Eurovision 2020: CANCELLED!

[Pingu]

Poll added for people's preferred options.

I'm hoping for a delay until late Summer/Autumn. A studio Eurovision just wouldn't have the MAGIC, and it'd be a big shame for the Netherlands to have it wind up as a total non-event.

As I said in my post above, I see no reason why they can't "keep calm and carry on" and ALSO be working up one of those options.

Also, I think the studio-based option and the no audience option aren't necessarily one and the same. They could have satellite link-ups to smaller studios each with their own audience.

What I'm trying to say is your poll is crap basically.

 

[VoR]

Statement posted on Eurovision.tv five minutes ago

https://eurovision.tv/story/work-on-eurovision-2020-continues

The EBU is closely monitoring the situation concerning the spread of the coronavirus and keeping abreast of the latest advice and guidelines from the WHO and national health authorities.

We are working closely with Dutch Host Broadcasters NPO, NOS and AVROTROS and the City of Rotterdam to explore different potential scenarios for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.

However, with 2 months to go until the 3 live shows on 12, 14 and 16 May, and a rapidly changing situation both in the Netherlands and the countries of the participating broadcasters, it is still too early to make any final decisions.

With this in mind, we're continuing to work together as a team on preparations to host the 65th Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam

 

[SDF]

Right now, I think it seems most sensible to just cancel and let them host next year. I'm not sure we need the same songs though, if only so we get DAMI.

 

[VoR]

As I said in my post above, I see no reason why they can't "keep calm and carry on" and ALSO be working up one of those options.

By 'Keep Calm & Carry On' I meant 'Host it in May regardless' as the final decision.

 

[Alla]

Right now, I think it seems most sensible to just cancel and let them host next year.

My money is on this too, I can't see any reasonable or possible plan B.

 

[Pingu]

VoR's mate* has articulated how I feel about the whole thing quite well in this Twitter thread, albeit slightly more romantically. If we can't have a big live show/piss-up in Rotterdam then the studio option could actually be a really great option. They'd already have to get 41 satellite feeds up and running for the voting regardless.

*I appreciate he may be friends with other people on here - YOU AREN'T THAT SPECIAL VOR.

 

[VoR]

Waiting a whole year would have a lot more repercussions than later in 2020 I'd have thought.

The songs would all be a lot older (and if we just draw a line under this year, how to compensate the artists?), the more established national selections like Melodifestivalen would be thrown for a loop, countries that withdrew this year but wanted to come back next year would have to either be blocked or accused of an unfair advantage etc.

 

[Pingu]

Waiting a whole year would have a lot more repercussions than later in 2020 I'd have thought.

The songs would all be a lot older (and if we just draw a line under this year, how to compensate the artists?), the more established national selections like Melodifestivalen would be thrown for a loop, countries that withdrew this year but wanted to come back next year would have to either be blocked or accused of an unfair advantage etc.

Well quite. I think now that all the artists and songs are chosen (with some artists probably going to some expense on the production, videos etc) no matter what happens with the show itself, somebody, somewhere, somehow, will have to choose a winner of this year and then go into 2021 with the slate wiped clean.

 

[AGinAg (37)]

Delay it. The songs used next year would be shit. If the problem continues into autumn then some kind of alternative with either satellite link ups or even some kind of online vote. The artists and delegations would have to have something. A shame for the Netherlands but yer know....

 

[VoR]

I would also imagine not having any kind of Eurovision in 2020 would be the absolute last resort of the EBU too, as they've consistently put the Contest on since 1956.

 

[Pingu]

Delay it. The songs used next year would be shit. If the problem continues into autumn then some kind of alternative with either satellite link ups or even some kind of online vote. The artists and delegations would have to have something. A shame for the Netherlands but yer know....

This.

I accidentally chose the satellite option in the poll because it was at the front of my mind, but obviously I'd choose a full Eurovision extravaganza a few months down the line as the first back-up choice before anything else.

 

[ButterTart]

There has to be a contest of some description this year; cancelling altogether is a wild overreaction.

 

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaAAaaaA]

You can't let all the artists from this year hang around in limbo until 2021, or just not let them have a stab AT ALL either

That's just so massively unfair!

 

[Indie]

There has to be a contest of some description this year; cancelling altogether is a wild overreaction.

overreaction seems pretty rare in the current climate.

Wait, is this a Eurovision thread? Whoops. Off I go.

 

[ButterTart]

overreaction seems pretty rare in the current climate.

Wait, is this a Eurovision thread? Whoops. Off I go.

Yes it is. Eurovision threads are where hysterical overreactions come to be validated.

 

[D5K]

Poll added for people's preferred options.

Is it too late to split the satellite / closed doors contests into separate options?

 

[Alla]

I vote for delaying it until the summer and cancelling the Olympic Games if necessary.

 

[VoR]

Is it too late to split the satellite / closed doors contests into separate options?

Well it kind of ruins the FLOW of the answers, but OK. @Pingu was clearly more interested in the live satellite link-up option, so I've added May + Rotterdam + No Audience at the bottom.

 

[D5K]

Well it kind of ruins the FLOW of the answers, but OK. @Pingu was clearly more interested in the live satellite link-up option, so I've added May + Rotterdam + No Audience at the bottom.

Thanks, I think I'll be the sole vote for that new option.

 

[Alla]

The satellite option is a great idea, The Mamas performing in a fantastic stage against Sehnit singing in Valentina's living room. Yes please.

 

[Zu]

WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE!

 

[Kala]

I don't think having no audience will solve the problem. Even if you cut the delegations of each country down you still have all the technical staff needed to run the event - cameramen, sound, catering etc. That's still in the few thousands.

 

[Zu]

Can we also add a SHIP IN PERFORMERS BY CARGO and make them all wear SPECIAL PROTECTIVE ON-STAGE BODYSUITS option please

 

[Pingu]

I don't think having no audience will solve the problem. Even if you cut the delegations of each country down you still have all the technical staff needed to run the event - cameramen, sound, catering etc. That's still in the few thousands.

For the sake of argument, I would say that that wouldn't really constitute a "gathering" of thousands of people in the same way as they wouldn't all be in the same place at the same time.

But still, an empty arena Eurovision would be pretty grim and at this stage it's fairly clear some of the artists wouldn't be allowed to travel anyway.

 

[VoR]

The satellite option is a great idea, The Mamas performing in a fantastic stage against Sehnit singing in Valentina's living room. Yes please.

'We getting FREAKY FREAKY FREAKY!"

*Accidentally elbows an expensive vase off Lady Val's mantelpiece*

 

[ButterTart]

Can we also add a SHIP IN PERFORMERS BY CARGO and make them all wear SPECIAL PROTECTIVE ON-STAGE BODYSUITS option please

Recycling Who See's astronaut suits works for me.

 

[RS]

I think we should have a winter themed contest in December

 

[Alla]

I think we should have a winter themed contest in December

Christmas Eurovision.

 

[Jacques]

Football cancelled, schools cancelled, work cancelled, EVERYTHING cancelled... everything except the Eurovision PreParty

This has been postponed now

I am waiting on tenterhooks to see if London Eurovision Party will follow my lead of keeping calm and carrying on

 

[win_the_game]

Since this clearly ain't happening, maybe it's time for the return of A (Euro)Song for Moopy?

 

[Alla]

Since this clearly ain't happening, maybe it's time for the return of A (Euro)Song for Moopy?

Or even mod elections, didn't @octophone say they were coming very soon? Anyway, we need something going on because we are going to be on lockdown for weeks.

 

[AGinAg (37)]

The satellite link up thing appears to be the rumoured plan by the EBU that's going around online.

 

[Alla]

Well I'm ready for the hot mess that could be that, of course.

 

[Diddy]

I’ll wait for the announcement, you know gays and rumours

 

[OutSynk]

CONFIRMED!

 

[Alla]

 

[octophone]

is that genuine!??

 

[Kala]

The satellite link up thing appears to be the rumoured plan by the EBU that's going around online.

This came from ONE person quoting it and it's all spread like Coronavirus now.

If they can't delay it then it does seem like the most logical option but it's still not without it's problems. If countries are still in lockdown will people be able to get to the studios to do the recording of the performances? Also, if things get REALLY serious, it's probably not going to be the right time to do something like this when people have other things on their mind. I get that people may want an escape but I'm not sure it's going to be appropriate. If they are sure about having the satellite link up then they could have it at any time of the year. Maybe they would be better waiting until it settles down.

The satellite link up itself also presents a number of problems - technology is great these days but having to do live link ups to a bunch of countries at exact moments is going to be prone to things falling down somewhere. And how can they ensure that rules are being kept to - all live vocals etc. Plus countries like Sweden and Russia are obviously going to have a HUGE advantage over those who don't quite have the same facilities like Moldova and San Marino.

I guess to get round some of these then they could record the live performances earlier in the day, send them into the EBU who would be able to do checks on them to ensure no vocals are dodgy etc and then that way the live link up would not be an issue. But we shall see..

 

[Alla]

is that genuine!??

No ! (I wish)

 

[Kala]

CONFIRMED!

Of course this ISN'T real. My friend Oliver created this the other day. He posted this to a private FB group for the website we both work for I and it has been shared from there and gone a bit viral.