According to Greek media, the national broadcaster ERT has finally made a decision regarding the way to select the song for Eurovision 2023.
As in the last year, ERT has made an open call for songs, where the original plan is an internal selection behind closed doors.
ERT has received a total of 106 songs, from artists that are signed into different record labales.
As we have reported, the deadline for the first round is delayed due to ERT’s doubts of how to shortlist the songs.
However, ERT has made a decision.
The songs will be ranked by 2 panels:
- Professional jury – committee composed of 7 members, Dimitris Papadimitriou will head the ERT committee.
- Public committee – ERT will invite representatives from the public who will be able to listen to the songs. The aim is to reach different ages of music listen to represent the demography in the best way.
The weight of the professional jury will be 49.4%, while the public will have a weight of 50.6%.
The reason for this inequality is the new system of voting for Eurovision, where “Additional country” will be added to the public vote as the rest of the world (this won’t apply to the jury).
The president of ERT commented:
What we are thinking about is making an open call for interest from the viewers, obviously, I want to believe that those who are interested in Eurovision will participate. We are thinking of creating an expanded committee of citizens, who will come to the Radio House of Agia Paraskevi, wear headphones, listen to the nominated songs, and vote and their vote will count just as much as the EBU’s now.
All we will try to do is for this committee to have an age distribution. All generations should be represented – obviously younger generations more and older generations less. Next week, probably, we will make this invitation. The director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Dora Chiraki, has decided that no representative or employee of ERT will participate.
ERT will provide additional details regarding the invitation for the listeners.
However, it is important to clarify that no television selection is planned.
What do you think about the change in the selection process?
Would Greece do well by involving the say of the public?
Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord represented Greece at Eurovision 2022 with the song ”Die Together”. She came 8th in Grand Final with 215 points.
