HC
The only way you are going to get costs down, is by hacking away at the competition in it's present form, and taking a radical turn of direction in the presentation until finals night.
The cheapest and easiest way, is to one week before the final, reduce the 2 semi-finals into showing the national winners performances from the nation heat / or offical produced video all linked from the host countries studio - and let the jury/televote ponder on that.
End result - whilst you loose the 'representing' element, it will save on hotel and air fares for the delegation, as they would only be needed it they got through the semi-final at to the finals night.
Hook your sf entrants for the results at their respective national studios and the have the 8 winners from SF1, 8 winners from SF2, plus hosts and the 4 EBU bankrollers, perform in the final in the big arena.
3 shows, 2 studio bound, 1 sports hall/convention centre based 3+ hour final.
More more managable in terms of costs and logistics.
The cheapest and easiest way, is to one week before the final, reduce the 2 semi-finals into showing the national winners performances from the nation heat / or offical produced video all linked from the host countries studio - and let the jury/televote ponder on that.
End result - whilst you loose the 'representing' element, it will save on hotel and air fares for the delegation, as they would only be needed it they got through the semi-final at to the finals night.
Hook your sf entrants for the results at their respective national studios and the have the 8 winners from SF1, 8 winners from SF2, plus hosts and the 4 EBU bankrollers, perform in the final in the big arena.
3 shows, 2 studio bound, 1 sports hall/convention centre based 3+ hour final.
More more managable in terms of costs and logistics.
