Switzerland look to Sweden for help with 2018 selection

Switzerland becomes the latest nation to confirm their place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Portugal. Along with announcing their participation, the broadcaster has also discussed creating a new procedure for selecting the entry. Switzerland is looking to Sweden, one of the contest’s most successful nations, for help.

A new year, another new format

Changes in the selection format are not unusual in Switzerland, a nation that likes to include all the regional broadcasters in its selection procedure. This ensures that French, German and Italian regions are all involved in choosing the Swiss entry for Eurovision.
Last year, the Swiss dropped the online-portal section of their national selection entirely after several unsuccessful years with that element of the procedure. The Central European nation is now looking to make some further changes after another year without qualification at the Eurovision Song Contest. Martin Österdahl and Christer Björkman have been asked to assist in the creation of the Swiss selection process for next year’s competition.
Timebelle finished 12th in the second Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with 97 points behind Serbia in 11th (98pts) and Denmark, the final qualifier in 10th, with 102pts.

No further details are currently known but we expect to hear more as we approach the inclusion date for entries for Eurovision 2018, September 1.
We looked at the previous formats of the Swiss selection in an article published prior to this year’s selection process, so you can find out more about the previous ways that Switzerland selected their entry here.

Assistance from Sweden is not unique to Switzerland

Eurovoix.com, when breaking this story earlier today, pointed out that Switzerland is not the only nation to look to Sweden for help in setting up a successful selection procedure for Eurovision. The Assistant Head of Delegation for Australia, Paul Clarke, said in May that he hopes that Christer Björkman the Producer of Melodifestivalen would come to Australia to help establish a selection format of the calibre of Sweden’s eventually leading to a Eurovision winner.

Is the future bright for Switzerland with a new approach?

For some nations, changing a selection process opens the doors to better results. Bulgaria, Belgium, France are just three nations who took their selection internal to achieve highly improved results. Whilst Switzerland will seemingly continue to allow the public their say in a televised show, such changes for Spain and Germany in their processes have led to mixed results.
What do you think about these changes to the Swiss selection procedure? Do you think this will lead to better results, or are Sweden taking over the Eurovision world? Let us know in the comments below and on social media @ESCXTRA.