Eurovision 2021 | Rotterdam, Netherlands (NPO/AVROTROS/NOS)

[RDJ]

Italy's "following the lead out to stage" entrance shot was so dynamic and instantly engaging. To name just one example.

Totally agree. The filmography of the beginning of the audience being welcomed to *his* stage was an instant hook. Combined with the performance and the array of pyros and it’s not difficult to see why they won.

The best we could do was polystyrene trumpets.

[Flux]

Italy's "following the lead out to stage" entrance shot was so dynamic and instantly engaging. To name just one example.

Totally agree. The filmography of the beginning of the audience being welcomed to *his* stage was an instant hook. Combined with the performance and the array of pyros and it’s not difficult to see why they won.

The best we could do was polystyrene trumpets.

Totally. And if you look at France, you can see it's not a money problem. One of their most effective sections was the backwards and forwards, shaky camera effect in time with the lighting which was just raw and filmic in a way which perfectly complimented the song and cost nothing but creativity.

The UK were just lazy. Even with what they had, I don't understand why they slowly lowered the trumpets halfway through the song so they ended up just sitting lifelessly on the stage. Surely you start with them lowered down, then lift them as the music builds whilst also lighting them more dynamically so they become a bigger spectacle as the performance goes on?

[TIGHazard]

There was an interview with Newman on Lorraine yesterday. One thing I found out is that the song actually reached number one on the itunes chart on the Sunday. Daði is 7th, Maneskin is 10th, and there's more Eurovision songs throughout the list.

http://www.itunescharts.net/uk/charts/songs/2021/05/23

[WhisperOfCinnamon]

Italy's "following the lead out to stage" entrance shot was so dynamic and instantly engaging. To name just one example.

Totally agree. The filmography of the beginning of the audience being welcomed to *his* stage was an instant hook. Combined with the performance and the array of pyros and it’s not difficult to see why they won.

The best we could do was polystyrene trumpets.

Once they recorded the trumpets onto the track there was only one way the staging was heading.

I'm not a creative, just a Eurovision fan, but Embers was always going to be hard to stage. Not just because you've got a performer who isn't used to performing on a stage like that, but because there wasn't really a story with that song. It's just a dancey pop song with some lyrics about love stuck on top of it - which might have been a winning formula at one point, but not anymore.

The only way that song was ever going to be staged or could be staged is to be a massive party which - in my opinion - never really works (and if the BBC is staging it it's not going to be a party I want an invite to).

I wonder how much control or input BMG had over it? I don't think they would want one of their artists to look a muppet on stage - not that James did, but it was getting awfully close to muppetry levels...

[Whataday]

There was an interview with Newman on Lorraine yesterday. One thing I found out is that the song actually reached number one on the itunes chart on the Sunday. Daði is 7th, Maneskin is 10th, and there's more Eurovision songs throughout the list.

http://www.itunescharts.net/uk/charts/songs/2021/05/23

The iTunes chart means very little these days. You can hit No1 and not even trouble the UK Top 40.

[Jon]

The idea to give ITV a go at Eurovision was suggested by two audience members on Question Time. Along with the debunked suggestion we always do badly is because Europe hates us.

James wouldn’t be very happy, the whole subject was approached as if it was a joke.

[James Martin]

The idea to give ITV a go at Eurovision was suggested by two audience members on Question Time. Along with the debunked suggestion we always do badly is because Europe hates us.

James wouldn’t be very happy, the whole subject was approached as if it was a joke.

It was an interesting insight, if slightly surreal to see Eurovision on a serious current affairs show! The ITV thing incidentally was raised by the same guy who wanted the BBC to be commercially funded when they were discussing the Bashir affair. I won't go there on this thread of course but relevant information in this case.

I doubt ITV would be that interested anyway given the lack of commercial break windows. Even though there is an 8:30 window in the interval, there's otherwise three 2:00 slots. 14:30 over 4-ish hours isn't a lot when you consider the ad load of your average X Factor or BGT live show. That's a lot of inventory to give away on Saturday night (as well as, one assumes, on ITV2 in midweek!)

That said, are there really European broadcasters who seriously have 8 and a half minute ad breaks?!

[Brekkie]

I think such ad breaks are common on the continent. Here broadcasters are restricted to 3 and a half minutes within programming, though perhaps could get away with longer if they billed after the ad break as a separate Eurovision Results programme, or returned briefly within that break before going to another one.

[BcastCornwall]

A reminder that the 'on tape live' performances will be shown tonight (songs eliminated in the SFs) and tomorrow (finalists) in two programmes on the Eurovision YT channel.

[gottago]

The idea to give ITV a go at Eurovision was suggested by two audience members on Question Time. Along with the debunked suggestion we always do badly is because Europe hates us.

James wouldn’t be very happy, the whole subject was approached as if it was a joke.

I doubt ITV would be that interested anyway given the lack of commercial break windows. Even though there is an 8:30 window in the interval, there's otherwise three 2:00 slots. 14:30 over 4-ish hours isn't a lot when you consider the ad load of your average X Factor or BGT live show. That's a lot of inventory to give away on Saturday night (as well as, one assumes, on ITV2 in midweek!)

It would be preceded by BGT which would soak up much of the ad allowance for the night anyway.

I believe there has been recent interest from ITV, it is a very high rating, younger skewing Saturday night show after all so it's right up their street. But ultimately the decision is the EBU's and given they're a union of broadcasters as opposed to a commercial entity looking for the highest price it would be difficult for them to betray a union member who has given 65 years to the contest, even if they do help drag the contest's reputation down in the UK by their inability to produce decent entries.

[James Martin]

I think such ad breaks are common on the continent. Here broadcasters are restricted to 3 and a half minutes within programming, though perhaps could get away with longer if they billed after the ad break as a separate Eurovision Results programme, or returned briefly within that break before going to another one.

Quick news roundup in the long break? So two 3:30 with a 90 second news summary in the middle?

EDIT: Or indeed, the national weather?

[Jon]

But ultimately the decision is the EBU's and given they're a union of broadcasters as opposed to a commercial entity looking for the highest price it would be difficult for them to betray a union member who has given 65 years to the contest, even if they do help drag the contest's reputation down in the UK by their inability to produce decent entries.

I don’t think that would be what would really happen anyway. It would probably be a case of ITV approaching the BBC, offering to add to the budget in exchange for getting the rights every other year. Similar to how the two organisations work together on major football championships and the Six Nations.

The broadcast side of things could remain a BBC Studios production, with ITV Studios taking charge of the selection process and the actual staging of our entry. I would think ITV would want to use Graham’s commentary as much as the BBC. It would also help if the broadcasters agreed to not compete with major LE programmes the year the other had the rights.

[James Martin]

But ultimately the decision is the EBU's and given they're a union of broadcasters as opposed to a commercial entity looking for the highest price it would be difficult for them to betray a union member who has given 65 years to the contest, even if they do help drag the contest's reputation down in the UK by their inability to produce decent entries.

I don’t think that would be what would really happen anyway. It would probably be a case of ITV approaching the BBC, offering to add to the budget in exchange for getting the rights every other year. Similar to how the two organisations work together on major football championships and the Six Nations.

The broadcast side of things could remain a BBC Studios production, with ITV Studios taking charge of the selection process and the actual staging of our entry. I would think ITV would want to use Graham’s commentary as much as the BBC.

That isn't a bad idea. Clean up the semi coverage (of which there would be limited room for such caper on ITV anyway) and that idea is potentially a goer. Does the "winning" broadcaster do the hosting the following year should the impossible come to pass? I remember there were major disagreements between the alternating Belgian broadcasters in 1987 after Sandra Kim won.

[Jon]

I would think the following year would have to be a co-production but with the winning broadcaster maybe having more of an influence. The winning broadcaster would presumably get a second year broadcast rights for the final.

[gottago]

But ultimately the decision is the EBU's and given they're a union of broadcasters as opposed to a commercial entity looking for the highest price it would be difficult for them to betray a union member who has given 65 years to the contest, even if they do help drag the contest's reputation down in the UK by their inability to produce decent entries.

I don’t think that would be what would really happen anyway. It would probably be a case of ITV approaching the BBC, offering to add to the budget in exchange for getting the rights every other year. Similar to how the two organisations work together on major football championships and the Six Nations.

The broadcast side of things could remain a BBC Studios production, with ITV Studios taking charge of the selection process and the actual staging of our entry. I would think ITV would want to use Graham’s commentary as much as the BBC. It would also help if the broadcasters agreed to not compete with major LE programmes the year the other had the rights.

I don't think this would happen at all, it would be an all or nothing event for ITV. They share sports coverage because it's expensive, Eurovision costs peanuts. If the EBU don't allow them to have it then they won't have anything to do with it, as is the situation now.