Tweet
Eurovision organizers confirm Azerbaijan gave no points to Russia
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/05/22/eurovision-organizers-respond-to-media-reports-on-voting/
12:13 22.05.2013
Eurovision organizers have responded to media reports on voting.
`The millions of viewers in Europe and the contestants, who have put
heart and soul into their performances, deserve a fair and transparent
result,' said Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision
Song Contest, in response to media reports that question the integrity
of the voting.
Undercover in Lithuania
On Saturday, hours before the Final, an undercover video surfaced in
Lithuanian media, apparently showing how two individuals approached
people to cast large amounts of votes in favor of one particular
entry.
Sand responds: `We are looking into this case, but would emphasize
that the intention of these individuals have not yet been clarified,
and nor has a link been established between the individuals in the
video and the Azeri delegation, the Azeri act or the Azeri EBU Member
Ictimai TV.'
The EBU has worked with Digame on the televote processing for nearly
ten years. Digame's platform is built to handle the televoting with
absolute professional care, and incorporates systems to detect any
attempts at so-called power-voting, where people or systems
systematically vote for a chosen contestant. Based on criteria
established by the EBU and Digame and overseen by a PwC observer,
votes garnered through any instances of power-voting are disregarded.
Azerbaijan to Russia: no points
The EBU also took note of reports in international media of an
investigation by the President of Azerbaijan into the Azeri jury and
televoting in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The EBU holds the
independence of the professional juries in all participating countries
to be of paramount importance.
The combination of televotes and jury votes, each bearing a 50%
influence on the outcome, did not result in a top 10 position for
Russia in the overall result from Azerbaijan. Therefore, Azerbaijan
awarded Russia no points - a result confirmed by a notary onsite, by
our voting partner Digame and by an independent observer from PwC.
Sand comments: ' We believe that the Song Contest's apolitical spirit
is a cornerstone of its enduring success, and we will do all we can to
protect it.'
Any form of political pressure on professional juries that could lead
to anything other than an independent evaluation of the participating
entries is a violation of the Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest,
and will be duly dealt with.
A pro-active approach
`I have been around at the Eurovision Song Contest since 1998, and
every year there are rumors about irregularities in the voting.
Particularly this year, we felt it was time to firmly deal with these
rumors,' Sand commented on various media enquiries.
To tighten the procedures, PwC has sent additional observers to
broadcasters unannounced shortly before the broadcast, to verify as
well if the jury voting is being conducted in accordance with the
Rules. A PwC observer has also conducted interviews with broadcaster
representatives at the Eurovision Song Contest, to evaluate rumors.
To assure a fair jury voting, judges are asked to sign a document
declaring their independency, and are asked to submit details about
their professional background. The jury voting is overlooked by an
independent notary who confirms to the EBU and PwC that the voting has
been conducted in accordance with the Rules.
In support of the fairness and transparency of the voting as one of
the corner stones of the Eurovision Song Contest, the EBU constantly
evaluates rules and procedures and tightens them if necessary.
We act immediately
Several journalists have asked what the consequences would be in case
the Rules governing the voting would be breached.
Dr. Frank Dieter Freiling, Chairman of the Eurovision Song Contest
Reference Group, the event's governing body on behalf of EBU Members,
states: `Let me be clear on this. If we find any clear evidence that
the Rules are being breached, including attempts of power-voting, we
act immediately to do what we are obliged to do on behalf of the
Members: to protect the Eurovision Song Contest brand.'
Based on all criteria laid out in the Rules, PwC confirmed to the EBU
the validity of the result of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.
From: A. Papazian
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/05/22/eurovision-organizers-respond-to-media-reports-on-voting/
12:13 22.05.2013
Eurovision organizers have responded to media reports on voting.
`The millions of viewers in Europe and the contestants, who have put
heart and soul into their performances, deserve a fair and transparent
result,' said Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision
Song Contest, in response to media reports that question the integrity
of the voting.
Undercover in Lithuania
On Saturday, hours before the Final, an undercover video surfaced in
Lithuanian media, apparently showing how two individuals approached
people to cast large amounts of votes in favor of one particular
entry.
Sand responds: `We are looking into this case, but would emphasize
that the intention of these individuals have not yet been clarified,
and nor has a link been established between the individuals in the
video and the Azeri delegation, the Azeri act or the Azeri EBU Member
Ictimai TV.'
The EBU has worked with Digame on the televote processing for nearly
ten years. Digame's platform is built to handle the televoting with
absolute professional care, and incorporates systems to detect any
attempts at so-called power-voting, where people or systems
systematically vote for a chosen contestant. Based on criteria
established by the EBU and Digame and overseen by a PwC observer,
votes garnered through any instances of power-voting are disregarded.
Azerbaijan to Russia: no points
The EBU also took note of reports in international media of an
investigation by the President of Azerbaijan into the Azeri jury and
televoting in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The EBU holds the
independence of the professional juries in all participating countries
to be of paramount importance.
The combination of televotes and jury votes, each bearing a 50%
influence on the outcome, did not result in a top 10 position for
Russia in the overall result from Azerbaijan. Therefore, Azerbaijan
awarded Russia no points - a result confirmed by a notary onsite, by
our voting partner Digame and by an independent observer from PwC.
Sand comments: ' We believe that the Song Contest's apolitical spirit
is a cornerstone of its enduring success, and we will do all we can to
protect it.'
Any form of political pressure on professional juries that could lead
to anything other than an independent evaluation of the participating
entries is a violation of the Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest,
and will be duly dealt with.
A pro-active approach
`I have been around at the Eurovision Song Contest since 1998, and
every year there are rumors about irregularities in the voting.
Particularly this year, we felt it was time to firmly deal with these
rumors,' Sand commented on various media enquiries.
To tighten the procedures, PwC has sent additional observers to
broadcasters unannounced shortly before the broadcast, to verify as
well if the jury voting is being conducted in accordance with the
Rules. A PwC observer has also conducted interviews with broadcaster
representatives at the Eurovision Song Contest, to evaluate rumors.
To assure a fair jury voting, judges are asked to sign a document
declaring their independency, and are asked to submit details about
their professional background. The jury voting is overlooked by an
independent notary who confirms to the EBU and PwC that the voting has
been conducted in accordance with the Rules.
In support of the fairness and transparency of the voting as one of
the corner stones of the Eurovision Song Contest, the EBU constantly
evaluates rules and procedures and tightens them if necessary.
We act immediately
Several journalists have asked what the consequences would be in case
the Rules governing the voting would be breached.
Dr. Frank Dieter Freiling, Chairman of the Eurovision Song Contest
Reference Group, the event's governing body on behalf of EBU Members,
states: `Let me be clear on this. If we find any clear evidence that
the Rules are being breached, including attempts of power-voting, we
act immediately to do what we are obliged to do on behalf of the
Members: to protect the Eurovision Song Contest brand.'
Based on all criteria laid out in the Rules, PwC confirmed to the EBU
the validity of the result of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.
From: A. Papazian