wiwibloggs poll Best Postcard Eurovision 2018

Israel Hayom newspaper is following preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 extremely closely. Their breathless commentary is coming thick and fast, and we’ve been busy diving into the latest details.

Two weeks ago, they revealed that Israeli broadcaster KAN had published a tender for the construction of the stage including the likely concept of the show. And yesterday another article dropped with details about the postcards — the brief introductory clips that introduce each act to viewers — that KAN intends to produce.

The tender for the postcards

As with the case for the construction of the stage, a tender has been published and candidates can apply until 28 October. The winning applicant will be required to conduct thorough research about the performing artists, select the appropriate locations and deal with all the creative — makeup, outfits and hair.

Before shooting starts (sometime between January and March), two pilots will be made to be considered by the EBU and KAN.

The terms of the tender also require that senior staff — the director, creative manager and photographer — will have experience with at least ten similar productions. The producer must have handled at least three productions in the last three years with a minimum budget of NIS 5,000,000 (€1,200,000 / $1,360,000).

The overall budget for the postcards is in the region of NIS 3M ($715,000 / $820,000).

Curiously, Israel Hayom says that in addition to the usual postcards for each participant, KAN also plans to produce a 5-minute clip with all the the performing artists. They also “hint” that a record number of participating countries may be reached in Tel Aviv (although after Bulgaria withdrew, this seems unlikely to us).

Eurovision postcards

The postcards have become an integral part of the show and they are no longer only “time wasters” to allow technicians to prepare the stage between each entry. In recent years, their focus has been on the artists while they visit different locations in the host country. It’s a great geography and tourism lesson!

Since the early 10’s, the official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest has been uploading the postcards on YouTube and they get a lot of attention. (Just check out our annual poll on the matter). 

Netta’s postcard from Lisbon attracted just over 183,000 views followed very closely by Eleni with 181,000.

What do you think about the idea of producing a clip? Do you have any ideas about the concept of the postcards? Share it in the comments section below.

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Maya G
Maya G
5 years ago

Hope they go for something entertaining and engaging. Most times the postcards are the most boring part of the evening, the last time I actually enjoyed them was in 2015 and I also liked the 2011 postcards.

Maya G
Maya G
5 years ago
Reply to  Maya G

Not overshadowing the acts isn’t necessarily the same as being boring and uninspired. The postcards take approximately 20 minutes of each show, they should be taken seriously. The postcards in 2011 and 2015 were great both visually and conceptually without overshadowing the acts.
I believe that most of the years people look at their phones when the postcards are on, because who cares about another singer churning butter or painting a fence somewhere in the host country. So yes, I do think the postcards can be entertaining AND be somewhat entertaining and interesting.

Dave
Dave
5 years ago

There will be 42 or 43 participating countries. I am sure that there will be a returning or debuting country. Don’t trust those early news about not coming back. EBU can get any of those countries (except Turkey) back with negotiations. Something similar happened with Czech Republic in 2015.

Kirby
Kirby
5 years ago

Kazakhstan is like that guy who’s making a huge effort to get invited to the party, as we’ve been able to see it this year in JESC. Come on, EBU, make a little room and bring in one chair for the guy!

GuyGuy
GuyGuy
5 years ago

Sure hope that Keren Hochma, the lady who directed ‘Toy’ video clip will take part, she’s very talented!!

Clever1
Clever1
5 years ago

The tender merely mentions that the postcards will feature “up to 46 countries”, which is the max alloud by ESC rules. This is common practice in such tenders – using the most expansive language when info is still partial. Reading this as indication that the record number of participants will be broken this year is pure speculation.

Roma
Roma
5 years ago

I am sure EBU can bring Slovakia back to the contest if they negotiate with their broadcaster. I don’t think they would say no.

Mee
Mee
5 years ago

Actually, I do think that there is still a chance for Kazakhstan to debut this year. Their debut on JESC 2018 is not accidental… I think that EBU tests Kazakhstans participation in JESC in order to see how would they be accepted – concidering voting, (social) media reactions etc. They might have planned it for later, but after Bulgaria withdrew and with all those fake and annoying “boycott calls” they need plan B a.k.a. Kazakhstan. On the other hand, I doubt that the record number will be broken, cause all the other possible participants confirmed their non-participation and we all… Read more »

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Mee

I think we can say definitely that Israel would never benefit from neighborly voting.

Gobio
Gobio
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Well, Israel’s neighbors wouldn’t do any neighbor voting whatsoever, guaranteed.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

I love the Israeli postcards from 1979 and 1999. I’m sure they’ll kill it here too.

Maybe like a hybrid of the two? Like it starts w the singers enacting some national stereotype, then it transitions to a portrait of what the country is really like.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

Oh and credit where credit is due: Sweden did a good thing inventing/introducing postcards depicting the artists themselves. Should be kept forever.

Jonas
Jonas
5 years ago

Sweden didn’t introduce that! It had been happening for years in the 70s, 80s, 90s…it was gradually phased out for some idiotic (budgetary?) reason – but it was the norm way before 2013. Céline Dion had the pleasure of riding around on the back of a tractor in some rural Irish bog, for example.

You’re right, though, hopefully they are back to stay.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

The Irish had fun with their postcards. They definitely popularized making theirs travelogues for host country, with Switzerland following suit. Then there are boring ones like Yugoslavia or Sweden in ’92 that just made theirs little films of the countries themselves as opposed to anything local. And Italy had a cute idea that went on forever.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Oh my, you’re totally right. I completely forget. That was of course before I was born but I do remember watching YouTube videos of such ancient times where the postcard was also included and it did feature the artists themselves, 1993 for example. So, let’s rephrase that and say Sweden did a good thing RE-introducing them.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

The comparison of Baku 2012 with Malmö 2013 goes that with big money doesn’t automatically come big innovation.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

I would like Andorra to return simply because I like saying Andorra and the flag is pretty and the name is pretty and I actually liked the weird-ass forest creature act in 2005. I don’t think Lebanon will help with a possible if unlikely record number in 2019. LOL

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

We had 43 countries in Lisbon. Minus Bulgaria is 42. Record would be 44. That means, there must be 2 new countries in this case…

Eurovisionfan12
Eurovisionfan12
5 years ago

In this case, then it would be Kazakhstan and Kosovo 🙂

José
José
5 years ago

I would count Bulgaria out in this case. Because I am sure their withdrawal was unexpected for everyone. So the best scenario would be 43 participants which also seems unlikely to me.

dragvision
dragvision
5 years ago
Reply to  José

yes i think the same

Hrvatska
Hrvatska
5 years ago

I liked postcards the most, from 2014 it was possible to see creativity what would come up with Israel this time

Ferry
Ferry
5 years ago

About the record thing. Does this mean that maybe we will get to see either Kazakhstan or Kosovo debut?

Kalen
Kalen
5 years ago

Record number…?
Kazakhstan?

dragvision
dragvision
5 years ago
Reply to  Kalen

Monaco

Jonas
Jonas
5 years ago

Israel had great (and funny) postcards back in 1999, based on biblical stories. I loved them – hopefully next year’s can live up to those. I still think it’s a shame that postcards are outsourced nowadays, rather than being produced in-house by the host broadcaster. It makes for very similar postcards year after year.

Idan Cohen
Idan Cohen
5 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

There won;t be any bible.