Hi all.

This is a copy of a letter I send to Bjørn erichsen at EBU today. I just wantd you all to see it, and perhaps hear your comments.


Dear Bjørn Erichsen.

I have read this statement from you on the website http://www.esctoday,com:

However, the European Broadcasting Union's representative Bjørn Erichsen pointed out that six million votes had been cast last night and the Western European countries had voted for the Easter European countries as well.

First of all it is clear that western european contries voted for easter european contries, because there wan't that many wester counties in the final. Secondly the focus is wrong. You should not look on what western european contries voted for, you should look at what easter european contries voted for, and they only voted for eatern european contries. So actually West voted both west and east, where east voted only east. So what is what should be looked into.

Secondly I hope that you would take this email seriously from a dedicated fan of many years to the ESC. It is time now for two semifinals, and who participates in which semifinal should not be decided by draw, but a clear west and east semifinal. This is the only way it can be guaranteed that there is an even distribution of east and west countries in the final. The way it is now, each and every western country is in the semifinal (except the big 4), and the way the voting has been the last couple of years, they will not progress into the final, unless there is two semifinals, one with east and one with west.

So please take this into consideration so we can have a good esc year in 2008 too.

Best regards
Steffen S. Petersen
Devoted fan from Denmark.

Dear Steffen,

I was sent an open letter to the EBU, too! So you are not alone! Here is my letter:


This is an open letter addressed to the people who really like the Eurovision Song Contest, to the ESCtoday, OGAE and to the EBU!



To whom it may concern,



I am a European TV spectator, an Romanian who's living now in Germany, and please let me express my disappointment regarding the Eurovision contest 2007. My sadness is not that Romania was finished on 13th place. Of course we didn't have a top 5 song this year, and this I admit, but in my opinion it should be finished in top 10. But this is not the problem.



The sadness is caused by a very serious problem regarding the Eurovision voting. This is so unbelievable! I am very sad because what I saw in the final was cause me only disgrace. What is the Eurovision Song Contest now? It is exactly like this: the countries from the former USSR gives the votes to each other, the countries from the former Yugoslavia gives the votes to each other, the Scandinavia countries to each other, and this in the total disrespect of the song and voice value. Now is not anymore a song contest is a really political and "between neighbours" contest. This is not normal; this is disrespect the culture values, the songs values and the live performance of the artists. The Eurovision Song Contest is really going to fail, to bankruptcy. The EBU is tolerating this by keeping this voting system.

I was so sad to see a good song a good voice, like Germany artist has, and the final place for him. Also this year the France was very nice represented; also the Belarus, the Moldavia. And the list can continue. Why we should stand this non-European comportment and dirty stuff. This contest has to be a joy, a really contest of happiness and glory, a song contest.

Of course, everybody appreciate the EBU efforts for keeping this contest to the higher standard, and in the last years ESC became very popular in Europe. BUT don't forget that, this could be change immediately. The ESC will fail in the end if this injustice, like this year, will happens anymore.

The EBU, the Europe and us as spectators and fans should find a new voting system, were the values are appreciated and the live show is represented correctly. For instance, Romania can participate with the most super and good song ever, but will never win! Never! Why? Because we don't have "former republics" and so many neighbours to give us 12 pcts. We can collect 5 to 7 points from everybody, if the song is really good, but this is not enough to win. And you know this. And here is not all about Romania, which has a "not very good song" this year – I say it again, but for all the countries in the same situation. Look at Germany, Ireland, France, Moldova etc. THIS IS NOT FAIR! And as Europeans you should promote the values of honesty, confidence, honor and love! This is the right Europe!

Therefore, I have a suggestion to make: a brand new voting system. The EBU should make an European Contest, just for 1 month over the internet, for a new voting system, a projects contest. And the winner should receive a free trip for two persons (tickets, transportation, money to spend, backside door entrance etc.) for the next Eurovision Contest. This will have a huge success all over the Europe fans, and the EBU will have thousands and thousands of new ideas.

If such a contest will be start I am the first in with my suggestion. The new voting system for ESC:

1. The vote should be spitted in half: 50 % jury, at the place where the contest take place and 50 % TV voting as before!
2. The jury: it should be a jury, constitute from 24 peoples (exactly the number of the countries in the contest final) – 12 people from outside Europe, well known artists and huge starts from all over the continents and 12 people from all the European countries, participant at Esc or not, also very well and huge artist and stars. These last 12 jury people should be drawn by chance every year, I mean every year 12 countries should be selected by chance to have these honour, and these 12 countries to send an international song star (band or artist). The jury will give points exactly as in the TV voting, and to save time in the end, for presentation, very quickly it should be presented on screen only the picture and the name of the jury with all the points given. No explanation, no nothing. This presentation should add to the contest maximum 20-30 minutes more, so is not such a problem.
3. The TV voting: it should count only 50 %, or less, and it should stay exactly like before, with all the countries presenting the votes etc.
4. The points: should stay exactly like until now for the TV voting and also for the jury (1 to 12).
5. In the end the votes from the jury and from the TV voting should be put together and to claim the winner!
6. This suggestion will keep also the old format, so for EBU are no money and contracts lost, the format is the same and the logistic for 24 jury people is not so complicated. I have in mind exactly the scheme and the organisation of such event, but I will write this only if EBU is interested.



This is my opinion regarding this year ESC Final in Helsinki. The spectator's bad reaction in the Helsinki arena, and also the bad reactions all over the internet should make you to pay attention for the ESC future!



With all the respect, Nuernberg, Germany

Calin P. R. 13.05.2007

So what's this topic about....?

Styffer1972 wrote:Hi all.

This is a copy of a letter I send to Bjørn erichsen at EBU today. I just wantd you all to see it, and perhaps hear your comments.


Dear Bjørn Erichsen.

I have read this statement from you on the website http://www.esctoday,com:

However, the European Broadcasting Union's representative Bjørn Erichsen pointed out that six million votes had been cast last night and the Western European countries had voted for the Easter European countries as well.

First of all it is clear that western european contries voted for easter european contries, because there wan't that many wester counties in the final. Secondly the focus is wrong. You should not look on what western european contries voted for, you should look at what easter european contries voted for, and they only voted for eatern european contries. So actually West voted both west and east, where east voted only east. So what is what should be looked into.

Secondly I hope that you would take this email seriously from a dedicated fan of many years to the ESC. It is time now for two semifinals, and who participates in which semifinal should not be decided by draw, but a clear west and east semifinal. This is the only way it can be guaranteed that there is an even distribution of east and west countries in the final. The way it is now, each and every western country is in the semifinal (except the big 4), and the way the voting has been the last couple of years, they will not progress into the final, unless there is two semifinals, one with east and one with west.

So please take this into consideration so we can have a good esc year in 2008 too.

Best regards
Steffen S. Petersen
Devoted fan from Denmark.

Does no-one understand though, that even with a western and eastern semi-final...the eastern nations will all still vote for eachother in the final, and the west will still fill up the bottom places! It won't work!!