Eurovision 2016

SVT have announced they'll be using four arenas for the 2016 contest: the Ericsson Globe, Hovet, Annexet and Tele2 Arena. Wonder how this is going to work? Perhaps one of the fan zones in Tele2 with voting and scoreboard and possibly the green room? Main stage confirmed for Globe

Different areanas for the semis and the final? Surely not... Is there a link to the announcement?

Halfway down the page...

http://www.globearenas.se/en/events/detail/eurovision-song-contest-2016

"It is the first time ever that all four arenas will be used for one event at the same time"

I've managed to get a fan package for the SIX shows through OGAE. The options for the ticket allocations is:

Seated
Standing green room
Standing left
Standing right
Standing centre

'Standing green room' is the unknown quantity.

Not long to wait though. Surely all will be revealed at 0900GMT!

Of course the 1963 Contest came from two different studios at BBC Television Centre!

Let's see what happens. Sweden and SVT know inside out how to put on this show, with their previous efforts always being of a very high standard. I keep saying it but 2013 was an impossible act to follow. I'm intrigued to see how they're going to raise the bar.

And I believe Edward Af Sillén is scriptwriting or involved in some manner again (He wrote Malmö 2013 and was called on to assist with Oslo 2010 I believe)

2016 participants
The following countries will participate in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm:

Albania (RTSH)
Armenia (AMPTV)
Australia (SBS)
Austria (ORF)
Azerbaijan (İTV)
Belarus (BTRC)
Belgium (VRT)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT)
Bulgaria (BNT)
Croatia (HRT)
Cyprus (CyBC)
Czech Republic (ČT)
Denmark (DR)
Estonia (ERR)
Finland (YLE)
France (France Télévisions)
FYR Macedonia (MKRTV)
Georgia (GPB)
Germany (NDR)
Greece (ERT)
Hungary (MTVA)
Iceland (RÚV)
Ireland (RTÉ)
Israel (IBA)
Italy (RAI)
Latvia (LTV)
Lithuania (LRT)
Malta (PBS)
Moldova (TRM)
Montenegro (RTCG)
The Netherlands (AVROTROS)
Norway (NRK)
Poland (TVP)
Romania (TVR)
Russia (RTR)
San Marino (SMRTV)
Serbia (RTS)
Slovenia (RTVSLO)
Spain (TVE)
Sweden (SVT)
Switzerland (SRG SSR)
Ukraine (NTU)
United Kingdom (BBC)

(Eurovision TV)

With the confirmation of BBC Three's closure, what happens to the semi-finals?

Well the BBC Trust has stated that some shows must be shown on BBC 1 or 2, so I believe BBC Two will broadcast them.

I know it sounds bizarre on the face of it, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them on BBC Four.

I'd now be surprised to see them anywhere else but BBC Four. The semis are really for the fans only, too niche for BBC Two, the general audience won't be able to stomach up to eight hour of Eurovision in the space of one week.


Although Eurovision might at first seem a bit frivolous for BBC Four, they do show Top of the Pops which is pretty frivolous - also they did show a documentary celebrating 60 years (59, really) of the song contest earlier this year. And I think it would be an excellent opportunity to bring back Paddy O'Connell on commentary duties!