This afternoon the host broadcasters fielding singers for Eurovision 2014 participated in DR’s semi-final allocation draw. The results of three separate draws determined (1) which semi-final countries will sing in (2) whether they will sing in the first or second half of their semi and (3) in which semis the Big 5 and host country will vote. Here are the results….and some photos in case you missed the show.

Semi-Final allocation draw Eurovision 2014 Pernilla Gaardbo jan ola sand

First Semi-Final

First half

Albania (RTSH)

Armenia (AMPTV)

Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV)

Estonia (ERR)

Iceland (RÚV)

Latvia (LTV)

Russia (RTR)

Sweden (SVT)

Second half

Belgium (VRT)

Hungary (MTV)

Moldova (TRM)

Montenegro (RTCG)

The Netherlands (AvroTros)

Portugal (RTP)

San Marino (SRMTV)

Ukraine (NTU)

Big Five and host country

France (France 3), Spain (TVE) and Denmark (NDR) will vote in this semi-final.

Sweden was assigned to this semi-final in advance of today’s draw. Because of the proximity of Sweden and Norway to Denmark, producers thought it best to separate them so fans from both countries can secure tickets. 

Spain semi-final allocation draw

Second Semi-Final

First half

Austria (ORF)

Georgia (GPB)

Israel (IBA)

Lithuania (LRT)

Malta (PBS)

Norway (NRK)

Poland (TVP)

Second half

Belarus (BTRC)

Finland (YLE)

FYR Macedonia (MKRTV)

Greece (NERIT)

Ireland (RTÉ)

Romania (TVR)

Slovenia (RTVSLO)

Switzerland (SRG SSR)

Big Five

Italy (RAI) and the United Kingdom (BBC) will vote in this semi-final.

Norway was assigned to this semi-final in advance of today’s drawBecause of the proximity of Sweden and Norway to Denmark, producers thought it best to separate them so fans from both countries can secure tickets. Israel was assigned to this semi-final because its national day takes play on 6 May, which coincides with the first semi-final. Germany requested to vote in this semi-final ahead of today’s draw as well.

Do you like the fact that producers will decide who performs when, within their half of the semi-final? Check out David’s editorial on why running order matters.

Willy Lee Adams contributed this report from London. Follow him on Twitter @willyleeadams. You can also keep up with the latest Eurovision news and gossip by following wiwibloggs.com on Twitter and Facebook.

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Freddie
Freddie
10 years ago

Wow all those ex soviet countries in one semi is scary. But Really want Montenegro and San Marino to get through and I want France to win cause I fell its been robbed by bloc voting.

Padraig Muldoon
Admin
10 years ago

I know bloc voting is bad … but I’m thrilled the UK are voting in Ireland’s semi. Every little helps 😀 (don’t judge we have no other neighbours 🙁 )

Charles
Charles
10 years ago

@Alex. drowsy ballad? Nobody knows what is Conchita singing for Austria and yet you believe that the Montenegrin entry is a drowsy ballad, when the song is not to be heard yet? And as far as Portugal voting goes, remind yourself that there is still a huge number of Ukrainian and Moldovan emigrants living there. Those 12 are directed to any of those 2 …. so voting on drowsy ballads only if Moldova repeats itself again … and God knows if they will award that dreadful juvenile poorly sung s&m trashy song. Songs like “Kuula” are gems that don’t show… Read more »

Paige
Paige
10 years ago

I’m really sad San Marino got put into a semi final without Italy and filled with ex-USSR countries. I still have hope though considering how close San Marino came last year, and with a better song than Crisalide (it’ll be hard to do) I believe it could make the final 🙂

Spirk
Spirk
10 years ago

Wow! They did it again! Almost all of the ex USSR countries into semi final 1! So by voting patterns only, here is the prediction of the qualifiers:
Semi Final 1:
Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Moldova, Sweden, Iceland, Hungary, Estonia and the last place can be anyone!
Semi Final 2:
Greece, Romania, Norway, Georgia. Then, anything can happen. Malta, Ireland, Belarus can make it, and maybe Finland, Austria and Slovenia.
Semi final 1 is a killer on bloc voting. Semi final 2 will seriously be really more interesting!

Eurofan
Eurofan
10 years ago

just to restore some excitement, we need some underdogs to thrive, and some of these ‘guaranteed’ qualifiers to sink. The top ten is getting a bit boring.

Alex
Alex
10 years ago

I am definitely happy about some things here: – Slovenia, Finland, the Netherlands, Montenegro, FYR Macedonia, AND San Marino in the second half of a semifinal. This means no placement of any of them in one of the death spots by the TV station. These countries have recently produced some of my favorite entries so I’m pretty thrilled about this at least. – Russia and Georgia separated, as well as Azerbaijan and Malta. – Spain voting in the same semifinal as San Marino 😉 (10pts Spain to San Marino last year) At first glance Montenegro does look like it’s been… Read more »

Katie Wilson
Editor
10 years ago

I really hope some countries from the Former Yugoslavia go through this year as I really missed them last year and it may encourage countries like Serbia and Croatia to return.

I also want to see Conchita get through to the Final instead of that creep from Belarus!

Ian Davis
Ian Davis
10 years ago

Before the songs are even revealed, the results of Semi 1 are predictable – Russia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine are such definite qualifiers, you could bet everything you have on it and that would be a safe bet. With all the ex-soviets there – Armenia, Estonia and Moldova seem incredibly likely as well (I ignored Latvia since they haven’t done well recently). Sweden, Hungary and Iceland are very frequent qualifiers so they’ll likely go through. The other place will be fought out between Belgium, Albania and The Netherlands. I feel sorry for the countries who have still never reached the finals… Read more »

Z24
Z24
10 years ago

Well, we got a big surprise with the Baltics last year. We dont’ know what could happen next

Buttered-Coffee
Buttered-Coffee
10 years ago

I think DR was more content to keep the Nordics apart and completely ignored the ex-USSR bloc. Seriously? Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine in the same semi? Well, there’s no use in them performing…we already know that they’re going to the finals…

Z24
Z24
10 years ago

Normally, the first semi is weaker, but all the good ones go through. The second is stronger, but with far more dissapointments.

Things are looking hard for Valentina. She needed Italy to go through. Montenegro is algo on a tough spot.

And I think is the first time that it’s the first semi that has more people, no?

Leon
Leon
10 years ago

The first semi final is a joke. Russia, Ukraine and the rest of pro-russian voting countries in the same semi final? Great. Another thing that bothers me is putting Armenia together with Azerbaijan. We all know that’s a guaranteed 0 for Armenia (armenia has rewarded azeris with points in the past). So that’s kind of unfair, they should have separated those two just like fifa has.

D
D
10 years ago

My highlight of the draw was hearing Jon Ola Sand call the Israeli broadcaster the “Israelian broadcaster”.

Anyways, for the most part the semis look interesting. I’m hoping DR doesn’t place Sweden toward the beginning of semi-final one. By the way, the Baltic countries should be considered different than the Ex-USSR countries, like they’d give each other points rather than Ex-USSR countries and also a lot of countries never even recognised that they were in the USSR. Like seriously, for example Estonia would rather give points to Latvia than Russia.

Tiggeh
Tiggeh
10 years ago

Well Greece and Poland will be happy with their draw….guaranteed points from the UK.

Anthony
Anthony
10 years ago

It’ll be interesting to see how Malta would fare without Azerbaijan’s help this year. Although I’d still expect the Land of Fire to qualify easily even without Malta’s 12 points.

And a repeat of 2010 is an alarming possibility for Sweden, if they don’t choose the right song and artist at Melodifestivalen 2014.

Charles
Charles
10 years ago

Azerbaijan, Russia and Ukraine together in the same semi-final … oh my god … here we go again … what a nightmare! And so far we only know the dreadful Ukrainian song … God knows what’s in the minds of those Russians … and worse than that, whose Swedish producer is Azerbaijan is asking this year to give them another song, whose English they either poorly speak or don’t speak a word at all?? And don’t be fooled to see France or Spain awarding 12s to Portugal only because they are all voting in this semi-final. It does not work… Read more »

Digi
Digi
10 years ago

San Marino and Portugal in Group 1. Spain, Portugal, and San Marino plus France, Belgium, and the Netherlands can unite with each other to vote (Joint Western Europa,South Europa,and Latin Block) 🙂

Elle
Elle
10 years ago

Bloc voting alert in the 1st Semi Final!!

Bb
Bb
10 years ago

The only thing that really annoys me with the results of the draw is that San Marino, Azerbaijan and Albania are in the same semi-final for the fourth year in a row. I guess the other issue is that Semi 1 is much more difficult than Semi 2 just basing off of countries alone considering how many ex-USSRs there are there.

Pera
Pera
10 years ago

First time we have one semifinal with 7 countries from ex SSSR. Last year we have one semifinal with 6 countries from ex SSSR and all go to final. In 2009 we have one semifinal with also 6 coutries from ex SSSR and 5 go to final and one country left from go to final.

Dar
Dar
10 years ago

Ireland gets second half 3 years in a row now .. Overall very balanced semi finals ….

Dar
Dar
10 years ago

Will Azerbaijan and Armenia share any votes ..

Sami Luukela
10 years ago

And Malta should win it 😛

Sami Luukela
10 years ago

Finland doesn’t have any friends, but semifinal 1 has all the big names, except for Greece and Romania.

joey
joey
10 years ago

Yah me too…i want underdog countries to win this time!!!

dhani
10 years ago

i want to see one of the big five to win this year, the big countries always put on a BIG and beautiful show like germany in 2011. i really think it is france’s turn to win now!

Dar
Dar
10 years ago

I want a good placing for Netherlands, Poland and Portugal ..

I want an underdog to win this year and Netherlands currently the strongest underdog