EBU ‘looking into' promotion of acts and number of votes allowed following Eurovision voting controversy
Earlier this week, RTÉ requested a breakdown in Eurovision voting numbers. The Irish televote awarded Israel 10 points for Yuval Raphael's song New Day Will Rise, while the jury awarded seven points.
RTVE, Spain's public broadcaster, called for a 'complete review' to avoid 'external interference', and VRT, the Flemish public broadcasting company also publicly raised concerns over the voting process.
Belgium and Spain's televoters both awarded Israel 12 points, while the juries gave the country zero points.
Israel was ranked joint 14th by the national juries but jumped to the top of the leader-board when it received 297 in the public vote.
As it currently stands, viewers can currently vote up to 20 times each by phone, text or app.
While the EBU says there is no evidence this affects the final result, it will discuss this rule at the annual Reference Group that takes place after the contest each year.
We want to ensure that such promotion is not disproportionately affecting the natural mobilisation of communities and diasporas we see in all entertainment audience voting
Some countries, including Israel, used advertising on social media channels to promote their act.
In an 'open letter' on the Eurovision website, Martin Green, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said that the EBU would look into promotion of acts.
'Such promotion is allowed under our rules and acts to celebrate the artists, increase their profile and launch future careers – it's very much part of the music industry - but we want to ensure that such promotion is not disproportionately affecting the natural mobilisation of communities and diasporas we see in all entertainment audience voting,' he said.
'Another example is the number of votes we allow per person – 20 per payment method. This is designed to ensure that audiences of all ages can vote for more than one of their favourite songs and there is no current evidence that it disproportionately affects the final result – but the question has been asked and so we will look at it.'
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The EBU has said that the voting system is highly advanced and contains 'multiple security layers and a comprehensive set of rules to ensure that a valid result is generated'.
Mr Green said that over 60 individuals in Cologne and other individuals in Vienna and Amsterdam 'monitor the voting process in each country and maintain direct contact with telecommunication and broadcasting partners globally'.
The results are then independently authenticated by compliance monitor EY.
He said all the concerns and feedback will be considered at the annual reference group for the contest which will take part in June this year.
The Song Contest was won on Saturday night by Austrian singer JJ with his techno ballad Wasted Love.
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