This is not a late April Fool’s joke. On April 3 the Swedish broadcaster, SVT, announced that they will produce their own version of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 for Swedish viewers as part of their Eurovision Week celebration.
As the world fights coronavirus, and with Eurovision 2020 officially cancelled, the broadcaster is stepping in to bring a bit more joy to the people.
Project manager Anette Helenius says: “Now more than ever, it’s a time when we need something positive to look forward to. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that we can say that we will be able to gather and watch these two shows in May. The format of the shows will look different than what we are used to but we expect to offer a music party that engages and entertains in a true Eurovision spirit.”
Eurovision Week is an initiative by Melodifestivalen producer Christer Björkman and the noted producer and writer Edward af Sillén (who wrote the script for Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm). The concept remains similar to Eurovision: Swedish viewers get to watch all 41 songs from this year and then vote for who they think should win the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.
In the official statement announcing the show, Björkman said: “I am happy that the viewers will get the chance to vote for their favourites this year and I hope and believe that this can bring Swedish people together in a time when nothing else is the same.”
Sweden’s 12 Points: SVT’s Eurovision 2020 shows
Eurovision week starts on Saturday, May 9 with the show Inför ESC. It will be hosted by Björkman along with the comedian David Sundin, who we all know as one of the hosts of this year’s Melodifestivalen. Swedish viewers will watch all 41 songs and from there they have to vote for the songs they want to qualify for the final using the Melodifestivalen app. The 25 songs that get the most votes will qualify for the final. That means no automatic passes for the host country or the members of the Big 5.
The final — Eurovision: Sveriges 12:a — will be held on Thursday, May 14, and the 25 songs that qualified will be presented to Swedish viewers one more time and then the votings starts all over again. The song that gets the most votes from the Swedish viewers will receive Sweden’s 12 points and the win. And for those who don’t live in Sweden don’t you worry. The shows will be streamed live on Svtplay.se just like all Melodifestivalen shows. But you will not be able to vote.
Beyond crowning the winner, SVT will also highlight some of the most talked-about Eurovision memories, especially from Eurovision 2013 and 2016 when Sweden hosted the contest.
On Saturday, May 16, SVT will broadcast the EBU’s alternate show called Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light. The EBU intends for the two-hour-long show to honour the 41 selected songs for Eurovision 2020 in a non-competitive format.
What about The Mamas?
Following the rules of Eurovision itself, the Swedes will not be able to vote for their own song. This will prevent the situation we had during the Spanish broadcaster’s recent Eurovision Online Festival, which saw the home act win in a landslide.
The Mamas will be participating in the final and will perform “Move” live in the TV studio. But they will not compete.
What do you think about the idea? Will you watch the show? Do you think that the EBU should have gone with a similar concept rather than airing Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light? Let us know below!
Oh my god… Sweden is really on another level. It’s great because they will really honour all the songs + the Mamas. Really good idea !
The question is, how the hell will they manage to secure the rights to broadcast these tracks? Aren’t they exclusive to the EBU? I mean, the copyright purge of ESC songs on YouTube is real. Or is the Swedish eurovision mafia capable of everything? The idea is great though, this should have been the Plan B all along for the main competition. Well done, Bjorkman! And the whole cancellation thing doesn’t look good now PR-wise for both Jon Ola Sand and the new guy.
Sweden as a EBU member has rights to the songs, as has every member. The broadcasters is what EBU consist of after all..
Please stop this Sweden mafia nonsense!
Will it be like Spain and the winner is Sweden.
If you read the article you would not even speculate about that LOL
Noop They are in the program but they can not be voted on…
Can’t you read?
probably not
the best idea so far! more countries should follow suit.
Then you aren’t a true ESC fan, are you?
A good idea tbh.
An amazing idea imo. Who else is going to watch?
So here is once again SVT standing out among the other broadcasters and trying to do something to really pay tribute to the 2020 singers and national teams who have worked so hard in the previous months to have their esc songs. I wish more broadcasters could follow this iniciative, lauch an app or something and let people enjoy and be able to decide on their favourite songs even if it is just for the 12 points’ sake. Tack Sverige!
Broadcasters that want to pay tribute to the singers and national teams of 2020 that have worked so hard the previous months , give them the chance to compete the next year, as they rightfully deserve and don’t completely cancel them the next day EBU anounces that eurovision will not take place. Apart from that, it sounds like good idea and I’m interested to watch.
It is for entertainment purposes not freaking competition, the voting is to make viewers get that ESC feel to it! People want entertainment when being home all day long since they work from home as well!
Rude or not, people die everyday in various diseases and accidents and the world must move on, we can’t just stop enjoying ourselves because of the pandemic.
Yes, the voting is what makes it a contest and a it being a contest is why people watch it. What’s the point of calling it Eurovision if you don’t have any voting`
And now it’s needed more than ever. I can assure you more people would watch this than the pointless special EBU is planning. A cover show and stories about corona? Haven’t we had enough of it? Do we need to be reminded of it? And watch these 2020 artist sing other songs but their own? I happily take my licence money elsewhere..
Great idea. Well done! Every broadcaster should follow this iniciative!
This is what should be done from the beggining. Instead of cancelling Eurovision. Well done Sweden!
It can’t be an official winner since that would mean they would have the right to host next year, which the Netherlands deserves since they didn’t get to properly host this year.
Sweden is the most Eurovision loving country. Great!
The EBU has been fiddling with the Eurovision DNA – and this is the Frankenstein monster they have created! And it’s a good one! Well done SVT – and best of luck!
It will at least show with pretty good accuracy how we in Sweden would’ve voted. Every country is unique and we can’t guess who the winner would’ve been just by one country’s votes.
I’m curious. I always think Swedish televoting is quite predictable but in the end they surprise me somehow.
Last year, I was sure Duncan was gonna get a sure Top 2/Top 3 in Sweden.. and then at Semifinal, he was beaten by Macedonia and Azerbaijan, showing he was not as strong as we expected.
I mean for people that wonders how it will play out, it will be them more or less just playing the videos or performances of the songs, tell what country it is and then maybe discuss things about the song they just heard and will do so with all songs.
If you search “Inför Eurovision” on YouTube you will more or less see the concept right there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8A516IOdow ;-p
Normally, yes. And they have Swedish målfest celebreties voting and sweden wins. But I don’t think that will be the concept this year. They know we want more then that in Sweden
Cool but it begs the question…if SVT can do it…
I am swedish and I pretty much knew Björkman & co would do something like this. We love ESC here. And I always thought it was possible. I’m so happy that at least the swedes get to vote for their favorite in ESC 2020. There’s a lot of good songs that deserve the attention.
Why cant they do it? And with Björkman involved you know he will go all in 100%. And it’s so exciting..
Sweden: *disqualifies itself*
Also Sweden: Half of the entries are by Swedish producers
The point is that we have a lot of double standards in Sweden. We don’t consider ourselves proud of our country etc, yet we worship Swedish music export, actors, ideals, companies. The jante law saying you should not think you are better than others is not fully followed. So yes, there is an ambivalence. We know we are not the biggest global player in general, but we love the aspects where we are. We love to talk about swedes and our bad sides, but we also want people from other countries to share their views of us. Oh, they know… Read more »
And good luck with those countries with bad music videos and bad national final performances.
Really like this concept. Very curious to see how it works and how the voting goes.
Songs deserved better in my opinion and sad we’ll never know but Swedes will have this at least
At least it’s something
Found informations: May 9th is a pre ESC show . Sort of like the old panel shows they had. All songs will be played, panel will judge and people vote. Then May 14th is the final, with commentary booth and everything:)
It will even have hosts though it’s not decided who yet. I for one can’t wait. I Will watch everything and forget EBU has a special. I literally am smiling from head to the. Thanks to my broadcaster for knowing what people wants..
I think the Spanish broadcast didn’t pretend to make a contest, but knowing what songs they liked the most. It only shows Spaniards like their entry more then we all expected. Nothing else. I’m sure this would happen in most countries with this exact format. Even in yours. I think we must thank, anyway, the Spanish broadcaster gets involved in whatever event about ESC, whatever it is. Instead of criticize, you should appreciate it.
Everybody votes for the songs they like, simply. If you like the song of your country and you have the chance to do it, many would do that. About Spain, see how Spaniards are not trolling this poll despite you have the proof they like their song. They didn’t do it last year in Wiwiblogs either. But if they wanted, they could do it. There are many passionate Eurodans in Spain, and that’s something positive indeed.
Thanks for being supportive. The Spanish are usually very receptive to Eurovision, not just the fans it’s very mainstream, but at the same time getting it so wrong year after year, it hurts somehow. Still, I guess only the fans of Blas, some eurovision fans and the few naive that thought it was the actual EBU contest but with the choice of voting for yourself like in Eurovision bothered to vote. The only fun fact you may get from there is that Greece could have got the 12 televoting points from Spain. SVT is making its own eurovision gala, TVE… Read more »
YES I’m gonna watch it!
No more voting based on age groups again, please.
I don’t think they will rework the base of the melfest app. Maybe they could even focus on every age group with their own representatives
The only good thing here (because I can’t see how a show made of music videos is more exciting than watching them on YouTube without Bjorkman) is that it’s a perfect answer to the “why 2020 songs can’t compete in 2021 ?” drama. And just for that, thank you SVT.
No one except for fans has seen the videos. Mainstream majority can’t be bothered..
I know that and you’re right. I just mean that watching music videos during more than two hours (at best – it could be way more if there’s an introduction to each of them) is not something I am excited about and I prefer watching them on YouTube than on a TV show. Now that SVT wants to do it, then that’s probably better than nothing but it sounds boring to me.
I’m Swedish and I’m so happy about this I could cry!!!!!
Is it possible for someone in the UK to watch this show?
On svtplay.se you can watch swedish TV even outside Sweden
I do have one concern, will there be a rule to keep swedes from voting for themselves? If there isn’t, then we’re just going to have the same thing with Spain’s online Eurovision thing where Spain won.
Did you read the article?
Oh, Sweden is exempting itself. Sorry, I missed that detail.
The only country that loves Eurovision so much
We love Sweden
So, at least we will find out who Sweden chooses as the winner. This should have been done globally. With The Netherlands of course still being the host of the next contest, we at least could have had a representative voting to choose the most popular studio cut of 2020, no?
They really want to present 41 songs in a single show? Good luck with that.
Downvote all you want, apparently not many people here remember the semi final of 2007.
2007 was a horrible year though. Not the same at all..
The 2007 semi was still under 3 hours
It goes faster without the postcards and hosts making bad jokes.
that sounds good to me!!!!
Lyrics from UK 2010.
Sounds good. Much better concept than the Spanish one.
How? Won’t Sweden win this one then?
Did you read the article?
This idea’s pretty good! And fairer than that Spanish one.
Side note: DMGP will once again be an open selection, and Ben & Tan won’t be getting a free pass. See, THAT’S bulls**t. DMGP is literally the one show, not a multi-part thing like Estonia or Norway. There’s no reason not to just admit them to the final.
Honestly? That shouldn’t matter. Either they win again or they don’t. Just because they might not have as good a song doesn’t mean they should be denied the opportunity to definitely try again.
What if they win just because of this year’s situation? People feel sorry for them, so they get plenty of votes – and deny the “true” winner their victory.
Human was better song
Finally a good concept! Others should follow this example. I look forward to tuning in!
What concept ? Music videos that you can watch on YouTube is not a concept to me. Or a boring one.
This works as a sort of Top 40 music countdown showthe likes of those MTV and VH1 countdown music programs in the past as well as American Top 40 on radio but with an added semi to make it all the more exciting and uniquely Eurovision-like.
Yes in the past when YouTube wasn’t there. That’s why you don’t have that kind of shows on TV anymore.
Really? That is your answer?
Grow up Linus!
I’m glad that SVT makes something good from a sad situation. That way we who like Eurovision will still have some kind of show to watch while sitting at home in our quarantines, but you go ahead and watch the videos on YouTube if you prefer that.