Eurovision 2024: Stig Karlsen confirms that there was no decision made on reducing the jury power!
Norway’s Head of Delegation, Stig Karlsen, who has previously defended the need to limit the power of jury in favor of the television audience, confirmed to The Euro Trip Podcast that no such decision has been made.
During the summer Stig Karlsen had revealed his plans on proposing to the EBU the alteration of the voting system, strengthening the weight of the television audience’s power on the total outcome.
The jury system at Eurovision should definitely be evaluated and the discussion is very welcome. There has been a difference (in the results) between the judges and the public vote in the past, but this year it was extremely wide. People obviously had a different winner. The fact that a jury of 185 people should have as much power as millions of viewers is questionable.
Stig Karlsen, Norway’s head of Delegation
During the Eurovision Workshop that took place in Berlin on September 11 and 12, an Instagram story posted by Stig Karslen was enough to cause loads of comments, but also questions about whether the Head of the Norwegian Delegation finally managed to persuade with his proposal.
Stig Karlsen does not confirm that any alteration on the 50/50 percentage has been made
Speaking on The Euro Trip Podcast, Stig Karlsen denies the rumor that he managed to convince his colleagues and especially the Reference Group of the Competition (which is in charge of deciding), to change the 50-50 system. When asked about the story in question, Karlsen said:
It was just a success of getting a schnitzel.
Nevertheless, Karlsen insists that the public should have a greater say in the final result and while he thinks that the presence of national juries is needed, he believes that a 60-40 system in favor of the television audience would be fairer.
His opinion on the voting system is strongly connected with his country’s course in the contest the previous years. Norway since 2016 has received 332 points from the jury and 826 points from the viewers.
https://youtu.be/PUHSM_vTqTI?si=4K1OLJ3OZLeVZp76
What is your opinion? Do you agree or disagree with Stig Karlsen? Stay tuned on EurovisionFun for all news!
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
Mandy Pettersen / ESCNorge 
I disagree with Karlsen. More power for televoters has big disadvantages too.
Starting order becomes more important then, as statistics has shown that with televoting, the countries in second half have a clear advantage. On top of that there is a diaspora advantage. Third and last circus-acts could dominate again, like in the period 2001-2009. Serious artists will stay away and also part of the viewers. 50-50 is well balanced.