Bacause of its poor results at last years’ contest, Swiss national broadcaster groups SRF, RTS, RSI and RTR  ,known as SRG, have decided to change on their  selection rules to determine the Swiss entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in the best way possible.

 

Let’s look at the last procedures: 

 


 

SELECTION PROCESS

SRF, RTS, RSI and RTR (referred to in the Regulations as ‘SRG’) are joining forces to seek the Swiss entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.

In the first stage, a panel of music experts (producers, representatives of the music industry, musicians, journalists, etc.), referred to below as the ‘Jury’, will rate entries that comply with the rules. Entries must have a link to Switzerland. At least one person – the performer, composer or lyricist – must hold a Swiss passport or be resident in Switzerland.

In the second stage, it is planned that the top 20 highest Jury-rated entries will be presented at the Live Check. In this round, the performers must prove their live performance skills (singing and stage presence) to the Jury. The Jury will then decide which performers/songs will qualify to take part in the live national decider show in Zurich on 5 February 2017.

The final decision on who will represent Switzerland at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest will be made by the TV audience alone, by means of a televote.

 

The language regions are represented on the Jury according to the following quotas:

  • German/Rumansch: 68 %
  • French: 23 %
  • Italian: 9 %

 

The Head of Delegation may rebalance these quotas at the request of the Jury or the SRG SSR station. He is the only person with the authority to approve or reject such requests.

 


GENERAL CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

  1. SRG is looking for a strong song which meets international standards, performed with a powerful, note-perfect voice. The song will be performed by one or more singers/musicians. No more than six people in total (including dancers, backing vocalists and musicians) may appear on
  2. The final performers of the songs in question are responsible for entering them in the preliminary A song cannot be submitted if it does not have a committed performer at the time of entry. Lyricists and composers who do not have a performer for their song cannot enter themselves.
  1. Provided they are not asserted by a performing rights association such as SUISA, all rights to the song (specifically copyright and related rights) are transferred upon submission to SRG for use, free of charge, in the context of the Eurovision selection process on all vectors (multimedia, radio, TV, CD, DVD, youtube, ), and in connection with any entry in the international final.
  2. The performer undertakes to acquire, in full and in legally valid form, all of the rights (including related rights) that are required for the contractual production and use of the work/production, as well as its performance, and for third-party inputs, from the rights- holders, specifically the exercising artists (studio musicians, ), and to grant SRG such rights without any condition or proviso whatsoever.
  3. The performer guarantees that no agreements of any nature with third parties, such as record labels, event organisers or agencies, hinder the contractual production and use of the work/production, or its The performer further undertakes to indemnify SRG without restriction against all third-party claims, whatever their material nature, timing or geographical scope.

 


 

SONG AND PERFORMER(S)

  1. With their submission, the performer confirms that the submitted song is an original work (composition/lyrics) and does not constitute plagiarism in any way.
  2. The submitted song may be no longer than three minutes.
  3. The minimum age for performers is 16 as at 1 May 2017.
  4. The song or parts thereof may not have been published prior to 1 September 2016 on the radio, TV, internet, by public performance or any type of audio medium, etc.
  5. There are no requirements as to language, but the content of the song may not be political or racist in nature, neither may it glorify The corresponding gestures or symbols are also prohibited.
  6. As a rule, entries will not be accepted from commercial or religious organisations, or non- profit bodies and
  7. No performer may represent more than one country at the Eurovision Song Contest.

 


 

SELECTION PROCESS, STAGE 1: INTERNET PLATFORM

  1. Entries from all parts of the country may be submitted via an online This is the sole and exclusive means of submitting an entry. No alternatives will be offered.
  2. Performers must provide their songs as audio and/or
  3. Performers register by completing an electronic form and agreeing to be bound by all rules and regulations connected with the Eurovision Song Missing documents and/or incomplete information in the registration may result in disqualification.
  4. The entry period begins on 26 September 2016 and ends on 24 October 2016 at 8.00 am.
  5. Registering constitutes a binding undertaking on the part of the performer to perform the song in the Live Check on 4 December 2016, as well as (where appropriate) in the live show on 5 February 2017 and, should they win the decider show, at the Eurovision Song Contest, and thus to represent Switzerland. The international semi-final programmes are likely to take place on 16 and 18 May The international final is likely to be held on 20 May 2017.
  1. The Jury will select its favourites in a defined window that is likely to be between 31 October and 14 November Any manipulation, attempted bribery or irregularities in Jury voting may result in the exclusion of the song/performer and the Jury member concerned.
  2. The best 20 (as per current plans) songs/performers voted for by the Jury then qualify for the Live Check
  3. A public announcement will be made of these 20 (as per current plans) songs/performers, as well as the members of the No details of the results will be published.
  4. The performers selected for the Live Check will be contacted by the production team. Their participation will be governed by a written contract.

 


 

SELECTION PROCESS, STAGE 2: THE LIVE CHECK

  1. The 20 (as per current plans) songs/performers that have qualified up to this point will present their songs to the Jury at the Live These experts will assess their live performance skills, voice quality and stage presence. The performance at the Live Check may be broadcast or made available on TV, radio or the internet.
  2. The performers, including backing vocalists, must sing live to playback which may not contain any voices or voice
  3. No animals are permitted on
  4. Attempts to manipulate or bribe the Jury may result in the exclusion of the song/performer and the Jury member
  5. The Live Check is likely to take place in Zurich on 4 December 2016.
  6. The Jury will select between six and ten songs/performers for the live show on 5 February 2017.

 


 

 

SELECTION PROCESS, STAGE 3: THE LIVE NATIONAL SHOW

  1. The live national show will be staged in Zurich on 5 February
  2. The six to ten qualifying performers will present their song during the live show.
  3. The qualifying performers declare their willingness to be available for TV recordings between 4 December 2016 and 5 February 2017.
  4. The winner will be decided exclusively by means of a Should televoting not be possible for technical reasons, the winning performance will be chosen by the Jury.

 


 

ADDITIONAL  PROVISIONS

  1. The selected songs/performers must be of an international standard, and a quality that is competitive in the European context. SRG reserves the right to make any such amendments to the selection process that may be necessary to ensure that the target level of quality is achieved.
  2. Should it wish to do so, SRG may demand even after the live national show that the playback track be SRG alone has the right to make decisions in this regard, following consultations with the artist. Again following consultations with the artist, SRG also has sole decision-making rights with regard to staging, i.e. costumes, choreography, lighting and design.
  3. The selection process will take place under legal supervision.
  1. The EBU publishes international regulations for the Eurovision Song Should the international regulations differ from the national regulations, the international regulations will apply. All rules concerning participation in the semi-final and final of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest are laid down in these regulations and are binding on the winner of the national selection round.
  2. Entries that violate the national or international regulations will be disqualified by SRG or the
  3. SRG accepts no financial liability or obligation whatsoever to performers in connection with participation in the Swiss selection process or the Eurovision Song Contest.
  4. SRG reserves the right at any time to amend the present regulations or bring them into line with the international Changes to the Regulations do not give rise to any form of claim on the part of participants.
  5. The organisers’ decision is final.
  6. The German version of these Regulations is  authoritative.

 


Reglement ESC 2017 German

Reglement ESC 2017 French

Reglement ESC 2017 Italian