During a meeting in Moscow, the EBU Reference Group of the Eurovision Song Contest decided to introduce a voting model of a mix between televoting and jury votes in the 2009 Final. No change will be made in the voting during the semi finals of the Eurovision Song Contest.
The outcome was the result of lengthy considerations and detailed discussion on a wide variety of models. Details on the balance between jury and televoting outcome are still to be determined in the months to come.
The chairman of the Reference Group, explained: "We strongly believe in televoting as a way of measuring the opinion of our millions of viewers across Europe. After the public debate about neighbor- and diaspora voting, we decided to give the national juries a say in the outcome of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest".
A survey amongst delegation heads from represented countries revealed that a majority is in favor of such mixed model. Earlier today, they were informed about the outcome of the Reference Group meeting in Moscow.
A mixed voting system also has great support amongst the fans of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Svante Stockselius, the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of the EBU, said: "Nothing is more democratic than the vote of the public. But a jury takes the opportunity to listen to the songs several times, before they make up their minds. In Belgrade, we saw a difference in judgment of the public and the back-up juries, and we believe a combination will make the show more interesting".
Semi finals will retain their format as this year, where in each semi final 9 songs will qualify through televoting and one by a jury. Details on the composition of the juries will be discussed in a forthcoming Reference Group meeting.
The semi finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 will take place on Tuesday 12th and Thursday 14th, and the final on Saturday 16th May.
Source: Eurovision.tv
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