Update: The EBU has specified “performance on stage” will form part of the criteria for juries in the jury show for the Grand Final.

The Aftonbladet report referenced below refers to criteria used for scoring during Semi-Final 2. The EBU article also suggests criteria used in the semi-finals will be the same as the Grand Final. An earlier version of this article did not clarify that the criteria reported by Aftonbladet was only used during Semi-Final 2.

They’re supposed to judge Eurovision acts based on the full package.

But this year the criteria for the professional juries was altered at the last minute.

That’s because production problems throughout Eurovision 2019 have compromised artists’ performances.

Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet reports the EBU and Christer Bjorkman issued fresh instructions to juries on Thursday.

Apologies were made to the juries that the production was “not complete”. They were then instructed to vote on “song” alone and “how it sounds”.

Aftonbladet also reports the move has been used to placate delegations frustrated by production problems:

“They [the proudction team] have tried to calm everyone with the fact that the jury groups have received special instructions on disregarding the TV production.”

The Swedish tabloid suggests the move was motivated by problems in rehearsals experienced by Sweden and North Macedonia among others. It also suggests problems in sound mixing have influenced the decision.

The decision has huge implications for scoring. If visuals are disregarded it has the potential to wildly change results.

Professional juries will vote during a dress rehearsal of the Grand Final tomorrow night.

Their votes will then be revealed by spokespersons across Europe during the Grand Final, with results of the televote revealed later in the show.

The order for spokespersons will be announced after the jury show. That can often give some indication for how acts have fared in the jury show.

Clusters of particular countries (e.g. Nordics) can suggest producers want a particular country (e.g. Sweden) to gain points during the results and momentum to add jeopardy into the results reveal.

What do you make of the news? Do you think it will change the results? How do you think it has affected tonight’s Semi-Final? Let us know in the comments below.