More Viewers, Fewer Votes

This year's song contest smashed previously held viewing records, yet voting totals are falling behind. Only about 9% of viewers voted in the first semi-final, the lowest result since SVT began the six week tour format in 2002. What's the deal? Some people think the quality of this year's field is not as engaging as other years, so they're simply not voting.

Many people around Sweden have told me the six week long contest format is becoming a bit too much. It's too long and they're losing interest. It was a novel idea ten years ago, they say, but the format is losing its appeal. A crisis for Melodifestivalen? This year's viewer numbers don't support the idea, although the voting numbers could say something about the fatigue many people are feeling when it comes to the six week tour format.

My Telenor Tech

My phone is now loaded and ready for voting tonight, thanks to Patrik, my tech guide at Telenor, a Swedish phone and tech company. I pulled out a two year old router and a five year old phone and set them on the counter. "Is there any hope to get these two working again?", I asked. With a few clicks of the keyboard and my handy EMV credit card, he brought them both back to life for me.

Patrik wanted to know what I planned to do with the cash I loaded on my SIM card and I was too happy to oblige his question. We talked about Melodifestivalen and me missing thirty one years of voting, for which I will catch up tonight. He said he didn't even know the contest was in town. I nearly dropped my jaw, but Patrik is not a fan of the contest. He follows Eurovision, but Mello is not his thing. Fair enough.

We chatted about the US as well. He's a fan of Miami while his wife prefers New York. Now, it was his turn to be surprised when I told him I had never been to either Miami or New York or even Los Angeles. Well, I have been all over Sweden. He still prefers the States. You always want what you don't already have, I suppose.