The Swiss broadcaster SRF has opened applications for the 100 member audience panel for their internal selection for Eurovision 2019
Join the SRF audience panel
After revealing earlier this summer that Die Entschediungsshow would no longer be used to select their entry, Switzerland’s new internal process is now taking shape. Posting the news on twitter, SRF has announced that Swiss citizens can now start applying to be part of the 100 member audience panel.
Du hast das richtige Gefühl beim ESC und weisst, welche Songs einen Spitzenplatz erreichen werden? Wir suchen DICH für die Jury! Jetzt bewerben. https://t.co/FOjJ5tHUSS #Switzerland #Schweiz #Suisse #Svizzera #Eurovision #ESC2019 #srfESC #SRF #Israel2019 @SRF @Eurovision
— SRF Eurovision Song Contest (@srfesc) August 31, 2018
Teaming up with Digame and Simon & Kucher, who also manage the data collection for scoreboards in the Eurovision Song Contest, an algorithm has been devised to assess the applicants. This is the same formula used for Germany’s Unser Lied national final. During this process there will be online surveys to assess and learn the music tastes of potential applications. Taken from the announcement page:
The 100 people of the panel should best represent the televoting results of over 40 “ESC” countries. They are selected in a multi-stage selection process through online surveys.
SRF
Providing an added incentive there is an iPad giveaway for one or two lucky applicants. Those interested in applying can do so here.
Additionally to this, a 20 member international jury will join up with the 100 member panel. The international jury will include former members of their respective countries juries. Together they will decide which song will represent Switzerland in Israel 2019. Both the 100 member panel and the international have an equal 50/50 split in the outcome. However, unlike the expert check in Die Entschediungsshow, this will not be televised. Instead the winning song will be revealed at a later date.
Switzerland in Eurovision Song Contest
Although Lys Assia’s Refrain and Celine Dion’s Ne partez pas sans moi won the contest after being selected through national finals, it has not been a consistent format for Switzerland. Since Die Entschediungsshow began in 2011 Switzerland have only qualified for the Grand Final twice. The first resulted in last place for Anna Rossinelli’s In Love For A While. The most successful song from the format proved to be Sebalter’s Hunter of Stars. Finishing in a respectable 13th place in the Copenhagen Grand Final. Thus Switzerland are currently on a run of four non-qualifications.
So perhaps now is the time to try a new approach. Their only top 10 finish this decade was through the internal selection of Vanilla Ninja with Cool Vibes in 2005. Which saw the Estonian rock chicks finishing in 8th place with 128 points in the first Kyiv contest.
Will you be applying for the Swiss panel? Can Switzerland get back to winning ways by going internal? Let us know in the comments and on social media @ESCXTRA
