Voting Eurovision Song Contest 2009

in response broadcasters continued complaints politically charged, neighbourly , diaspora voting, ebu evaluated voting procedure used in contest, possibility of change in voting system 2009. contest organisers sent questionnaire regarding voting system participating broadcasters, , reference group incorporated responses suggestions next year s format. telewizja polska (tvp), polish broadcaster, suggested international jury similar 1 used in 2008 eurovision dance contest introduced in eurovision song contest lessen impact of neighbourly voting , place more emphasis on artistic value of song. jury lead less political , diaspora voting jury members, mandated music industry experts, have in addition random members of public .

it decided contest final, each country s votes decided combination of 50% televoting results , 50% national jury. method of selecting semi-final qualifiers remained same part, 9 countries, instead of ten in years past, qualifying each semi-final based on televoting results. tenth qualifier each semi-final, highest placed country on back-up jury scoreboard had not qualified, chosen final. @ final, each country combined 1-7, 8, 10,12 points televote 1-7,8,10,12 jury points create national scorecard . country points received 12 points, second placed country received 10 points, third placed country received 8 points , on 1 points. if tie arose, song higher televote position given advantage , higher point value. national juries phased out of contest beginning in 1997, televoting becoming mandatory participants since 2003.

edgar böhm, director of entertainment austria s public broadcaster Österreichischer rundfunk (orf), has stated 2008 format 2 semi-finals still incorporates mix of countries politically favoured in voting process, , that, unless clear guideline how semifinals organised made ebu, austria not taking part in moscow 2009. despite inclusion of jury voting in final, austria did not return contest in 2009.