Swedish daily newspaper Aftonbladet has received some informations regarding next year’s Melodifestivalen. Apparently SVT is planning to organize all six TV shows in the same venue in Stockholm due to the corona pandemic which means that the beloved Melodifestivalen tour all around Sweden could be cancelled.
Since 2002, Melodifestivalen has introduced semifinals and this would’ve been the 20th edition of the show held on tour across whole Sweden, with six live arena shows with a total of 100,000 viewers in the audience and millions in front of the TV. According to several sources of Aftonbladet the tour will most likely be completely canceled in addition to that they have revealed that the ongoing pandemic has led the management to work with several different backup plans for next year’s broadcasts of the show.
Sources add that executives of SVT are afraid of poor publicity and the risk of increased spread of infection during possible performances in arena even if the restrictions were lifted. Therefore, a contingency plan has been developed to be able to ensure that most beloved Swedish music show can be broadcast next year.
“They will not change the program format. There will still be four competitions, a second chance and final and as many competing songs”, reveals an anonymous source.
Alternative broadcasting plan includes airing of all of the six programs from one place in Stockholm. Melodifestivalen could be broadcast completely without the audience same as “Allsång på Skansen” it all depends on the Swedish Public Health Agency’s recommendations.
Some of the venues which are mentioned as possible to organize next year’s edition of Melodifestivalen include NEP studios in Spånga, the place where “Idol” takes place can accommodate up to 1,600 people. They could even build a large stage there and let a small amount of people in the audience to watch the show. The venue could be adapted to a larger audience if the restrictions were to ease. The second venue mentioned is Annex next to the famous Ericsson Globe which hosted the Eurovision Song Contests in 2000 and 2016. Their plan obviously isn’t to organise it in the SVT studio the source of Aftonbladet reveals.
The complete management of Melodifestivalen is on vacation and therefore the inquiries which Aftonbladet sent about Melodifestivalen went to the SVT’s Press Manager, Camilla Hagert who stated: “It is far too early to say anything about the show in 2021. The editors will start working again next week. We will come back to you later “
It remains unclear whether SVT has made a final decision to cancel the tour and instead use their backup plan. But as the well informed source says: “They will probably make the final decision before September”
The final of Melodifestivalen 2020 was held in Friends Arena on 7th of March with audience even though the pandemic started to get in full swing while their neighbours, Denmark, made different decision cause of the pandemic.The Mamas won with “Move” just one point in front of Dotter who sang “Bulletproof”. Watch our interview with The Mamas below.
What are your thoughts about Melodifestivalen 2021? How do you think SVT will organize the show? Let us know in the comments below!
