The national finals keep on falling. After Malta Eurovision Song Contest has seen its demise to The X Factor Malta, Switzerland have now culled their Die Entscheidungsshow format. The news comes as Swiss broadcaster SRF has published details of their 2019 selection.
In place of Die Entschediungsshow, SRF will now have an audience panel and international jury select the song. This won’t be televised, with the winning song being published at some point after the selection is made.
SRF’s reasoning for cancelling Die Entscheidungsshow is reportedly for “austerity” measures. But given the format’s lack of success in recent years, it might not be too much of a surprise.
Selection opens on 1st September
Songs can be submitted to SRF from September 1 to October 1. SRF have even given some hints as to the type of songs they’re looking for. The rules suggest songs that play on “current events” or an “emotional reaction” — highlighting Netta’s reference to the #MeToo movement, and Michael Schulte emoting the death of his father.
Anyone can submit a song, and Swiss citizenship is not required to enter. The winning song and artist will be selected before the end of 2018.
Interestingly, the rules also make a clear point that SRF will have the final decision when it comes to staging. So don’t go rushing to them with elaborate stage plans, y’all!
The choice will be made by a specially selected 100 member audience panel — similar to Germany’s successful 2018 process — and a 20 person international jury. This jury will be made up of ex-Eurovision jurors, so they’ll have plenty of experience and know what to look for.
There’s been a lack of Swiss success in recent years. Zibbz’s failure to qualify in 2018 was the country’s fourth straight year of missing the final. Even with some shake-ups to the Die Entscheidungsshow format in recent years, it’s clear it’s just not clicked for Switzerland.
Are you sad to see the end of Die Entscheidungsshow? Do you think that the change is a good thing for Switzerland? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments section below.
OMG I hope they send Stephanie Heinzmannnnnn
I work in “current events”, so naturally the temptation to write songs about this theme is always there. The trouble is that these types of songs all sound the same without some kind of personal element. Italy’s entry for 2018 does that very effectively, and I would never try to write along those lines after hearing that amazing song. I think what is lacking is HOPE in current events: I would like to see Switzerland go in that direction, a bit like they did this year with “Stones”. 🙂
I’m a bit torn towards internal selections. True it has proven a succesfull method(Just look at the top 3 this year) but at the same time it strips away the contest aspect of it which is the essence of the show.
Plus it robs the audiences of potential hits and great songs
Looking at the scoreboard, seems Swiss will try to search for catchier, fresher songs to reel more televotes. I mean, ZiBBz was 8th in jury points.
I believe ZiBBZ would probably have gone through to the Grand Final if it was in the second semifinal. “Stones” had the bad luck of being in the first semi “Group of Death.”
I don’t like the fact that soon there is more internal selections than national finals. It’s sad, because we will hear less Eurovision-worthy songs. 🙁
The selection process is fine. The entries are too weak.
WHAT???
It’s a shame, because I don’t think Switzerland has been sending bad songs lately. Actually, I’ve really liked many of them! Sure, “Last of Our Kind” had bad staging, but as a studio track it’s great. I love blasting “Stones” in my car, especially with it’s subtle political digs at Trump and the current state of America. Is it just the staging hold the Swiss back? Do they have no friends to vote for them? Are they not going big enough? It’s hard to say.
I want to see Switzerland going high on the scoreboard already!
They should at least try it.
Chris, as far as I remember, you LOVE Switzerland in Eurovision, don’t you?
Do you think it’s a good idea? What do you think we should expect to?
Thanks for the article <3
What?! ? SRF has the final decision for the staging?! Yeah, because Rykka’s was so good!!! ?
It’s gonna be a disaster for us next year:(
I think its a good thing. Look at Macedonia every year when the artists dont decide anything. This is the opposite, Maybe the swiss artists have got to much to say about it. By the way year this years Swiss staging was excellent in a very hard semifinal. i dont think Swiss television decided to have yellow and pink in 2017…
a swiss internal selection :O
Can Swiss send German, French, or Italian song again. Please not English?
There’s no law in Eurovision that says “only English songs ” so Switerzland can send songs in one of they’re national languages.
Can they just pick Sebalter and let him have another go?