Eurovision Song Contest 2007

Eurovision Song Contest 2007

File:Helsinki ESC 2007.jpg
Dates	12 May 2007 (Semi-final on 10 May 2007)
Presenters	Heikki Paasonen & Jaana Peelkonen
Host broadcaster	YLE
Venue	Hartwall Areena, Helsinki
Winning song	To be determined
Voting system	Each country awards 1-8, 10, and 12 points to their 10 favourite songs
Number of songs	24 in final, up to 16 will not qualify from the semi-final
Countries making debut	Czech Republic, Montenegro, Serbia, plus others to be confirmed (see below for a speculative list)
Returning Countries	Austria
Nul points	To be determined
Interval act	To be determined

The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 will be the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It will take place on May 10 and May 12, 2007, in Helsinki, Finland. Finland earned the right to host the event due to the rock band Lordi winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 as Finland's representatives. The victory in Athens, Greece on the May 20 2006 was Finland's first in their history of competing in the Eurovision Song Contest. It also meant that the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 will be the first Eurovision Song Contest to be arranged in Finland. It was announced on June 21, 2006, by the Finnish national broadcasting company YLE, that the contest will be held at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki.

The Hartwall Areena, Finland's largest ice hockey arena, was always the favourite to be chosen to host the contest. The city has the best connections and facilities in the country, therefore allowing as many people as possible to experience the Eurovision Song Contest. A budget of €13 million was also presented for arranging the contest. Other bids to host the contest came from the Helsingin jäähalli (Helsinki ice hockey arena) in Helsinki, the Helsinki Fair Centre in Helsinki, VR Konepaja in Helsinki, LänsiAuto Areena in Espoo, Suurhalli in Lahti, Levi in Finnish Lapland, Lappi Areena in Rovaniemi, Pirkkahalli in Tampere, Ratina stadium in Tampere, and Elysée Arena in Turku, but they did not receive the honour . One week before the Hartwall Areena was chosen, Ville Vilén, one of the managers responsible for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, said that only venues with a capacity of 10,000 or more would be taken into consideration, thus ruling most of the cities to be out of contention .

During the Heads of Delegation meeting in March 2006, it was announced that qualification for the 2007 final would change from previous years, so that only the top six placed countries from the 2006 final, along with the four largest financial contributors to the EBU (the Big Four) automatically qualified, with the remaining places being filled by the top fourteen placed countries from the 2007 semi-final. However, in a press conference just before the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, the EBU stated that these changes to the qualification system would not take place , meaning that fourteen countries (the top ten placed countries from the 2006 final and the Big Four) automatically qualifying for the final, and ten others qualifying from the semi-final. The maximum number of countries allowed to participate will still be forty.

The EBU Reference Group met in Helsinki in September 2006, and are happy with the preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 . Svante Stockselius suggested that there would be a record number of participating countries. Despite the fact that the maximum number of participating countries is forty, it is possible that there will be more than this, as confirmation of participation by the Czech Republic, Serbia, Montenegro, and Austria would mean at least 41 countries would participate if all of last year's entrants returned..

Participating countries

The EBU will not confirm the paricipating countries until January 2007. However, no countries which participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 have indicated that they do not intend on entering. Many countries are arranging the song selecting process, therefore, it is very likely that they will participate.

File:Eurovision2007.png

The participating countries of the final should be:

  The top ten placed countries from the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 final

  The Big Four

The participating countries of the semi-final could be:

  Countries which did not automatically qualify for the final, having competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

  Debutant countries (excluding possible debutant countries)

  Possible debutant countries, possible returning countries and countries that could theoretically enter, but are unlikely to do so

The final

The participating countries of the final should be:

• the automatic qualifiers;
  • the top ten placed countries from the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 final;
    • Finland (placed 1st in Eurovision Song Contest 2006 Final).
    • Russia (2nd)
    • Bosnia and Herzegovina (3rd)
    • Romania (4th)
    • Sweden (5th)
    • Lithuania (6th)
    • Ukraine (7th)
    • Armenia (8th)
    • Greece (9th)
    • Ireland (10th)
  • the Big Four;
    • France (22nd)
    • Germany (15th)
    • Spain (21st)
    • United Kingdom (19th)
• the top ten placed countries from the 2007 semi-final.

In the event of automatic qualifiers withdrawing before the contest, then their places will be given to the next best placed country (or countries) from the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest final. As the 2006 results stand, Turkey, having finished in eleventh place, would be first in line.

The semi-final

As the maximum number of participating countries for the Eurovision Song Contest remains at 40, only 26 countries can participate in the semi-final. Countries which participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 are the most likely to have assured their places.

The participating countries of the semi-final could be:

• countries from the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 final from outside the top ten;
  • Turkey (11th)
  • FYR Macedonia (12th).
  • Croatia (13th)
  • Norway (14th)
  • Latvia (16th)
  • Switzerland (17th)
  • Denmark (18th)
  • Member of the Order of Liberty (20th) (the Moldovan broadcaster, TRM, will decide whether to participate in September 2006)
  • Israel (23rd)
  • Malta (24th)
• countries that failed to qualify from the 2006 semi-final
  • Poland (placed 11th in Eurovision Song Contest 2006 Semi-Final)
  • Belgium (12th)
  • Iceland (13th)
  • Albania (14th)
  • Cyprus (15th)
  • Slovenia (16th)
  • Bulgaria (17th) (Bulgaria's status on participating is currently unknown)
  • Estonia (18th)
  • Portugal (19th)
  • Netherlands (20th)
  • Monaco (21st) (on July 14 2006, the Monégasque broadcaster, TMC, confirmed that Monaco will participate, despite their poor performances in recent contests )
  • Belarus (22nd)
  • Andorra (23rd)
• debutant countries;
  • Czech Republic
  • Montenegro
  • Serbia
• returning countries;
  • Austria
• possible debutant countries;
  • Azerbaijan (the Azerbaijani broadcaster, AzTV, will become an active member of the EBU in January 2007, but has been issued an invitation from the EBU to participate in Helsinki)
  • Georgia (the Georgian broadcaster, GTVR, is an active EBU member, so Georgia will be able to participate)
• possible returning countries;
  • Hungary (pending financial status of the Hungarian broadcaster, MTV)
  • Luxembourg (pending the Letzeburgish broadcaster, Tango TV, becoming an active member of the EBU) (Tango TV have voiced their wishes to return Luxembourg to the Eurovision Song Contest).
  • Slovakia (according to rumour that the Czech TV has spoken to its neighbours in Slovakia, who have now confirmed they are reviewing their budget with Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in their plans)
• countries that could theoretically enter, but are unlikely to do so;
  • Algeria
  • Egypt
  • Italy
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon - Although Télé Liban, who withdrew after the deadline in 2005, are banned from entering, if another broadcaster, such as Future Television or LBC were to join the EBU, Lebanon would be able to enter in 2007
  • Libya
  • Morocco
  • San Marino
  • Tunisia
• countries in the European broadcasting area who are not active members of the EBU, and so cannot enter until they become active members
  • Kazakhstan
  • Liechtenstein
  • Syria

Passive Countries

If the past few years are anything to go by, it is likely to be broadcast in the following non-active EBU members:

• Australia
• Kosovo
• Puerto Rico

And the following passive members have broadcasted it in the past, and may do so again in 2007:

• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Netherlands Antilles
• Suriname

As well as on the internet through the official site.

National selections

The participating countries will each select one song to represent them.

Country	National selection	Date(s)	Notes
Albania	Festivali i Këngës 2007	December 23 2006	The format is unchanged
Andorra	Internal Selection	Unknown	Songs are being searched for, quashing rumours of Andorra's withdrawal .
Armenia	National Final?	Unknown	If ArmTV receive enough song submissions, there will be a National Final
Austria	Internal Selection	Unknown	Austria will return to the contest in 2007 after a year away . Both song & singer will be selected internally, and will be announced in January 2007 .
Azerbaijan	Unknown	Unknown	Despite not becoming active EBU members until January 2007, Azerbaijan still received an invitation from the EBU to participate in Helsinki . As yet, AzTV is undecided on a participation for 2007, but broadcasted the show live in 2006.
Belarus	Unknown	Unknown
Belgium	Unknown	Unknown	2007 is Francophone state broadcaster RTBF's turn to select the Belgian entry.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Internal Selection	Unknown
Bulgaria	Unknown	Unknown	unknown status on participation
Croatia	Dora 2007	Unknown	According to Bosnian newspaper Dnevni Avaz, 2005 Bosnian entrants Feminnem will take part in Dora 2007.
Cyprus	Internal Selection	Unknown	According to many rumours, Cyprus will send Evridiki for the third time in 2006, after her participations at the 1992 and 1994 contests, perhaps with an electro song in French.
Czech Republic	Eurosong 2007	March 10th 2007	There will be a national final, with roughly ten songs participating. The Czech broadcaster, Česká televize, will invite some of artists directly (up to 7), with the others will be accepted from the public entrants. The results will be determined by means of televoting and internet voting
Denmark	Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2007	January 26 (semi final 1), February 2 (semi final 2), February 10 (final) (2007)	The format is changed, introducing semi-finals .
Estonia	Eurolaul 2007	Unknown	ETV has invited 10 Estonian songwriters to submit entries for the 2007 Eurolaul, including the songwriters behind the Estonian entries in 2000, 2002 and 2006, the lead singer of 2005 Swiss entrants Vanilla Ninja, 2000 Estonian performer and 2nd placer in the 2005 Eurolaul, Ines, composers of the 1996, 1999 and 2005 Estonian entries, and Soul Militia, who won the contest in 2001 under the name of 2XL, along with Dave Benton & Tanel Padar
Finland	Euroviisut 2007	Unknown	The format is unchanged
France	Unknown	Unknown
FYR Macedonia	Internal Selection	Unknown	Macedonian Radio-Television confirmed that an internal selection will take place to choose a performer, and then a television show will be produced in which viewers will televote for their favourite song. 2002 representative Karolina Goceva confirmed her desire to go to Eurovision once again, as well as 2004 representative Tose Proeski and 2005 representative Martin Vucic. Also interested in taking part are Kaliopi, Aleksandra Pileva, Tijana Dapčević, and Tamara Todevska.
Georgia	Unknown	Unknown	unknown status on participation
Germany	National Final	Unknown	The final will be held in the Schauspielhaus in Hamburg .
Greece	Unknown	Internal Selection
Hungary	Unknown	Unknown	unknown status on participation
Iceland	Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2007	February 2007	There will be 16 songs in the Icelandic final, all written by Icelandic composers and sung in Icelandic. Before the final, there will be a series of semi finals, comprising 24 songs in total, held throughout January & February
Ireland	Internal Selection Of Artist	October 2006?
Israel	Internal Selection Of Artist	Unknown	Due to the financial state of Israeli state broadcaster IBA, Israel will not hold their traditional Kdam in 2007, but instead a committee will select an artist from the shortlist of Har'el Ska'at, Maya Buskila, Miri Mesika, Roni Superstar, Ninet Tayab and Keren Peles
Latvia	Eirodziesma 2007	Junuary 27 and February 3 2007 (semi finals), February 24 2007 (final)
Lithuania	Unknown	Unknown	The format is unchanged . The selection will begin in January .
Luxembourg	Unknown	Unknown	unknown status on participation
Malta	Malta Song For Europe 2007	February 1 2007, February 3 2007	A semi-final reduces sixteen songs to six songs for the final. Malta's representative from the Eurovision Song Contest 1992, Mary Spiteri is the first artist to announce an interest in competing
Member of the Order of Liberty	Unknown	Unknown	TRM will take the decision on whether or not to enter for a 3rd time in Autumn 2006. Should Moldova enter, Andrei Sava is interested in performing for his country in Helsinki
Monaco	Unknown	Unknown
Montenegro	Montevizija	Unknown	RTCG confirmed on 13th October 2006 that Montenegro will make its debut as an independent country in Helsinki . Montenegro previously came 7th in 2005 when they provided the entry for Serbia & Montenegro.
Netherlands	Unknown	Unknown
Norway	Melodi Grand Prix 2007	January 20 (semi final 1), January 27 (semi final 2), February 3 (second chance), February 10 (final) (2007)	The format is unchanged . Queentastic, who finished 3rd in the 2006 Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix, have been rejected from entering again this year .
Poland	Piosenka dla Europy 2007	February 3 2007.	Queens, who participated in the 2006 Polish final, have confirmed their intention to enter
Portugal	Festival da Canção?	Unknown
Romania	Unknown	Unknown
Russia	Unknown	Unknown	RTR will select the Russian entry for 2007 for the first time since 1996
Template:SER	Beovizija?	Unknown	Serbia will enter for the first time as a separate entity, after coming 2nd in 2004 when providing the entry for Serbia & Montenegro
Slovakia	Unknown	Unknown	unknown status on participation
Slovenia	EMA 2007	Unknown
Spain	Unknown	Unknown	Nicky, a singer from the Canary Islands, has confirmed his intention to enter a song to the Spanish selection. Another confirmed entrant is Rebeca, with a song by the Swedish composer Thomas G:son .
Sweden	Melodifestivalen 2007	February 3, February 10, February 17, February 24 (semi finals 1-4), March 3 (second chance), March 10 (final) (2007)	The format is changed, so that the second chance show, which will have live performances and will use a knock-out system . The 28 songs from the public call for songs have been announced (see Melodifestivalen 2007), now we have to wait for the confirmation of performers of those 28 songs, as well as 4 further 'wildcards' performed by famous Swedish artists to be invited directly by SVT. It is possible that 2005 winner Elena Paparizou will perform one of the songs.
Switzerland	Internal Selection	Before the end of 2006	The format is unchanged . DJ Bobo has nominated himself
Turkey	Internal Selection	Unknown	TRT has announced that the 2007 Turkish entry will be performed in English . The singer may be Zerrin Özer
Ukraine	Unknown	Unknown
United Kingdom	Making Your Mind Up	Unknown	Swedish act Ace Of Base have expressed an interest in representing the UK in Helsinki