Eurovision 2012 - 22/24/26 May 2012

I remain to be convinced that having the 'green room' instead of the mosh pit is a good idea -
however, I am liking the main set design.

The white light reflective border surrounds of the LED walls/screens, breaks it up nicely, and adds a bit of depth to the stage and surrondings rather than a having full surround LED wall we've had for the last couple of years.

It's the first semi-final tonight, on BBC Three 8pm to 10pm BST. Hard luck if you happen to be in one of the parts of the UK that still can't get Freeview / Freeview Lite (using a currently analogue-only local relay in the south eastern half of Meridian, Tyne Tees or Ulster). I think Auntie should put the semi-finals on BBC Two until all the UK is switched to digital at the end of October this year.

The UK does not vote in the first semi-final, so don't bother trying. Don't even find out another country's voting lines and try dialling internationally, I don't think your vote will count and you may face international call charges

Sunday afternoon I watched the preview videos of the entries in the first semi-final. They are available here. Based on that, I can categorise them as follows

Good: (ones I really like and want these to qualify): Greece, Latvia, Ireland

Borderline: Iceland, Romania, Switzerland, Belgium, Finland, Cyprus, Denmark, Hungary

Awful: (I definitely don't want these to qualify): Montenegro, Albania, Israel, San Marino, Russia, Austria, Moldova

Obviously by the time I've seen tonight's live performances, I may change my mind on some of these.

Bit late now though, although I would like some way of watching the Semi's in HD, since BBC HD will no doubt be BBC Two HD by next year.

.... am hopeful that there might be access from the UK online to the 720p feed from SVT for the semi finals, or at least in replay.

Like it appears to be this year

Whether licensing will kick in later and lock us out, I'm not sure ... meahwhile here's the URL for 720p HD SVT, Good luck to those with speedy connections and good ISPs ....

here ……..

SVTPLAY.SE
22-May-2012 @ 18:27

The signal should train up to HD even if it starts in SD. Try forcing it using the eight dots 'domino' control if it doesn't. Has worked in the past.

Yeah, theyve stopped airing shows like Family Guy on it now.

To be fair on the BBC, the EBU do not require the semi-finals to be broadcast on one of the main channel(s), so them chucking it out on BBC Three isn't breaking any rules.

I'm pretty sure some other broadcasters around Europe don't put either/or/both semi's on the main channel either.

If anyone wants to watch tonight but can't receive BBC Three- or if you simply want to see the Semi Final without Scott Mills/Sara Cox, you can get the official stream (without commentary) here:
http://www.eurovision.tv/esctv/main?program=47113

SVT comes up trumps ... 720p it is.

Sara Cox is also on Channel 5. She is finding out about a war hero in her family in War Hero in my Family.

Well I must say - that's a pretty impressive shed they've got there in Azerbaijan...