Sweden: SVT introduces significant changes in the Melodifestivalen 2022 voting system

Sweden: SVT introduces significant changes in the Melodifestivalen 2022 voting system
Wednesday, 26 January 2022

  • The Swedish national broadcaster, SVT has decided to issue significant changes in the voting system for the upcoming Melodifestivalen.

    With the next edition of the Melodifestivalen just a stone throw away, SVT has shed light on  the details of the new voting system according to which the results of the semifnals heats and the final outcome will be determined. 

    Melodifestivalen's project manager Anette Brattström says:"We want to give viewers a chance to get involved in the competition throughout the program."

     

    Here are the changes introduced in the voting system of the semi-finals, the second chance round and the Grand final show: 

     

    The voting format in the semifinals

    Here is hw the voting will unwind during the semi-final heats: 

    • Voting takes place in the app and by phone while the seven acts perform their songs. In the app, all viewers have five free votes per song.
    • After a quick prize, a first finalist will be appointed, the artist who in total received the most votes after the first round of voting.
    • The six remaining artists advance to the second round of voting. Here, viewers get five new free votes per artist in the app. The votes from the first round are also included.
    • The result in voting round number 2 is now based instead on how the votes have been distributed in the age categories in the app: 3–9 years, 10–15 years, 16–29 years, 30–44 years, 45–59 years, 60–74 years, 75 and older, as well as the telephone voices.
    • The finalists are thus appointed in two different ways: the one who receives the most votes in total in the first round of voting and the one who receives the highest score from the different age categories after the second round of voting.
    • For the first time, the age groups' vote distribution will be reported in the program, in the style of the Eurovision final, where the 12th in each age category will be awarded orally and the remaining points will be reported in the graphics.
    • This means that viewers in live broadcast will be able to follow the count of votes and thus also get to know who will come third and fourth respectively and thus advance to the semifinals and also who will come fifth, sixth and seventh in the sub-competitions.
    • With the new arrangement, the winning prize in the semifinals is removed. The two acts that make it to the finals will not sing their songs again.

     

    The Changes in the second chance round

    As we already know from previous updates SVT has decided to change the format of the so called 'Andra Chansen' round which will be replaced by a 5th heat that will unfold as following: 

    • What was previously called Andra chansen changes its name to the semifinals this year and the duels have been scrapped .
    • In a live draw on SVT play on Tuesday 1 March, the eight entries will be divided into two groups, semi 1 and semi 2.
    • In the draw, no difference will be made if the entries finish third or fourth in their semi-final, which in practice could mean that all 3rd placed acts end up in one group and all 4th placed ones in the other.
    • Two songs advance to the final from semi 1 and semi 2 respectively.
    • The result will be based on the two songs that get the highest score based on how the votes are distributed in the age categories in the app: 3–9 years, 10–15 years, 16–29 years, 30–44 years, 45–59 years, 60–74 years, 75 and older, as well as the telephone voices.
    • Unlike the competitions, the votes will not be reported in the semifinals, this for time reasons.

     

    The changes issued in the Grand final

    • Voting takes place in the app and by phone while the twelve acts perform their songs. In the app, all viewers have five free votes per participant.
    • After the international jury groups have cast their votes, all viewers will be provided with new free votes, five new per artist, in order to continue to influence the result even after the international jury has had its say.
    • The TV viewers' votes will then be reported in lumps per contribution, so that viewers get to know how many points a total of a contribution has received based on how the votes are distributed in the different age categories in the app and the telephone votes.
    • In retrospect, SVT will report separately how many points and contributions received from each age category.

     

     Points based on age categories - How it works

    • Since 2019, viewers have been divided into eight different viewer groups, seven in the app based on age: 3–9 years, 10–15 years, 16–29 years, 30–44 years, 45–59 years, 60–74 years, 75 and older, as well as an eighth group consisting of the telephone voices.
    • All viewing groups have equal power.
    • The one who gets the most number of votes in each viewing group gets 12 points, the second most votes gets 10 points, then 8, 5, 3 and 1.
    • In the final, each spectator group will distribute points according to the scale 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

     

     

    Melodifestivalen 2022 timeline

    Melodifestivalen, the format Sweden is using to select its Eurovision hopefuls, returns next year with a total of six shows to unfold from February 5 up to March 12, 2022. Oscar Zia will be the person to present us the next edition of Melodifestivalen, marking a change of direction, with one only host taking over the presentation of the show. 

    SVT decdided to scrap the the Melfest tour which would have seen the comeptition tour across Sweden in several cities, due to the rise of covid-19 cases. Therefore, all six show will take place in Stockholm, with the first semi final show to be held in the Avicii Arena in Stockholm. The dates on which the Melfest contest will unwind this year are: 

    • 05/02/2022 –  1st Semifinal 
    • 12/02/2022 -  2nd Semifinal
    • 19/02/2022 -  3rd Semifinal 
    • 26/02/2022 -  4th Semifinal 
    • 05/03/2022 -  Second  Chance Semifinal 
    • 12/03/2022 - Grand Final 

     

    Sweden in Eurovision

    Sweden has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 60 times since making its debut in 1958, missing only three contests (1964, 1970 and 1976). At the 1997 contest, Sweden was one of the first five countries to adopt televoting. Sweden is the only country to have hosted the event in five different decades, three times in Stockholm (1975, 2000, 2016), twice in Malmö (1992, 2013) and once in Gothenburg (1985).

    Sweden is one of the most successful competing nations at the Eurovision Song Contest, with a total of six victories, just one win behind Ireland. The country has the most top five results of the 21st century, with thirteen. In total, Sweden has achieved 24 top five results in the contest. After finishing second with Lill Lindfors and Svante Thuresson in 1966, Sweden went on to achieve its six victories with ABBA (1974), Herreys (1984), Carola (1991), Charlotte Nilsson(1999), Loreen (2012) and Måns Zelmerlöw (2015).

    In 2019 John Lundvik represented the country with his song “Too Late For Love”,achieving another top 5 placing for Sweden as he  finished 5th overall with 334 points. Last year The Mamas won the Melodifestivalen 2020 and earned the right to represent Sweden in Rotterdam with their entry "Move" . Unfortunately for them, the contest was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak and The Mamas never had the chance to perform in Rotterdam Ahoy.

    This year Tusse won Melodifestivalen 2021 with his song 'Voices' and went on representing the Nordic country in Rotterdam. After qualifying from the 1st semi final, he finished 14th in the Grand final with a total of 109 points in the overall score. 

    News Source: Aftonblandet

    Image: SVT