If you’d like it to be summed up quickly, here it comes: no Eurovision, no party.
That’s how A Dal 2020’s fate can be described so far, at least when it comes to viewing figures. As you probably know at this stage, Hungarian broadcaster MTVA has withdrawn from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2020. However, it’s retained the national selection show A Dal, which… will select Hungary’s song of the year!
Now we don’t know what MTVA bosses had in mind, but the public apparently didn’t flock to watch the first heat of a slightly revamped show which has barely anything at stake.
In fact — despite boasting familiar names like Kati Wolf and Olivér Berkes — the new season has kicked off to a disastrous start. The premiere episode on Saturday 1 February recorded the lowest viewing figures in the competition’s nine-year history.
Record low viewing figures for A Dal 2020
(Vigyázat, a poszt nyomokban szarkazmust tartalmaz!) Sosem látott siker A Dal 2020-ban! Az eurovíziótlanított nemzeti…
Posted by Köztévé Blog on Wednesday, February 5, 2020
The above graphic, created by Köztévé Blog, paints a bleak picture for the once-mighty show.
Let’s break down the numbers.
Only 204,000 people watched the debut episode of this year’s competition. This new low beats the previous record set in 2019 when 270,786 people tuned in to the opening night. That series ultimately sent Joci Pápai to Eurovision for a second time.
To put these numbers in a wider perspective, A Dal 2020 achieved a mere 4.7% share of all TV audiences on Saturday 1 February. By comparison, the opening night of A Dal 2013 attracted 912,719 viewers and won an 18.9% share.
It has been downhill ever since.
The falling figures may be part of the reason why the Eurovision element of the competition was axed. However, if anything, it seems that that move has just worsened the rot.
What do you think? Should A Dal be axed? Or should it become a national final once more? Let us know in the comments.
I know you guys aren’t covering it but still, I need someone to acknowledge how f’n stupid the judges on A Dal are this year (not that they’re not stupid every year but hey…).
In heat 2, they gave 40 pts (4×10) to a girl who sang out-of-tune for pretty much her full performance. They continue to give 9s and 10s to ANY band, regardless of ability. Any male vocalist trying to sing a modern song automatically finds himself with 6s and 7s.
*Sigh* Hungary, please don’t come back if you intend to use this show as your selection method…
Dude, Reni Orsovai is the singer on Nene. You said she sang bad. And yet she win the entire god damn thing at the end?
won*
*Curb Your Enthusiasm theme plays*
Not surprising at all as music is getting worse and worse every single year from 2005 to today, it should be called Americavision as no one comes with music of their background, let it be a pop song, quality, catchy, understandable, singable pop song with each countries folk added to it, like this its same as listening western top chart rubbish.
From the graph, it’s clear that the show was already declining (2019 was already very low) even if Eurovision participation was the prize…No need to be so dramatic in the Headline!
It’s airing at a bad time, with poor songs and a very bad jury. The voting system also sucked. No wonder that Europeans and Hungarians would rather watch another national final and not this one. But this does seem like a drastic change now that there’s really no prize.
the header photo as me scrihming hahahaha
Gunsmoke Rule is now in effect.
#LongLiveTVBTN
So predictable…. I said it from the moment they announced the withdrawal, A Dal will not be a successful show without the Eurovision prize.
And traditionally, the first show is always one of those with the highest viewing figures because people are curious, how it is. So a further downfall wouldn‘t be surprising at all.
I’m sad because I love Hungary and their language but if you’re gonna choose not to participate because of politics then bye
Bye Felicia!
Let this be the last article about A Dal on here
If Hungary doesn’t think ESC is for them, then we don’t think A Dal is for us
Best comment. Honestly, nobody care about A Dal. Nobody.
Hungary: Sorry folks, we’re not doing Eurovision this year. But we are doing the selection show you weren’t watching anyway!
Hungarians: Aight imma head out
(Was that OK? Did I meme properly?)
I just think it’s weird that they’re trying to make it seem like it could function as something other than a Eurovision selection. Bruh, THAT’S WHAT YOU MADE IT FOR. This isn’t like Sanremo where it could keep functioning if you took the Eurovision element out of it. It’s more like if you tried to pass off Dansk Melodi Grand Prix or Australia Decides as its own thing. If you take Eurovision out of it, you kinda lost its main purpose for existing, and I don’t think your idea of what A Dal was made for was really what you… Read more »
Agree. Song contests that have run for a long time and weren’t originally made for Eurovision selection, like FIK and SanRemo work to do without having the Eurovision. But a show originally made for it, and then remove the eurovision element? It might work with huge long-running shows like Melodifestivalen that have been around since 1959, but A Dal? No way. On a side note, if Sweden would ever for any reason not be able to participate in Eurovision (which hasn’t happened since 1976), I am pretty sure they would run Melodifestivalen anyway. It has grown into its own thing.… Read more »
Lol nice one. Let me try another…
MTVA: “A Dal will support the valuable productions created by the talents of Hungarian pop music directly.”
Hungarian Eurovision fans: “Yass gurrl yass!… See you in Rotterdam! We gon’ slay!” *insert twerk meme*
MTVA: “A Dal would not be used to select Hungary’s entry for the 2020 contest.”
Hungarian Eurovision fans: “Say what now?” *insert side eye meme*
*EBU releases the final list of participants, which excludes Hungary*
Hungarian Eurovision fans: “A Dal… honey, sweety, darling… Read my lips… You’re dead to us! Dead! DEUCES!”
It’s what they deserve.
They get what they deserve.
So its even more obvious now that the reason why they wont participate in 2020 is the anti gay agenda. In my opinion they will continue spending money on a show with low ratings just for the shake of supporting “local talent”
Whoa… if TV ratings are so low, imagine how low the YouTube visits of the performances can be! I watched some of them yesterday, because I remember they still had A Dal even when not taking part in ESC. It’s as if some competing part was lost. Hope to see Hungary back in 2021, though. Leaving politics aside, they gave good songs both at ESC and in A Dal.
I watched it. I don’t think it was an ESC-issue. It was a quality issue. I only liked one song so it was a long show.
Hopefully this entices them back next year. Genuinely going to miss Hungary in Rotterdam.
Eurovision, and particularly the Hungarian entry is clearly important to the people, so it’s such a silly move to stay away this year.
It’s what she deserves.
it’s been a downhill since 2014, so the non-esc factor isn’t really the main cause here. Maybe the jury power is.
Yes, but after 2014 and mainly because of Conchita.
Was Conchita in A Dal? I don’t understand.
No, because it’s rumored that Hungary is no longer in esc because it’s “too gay”
And to think that Hungary 2009 was like the gayest thing ever. And not in the good way.
Yeah, they hated her didn’t they? I mean, she only got 10 points from Hungary.
I mean, they should’ve seen it coming. Esc fans who watch it to see whose gonna be the representative aren’t gonna care anymore…especially not fans from outside of Hungary.