LTV, Latvian Television, has conducted the draw for the order of appearance for the 48th Eurovision Song Contest. The draw was conducted by Marie N and Reynard Kaupers, the presenters of the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest, in the presense of Sarah Yeun, the EBU‘s new Live events co-ordinator.
The results of the draw are below
1- Iceland – RUV
14- Netherlands – NOS
2- Austria – ORT
15- United Kingdom – BBC
3- Ireland – RTÉ
16- Ukraine – NTU
4- Turkey – TRT
17- Greece – ERT
5- Malta – PBS Malta
18- Norway – NRK
6- Bosnia-Herzegovina – PBS
19- France – FTV3
7- Potugal – RTP
20- Poland – TVP
8- Croatia – HRT
21- Latvia – LTV
9- Cyprus – PIK
22- Belgium – RTBF
10- Germany – ARD/NDR
23- Estonia – ETV
11- Russia – ORTV1
24- Romania – TVR
12- Spain – TVE
25- Sweden – SVT
13- Israel – IBA
26- Slovenia – RTVSlo
Many commentators believe that the draw has little or no effect, as the songs decide the contest, but statistically it is proven that certain draw positions have yielded better results than others. In the previous 47 contests, no country has won from 2nd, 4th or 16th position. 17th is deemed “lucky” and in recent years songs that have been drawn in the second half of the draw have ended to do better than those in the upper portion.
In other developments, the rules for the 2003 contest have been released by the EBU. In a significant move, Televoting (Voting by Telephone) has become mandatory for all countries, except in territories that have got less than 80% telecommunications penetration. This rule allows nations such as Ukraine, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina and possibly Russia (due to time zone differences) to keep the jury system.
In another major change the rule which governs the tie-break procedure has had a minor tweak. At present, if the scores are tied at the end of the voting procedure, the number of times 12 points has been awarded becomes the deciding factor, then 10points, 8points and so on down.
From 2003, if the scores are tied, the number of countries that have voted for each countries will be the first deciding factor. If this is still equal, the present 12’s-10’s etc. system is used. In another change, broadcasters are now obliged to show either the prevews, or a show detailing the performers and artists.