The ChatVote is dead, long live the ChatVote!

We wanted to create a more fun, more exciting, more immediate, more dynamic ChatVote. This was already our plan following last year’s event. And now that the Eurovision voting is changing too, it’s the perfect time to introduce a whole new format for the ChatVote, our annual voting event in the chat.

In fact, this year there’ll be more than just one voting event in the chat. But let’s start from the beginning!

So, what’s changing?

• The voting format and schedule for the semi-finals
• The voting format for the grand final
• Permanent logo

The voting format and schedule for the semi-finals
We wanted to put an emphasis on the “Chat” in “ChatVote”, so we’re giving more power to the chatters who attend our events. Unlike in previous years, there will be no e-mail voting for the semi-finals at all. Instead, we will combine our preview viewing with the voting itself. We will group-watch the semi-finals in the chat on Saturday 26 March (semi 1) and Sunday 27 March (semi 2), then the chatters in attendance on each night will get to vote for the qualifiers in a live poll. After the poll closes, each of the semi-final events will conclude with the live announcement of the results!

The voting format for the grand final
The grand final on Sunday 3 April will still be partially decided by “ESC-style” votes submitted in advance by e-mail as previously (the “juries”, counting for 50% of the total vote), but the same amount of power will also go to the active chatters who attend the event. They will be the “televoters”, accounting for the remaining 50% of the vote in a live poll, the link to which will only be shared in the chat during the event. (And yes – if you vote in advance and attend the grand final in the chat, this means you can be a jury and a televoter!)

Permanent logo
Along with these big changes to the event itself, we are establishing a new and permanent logo for the ChatVote. It’s built from the initials (“C” and “V”) and reflects a diamond in which the magic takes place. We think it looks pretty snazzy.

So what’s next?
There’s no need to send us any e-mails yet. Instead, simply come and attend our semi-finals this Saturday and Sunday evening if you can, and vote your favourites through to the grand final! As usual, the jury voting for the grand final will open after the second semi-final – full instructions will be published then. A mini-calendar with all the important dates and times can be found below for your information.

And please do add yourself to the Facebook events for semi 1, semi 2, the final preview and the grand final.

See you in the chat!

ChatVote 2016: Calendar