Hej, Ukraine. The team behind Eurovision 2017 is going international, with this morning’s announcement that Christer Björkman will be part of the organising team. Björkman’s appointment comes as a number of other roles for the show have been filled, following last week’s resignation fiasco.
Watch: Christer Björkman joins organising team
Christer is hardly someone that needs introducing to most Eurovision fans. For those of y’all who still don’t know who he is, Björkman has successfully run Sweden’s Melodifestivalen for over a decade, whilst also producing Eurovision 2013 and 2016.
Björkman takes on the same contest producer role he had at Eurovision 2016. This means he’ll be in charge of the look of each act’s production on stage. In an interview with SVT, Christer says he’s not after a “Swedish takeover” of the show. Instead, he wants to help Ukraine host with pride. “We are a number of experts who have done this before and really want to help Ukraine to achieve results.”
Bringing on such an experienced name no doubt helps Ukraine’s preparations. It may also help calm some of the bad press they’ve had since last week’s mass resignations.
The global press — including the New York Times — picked up on the departure of Oleksandr Kharebin, Victoria Romanova and 19 others from the organising team. Obviously, it wasn’t the look that NTU wanted to put out to the world.
NTU have acted quickly in establishing their new team. The top names include Larysa Koval, Oleh Zapadniuk and Kyrylo Voronin. This new team has, between them, worked on events including Eurovision 2005, Junior Eurovision 2009 and Euro 2012. With this established team, it looks like Ukraine could once again be well on their way to a successful show.
The broadcaster insists that preparations are on schedule, despite claims that no work has been achieved in two months. With Björkman now in the team, we’re sure a lot of those fears will be put aside.
If you don’t want any sweeds involved, why whould you Russia to win last year? Swidish Songwriter, swedish dansers, swedish coreograph etc…
Oh, no! Now Portugal has to withdraw again! 😛
@an esc fan: “ESC became so big, that only experienced and rich countries can host it. Do you think that The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, Belgium and others will be able to do it without help ? If the answer is not, is sad.” They shouldn’t be able to host a contest? The Netherlands hosted four times! You should be more concerned about countries like Albania, Moldova, Romania or Bulgaria. Or even San Marino. back to the topic: I’m not the biggest fan of Björkman, but I think there’s nobody else who could do better. Also, I’m not a big… Read more »
Note that Christer alone hasn’t actually changed anything. No individual or country is that influential and powerful. Every change was approved by the EBU as a whole, meaning that it was approved by a majority of EBU members.
He isn’t some dictator that decides everything!
@ an esc fan: Finland could host the eurovision? I wonder why you put it in your list when it’s one of the most stable countries in the contest.
I don’t have mixed thoughts because I was expecting foreign involvement after Alasania’s case already (when I got that political battles and are at EVERY social aspect). We will get it, probably neat and smart produced, just a bit insincerely from country side. At least now I see why…
Omgli this is tirening. Specially the complaints that Sweden (again) is gonna be a favourite by the jurys, like in 2015. Thinking that, is as stupid as me wishing everybody (anybody) would care about the fact that Italy/Russia was very favoured in their performance draw back in ’15 and therefore “robbed” Sweden of the possibilites of getting the highest score ever. Yes, EVER!! It’s a valid thought. But one that will get you no where. Just keep moving on and be thankful that Esc 2017 will even take place!
I’m happy that Christer is stepping up. Kinda puts my mind at ease.
Anybody not happy about outside intervention, how will you feel when Australia win the whole thing? They can’t even host at all, so what do you imagine will happen then and why is that acceptable?
Why everyone’s complaining?
Everyone enjoys ESC in Sweden and Melfest is the most popular national selection for fans to follow.
Frankly, this news is a relief!
Many don t like some changes , first to peodicer and ebu reference group decide the draw in semi and especiallyvin final and why good draw get ebu favorites countries almost every year from 2013.Second many don t like , why 5 members in juries have power same as thousand and milions people and why they push so hard somecountries every year especialy from 2012. Increase jury embers from 5 to 8 or 16 like in 80 ties. 4 age groups in every group 2 or 4 , every grop 1 or 2 woman, 1 or 2 man. If we… Read more »
ESC became so big, that only experienced and rich countries can host it. Do you think that The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, Belgium and others will be able to do it without help ? If the answer is not, is sad.
Guess that pre-parties are more up close and personal, this is why they are more charming.
Split results are great idea, but I prefer 100% televote, still split results are the second best, but jury kills all the fun.
I was thinking about it: putting on Eurovision with 43 countries, expecting 200 million viewers over the course of a week (in addition to the thousands who show up for the actual show), and organizing thousands of artists, press, and other event-related people is a *huge* undertaking. Templates and guidebooks can only go so far—I’m pretty sure Eurovision pretty much doubled in size since Ukraine last hosted in 2005. Bringing in the “big guns” was to be expected at this stage with that resignation fiasco and the contest only 3 months away now. I actually kind of expected Bjorkman to… Read more »
I guess Sweden is gonna perform 18th position in the final this year…
Nothing/nobody can save ESC 2017
Wow there’s so much salt in these comments lol.. When your country does well everyone hates you, I’ll take it as a compliment! 🙂
Can people here calm the f**k down, Christer is just going to work with the artists scene production….you know camera angles etc.. Not the whole ESC production.
Hope that it will be explained why Ukraine could not do it by itself. Is easy to say that is poverty and corruption. Well, the budget is the same now, and Ukraine hosted before. They still have people who did it 12 years ago.
Hm, sounds reasonable enough given the desperate organizational situation Ukraine seems to be in. I just hope this doesn’t unfairly favour Sweden when it comes to running order placement in their semi (and final). Directors like him can decide where acts go in either half of them all. Let’s watch for this once all the acts are confirmed. 🙂
I think the 2 month delay was a real statement by the resigned officials. I love Sweden and their songs, but if Ukraine had to branch our for international delegates to assist it just shows how bad the planning stage is in Ukraine atm.
IMHO I think the contest should add a wildcard spot. A draw for a country guaranteed into the final in April before the contest. So we would have 27 in the final and countries who never reached the final in it. (Takes away the Czech Republic norm of never being in the final until last year.)
Sweden put hands out of Eurovision… EBU need to make some strong rules and so none can’t have the monopol of the Eurovision in the songs and in the organizations. All the countries need to be represented by their songs made by their composers and singed by their singer. And eurovision need to be done by all countries and all the persons which work with their local festivals need to be out eurovision. EBU must have staff from all countries to put on Eurovision. Because this contest is going on every year. So they need to have staff.
I don’t understand why you FANS would rather see the contest being canceled this year (you all know that the Ukrainian organization hasn’t been all too good) than the contest receiving help from Sweden. as far as I know, Sweden is a big part of the contest… They write the songs that you like… 🙂
strongly dislike Björkman.. dont even want him to do melfest and now he will do Eurovision even tho we dont even host it.. not very happy about that.
Wow. The level of vitriol here. Jeez. He was just roped in as a replacement because he was just recently involved with the contest (you know, that one last year, in Stockholm, Sweden) which means, theoretically, he’ll be up to speed faster.
And why does his involvement guarantee a spot for Sweden in the finals? As someone already stated, Jon Ola Sand is Norwegian and Norway didn’t even pass the semis last year. SMH
if any other country but Sweden was asked to help out, would there be this much issue over nothing? Where was the fighting when Germany helped out Azerbaijan in 2012?Did they “germanise” the contest? Did they take over the contest? For some reason Björkman and Sweden rubs people the wrong way. If only you all would focus on your own countries instead of obsessing over Sweden.. Ukraine is in crisis, they needed a pro. Christer is a pro, almost no one has worked with the contest for such a long time. EBU won’t take over anything. Their supervisor is Norwegian.… Read more »
This what a desperate measure, and because it’s in Kyiv, Christer will be unacknowledged and in the background. Also, the EBU will never allow him to alter fundamental EBU rules. Furthermore, I think the “shift to TV” hasn’t impacted the competitive nature of the show (apart from changing the running order) but meant that producers and delegations will create spectacles that appeal on screens rather than on stages.
Jury is ruining ESC, I agree with that, they hate non-english songs (because of the jury, countries are afraid to sing in their language), and they don’t understand funny-novelty acts.
And about fanboys of Sweden, I also agree, simply can’t understand how they can forgive homophob Carola just because she said…Oh, sorry, actually you are great
i hate him
Haters gonna hate. Go Björkman go Sweden!
Does anyone actually have a justified reason for disliking/heck even hating Christer? Yes I know he’s heavily involved with Eurovision, but give the man credit. Melodifestivalen is the most successful NF no questions asked. The new style of voting is also better, albeit, juries need less influence/need to take the contest more seriously.
Plus, I hate that some people here are ‘OMGGGG KRIS KOMD TU SEIV AS FROM IUKREINNNN SENK IU VERI MACC’and are happy about it. I just hope something happens to this stupid man(and g:Son & co. too)….and then there are LGBT fanboys of Sweden, that if Sweden says ‘all ESC fans are just sh*theads’etc. they would still be fangirling about them.
Oh, I hope Sweden doesn’t ever win again, they plus these fanboys are what’s ruining ESC.
Björkman, G:son and all these pathetic Sweden men(not all population obv)who had their turn at ESC and STILL want to be in it’s organization, writing songs etc. have to die-ehm ehm no, that would be too much, but I hope something horrible will happen to them so that they even forget what’s ESC.
These sh*tbags are just ruining ESC…hope it will never be in Sweden again..
Frau Von Storch
Russia last year I think all man bacikng dance vocalist are from Sweden , one of them is contestant from MF 2014 Alvaro .
Swedish composers are co composer of song from Russia 2015 they are Gabriel Alares, Joakim Björnberg, Katrina Noorbergen with russian composer Gutkin, and song from 2013 also wrote Gabriel and Joakim with russian Gutkin.
an esc fan
We know that we have some countries who are pushed so hard every time in points from juries, in this club are Sweden, EBU baby Australia, Malta, Azerbaijan,Ukraine especialy in 2012, and many time Israel, Italy. In this club from 2 or 3 years join The Netherlands and Belgium.
We know countries that juries don t love so much in voting Poland ,many time San Marino
After this we know that Sweden will win the contest. 320 to 400 points from juries befote they chose song.
I feel that the persons that hate this man, want ESC to be with orchestra again.
I don’t know the reasons ”for and against” orchestra.
Yess daddy saves the day
I swore to not vote for Sweden no matter what they send to get this mans hands off the contest.
Now even when Sweden isn’t hosting he still finds a way to wiggle in
Maybe pre-recorded vocals are only the backing vocals.
Just MAYBE, I don’t know.
@George
I didn’t know that.Can you tell me who had used pre-recorded vocals? Isn’t it unfair to the voting audience?
I’m okay with him being there as long as he doesn’t come up with some new weird Melfest-inspired idea like allowing pre-recorded vocals.
This is for the best, whether you like Björkman or not. The contest is in safe hands now.
aww i was starting to warm up to a show with a complete ukrainian flavor but now the dirty swedes are taking over. zzz
I’m glad he has realized he’s not a good singer. Hopefully he’ll stay stick to producing.
Soon, Björkman will be the US president
Eurovision 2017 is saved.
The fact that they had to take in many swedes and other european people shows that Ukraine could not handle this event.
Jon Ola Sand is from Norway and last year in one semifinal, when he appeared on tv screen to say that the results are ready, it could be seen on his face that Norway did not qualify in the final. So, if he could not help his own country, how can he help Sweden or Australia (another rumor) ?
I wonder if the Ukrainians were forced to take on Björkman, or have the EBU take total control of the event from them. At least there will be the appearance of them running it with his help.
Though I dislike that we are getting only 12 points announced and not the 10 and 8……I like the unpredictability of that.Now you can predict who is getting the 12 once you’ve seen the other 9 points.
@ mawnck
Thank you! … I admit I like the changes.
As song writers I don’t like the Swedish, Europe adores them in chain reaction hoping for a winner song. They are overestimated because countries that buy songs from Sweden have huge expectations from that song.
But it seems that Sweden is good to create a show and I like that.
@Sal
I agree with you.Eurovision would be better when Christer retires. He would have imparted his knowledge and artistic insight to so many people by then and raised the standard of the production manyfold. #Positivitygoals