC to revert to a random running draw to their contest. JESC are actually making the random running order an integral part of the contest where the performers will select their place in the show at a ceremony at the contest.

JESC has always been a hot bed of innovation – which we will save for interview with their “A Team”. In the case of Eurovision, it was decided that in Malmo the host broadcaster would use the running order of the contest to showcase each song individually. This was to naturally ensure that we did not have groups of ballads or up tempo songs all together. Remember that Eurovision is one of the most watched television shows on the planet – so you must keep the audience in mind when creating such an event.

SVT has been doing this successfully for many years with Melodifestivalen so they sought permission to do the same at this year’s contest. It is now clear that DR are planning to continue this Producer led running order for Eurovision 2014.

Jon Ola Sand – EBU. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia

The news of the discontinuation of the “Random Running Order Draw” has been greeted with mixed feelings from fans – if you are to look at some of the comments on many of the websites. It was stated by Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand, that there was no statistical evidence that supported the thinking that running order position had any impact on the winning entry for the contest. Saying to ESC Insight “there is indeed no significant statistical impact of the running order on the result.”

If that is the case then why should we change from the random order of the selection process of the contest? Remember that this year there was an element of the draw in place – countries selected if they would be either in the first or second half of the running order. SVT then took each half of the show and created a unique running order to “showcase each entry”.

Here lies the question for you to ponder on. If the goal is for the Production Team to create an entertaining show that makes each song stand out from each other – then why should we have a draw for what half of the running order each country will be in? Also why should the host country be allowed to randomly select their position in the running order of the show like this year? “In for a penny in for a pound” as my Grandmother would say.

JESC 2013 Logo. Photograph courtesy of EBU/NTU

JESC had led the way with the thinking behind the Production led running order, however this year they have reverted back to a completely random running order and are making it a highlight of the show too.  Executive Producer Roman Keryk from Ukraine’s NTU, said that the decision to the random draw is “…seeing how fair and transparent the process is” for all followers of the contest.

So if running order has no impact on the winning entry then why should we not revert away from the thrill of the random running order draw? Alternatively if allowing the Producers the potential to create an interesting show for viewers, then allow them full control over the entire running order and not have a draw for first and second half placing?

“In DR we trust” is what we say. However we want to know what your feelings are?

Should we return to a random running order for the Eurovision like JESC has done? Should we do like SVT did and just have a draw for the half of the show you will compete in but then allow the Producers create an interesting show for the audience? Finally allow the Producers to fully control the running order of the entire contest and remove the draw for what half of the contest you will perform in?

Let us know what you think?

Author/Website co-founder and Editor in Chief Garrett Mulhall

Source : Eurovision Ireland and ESC Insight