Despite the splendid return of Italy on Eurovision stage when Raphael Gualazzi's Madness of love came second only 12 points behind the winner the Italian fans are worried RAI will pull out again. Apparently RAI's bosses had put two major conditions to participate.
One: to do well - done. Two: to get good viewing figures - failed big time.
The semifinal two on Rai5 scored a share of 0,14% or some 37.000 viewers (small yes, but in line with this new channels figures). Last night final was watched by some 1.291.000 Italians, or 6,43% share. Rai1's variety show Me lo dicono tutti scored 3.085.000 or 18% and Canale5's Italy's got talent 4.752.000 or 23,48%. Not even Raffaella Carrà managed to attract Italians to follow Eurovision. The fans have also criticized heavily the show made by Rai2 - partly for the information and comments given by La Carrà herself as misinformative and her guests also were clearly not having a clue what Eurovision is all about.
Also in the media Eurovision has been labelled kitch and waste of time basicly. And if all media says so people will believe it, don't they? One good example: Massimo Bernardini (Tv Talk): "Questa situazione di attesa che si crea nei voti l'Eurofestival l'ha mutuata senz'altro dai talent show. Solo che qui all'Eurofestival lo fanno in modo più povero". ("This situation created while waiting for the votes Eurovision has copied from various talent shows. Only that it is done even worse." Oh really? How many talent shows there were back in 1975 when this landmark voting system was introduced with its famous 12 points? No comment.
While Italy is struggling and RAI propably wondering if it makes any sense to particiate again - and being relieved at the same time they only came second - in other countries the viewing figures are rather different figures: 73,6% in Greece, 65% in Austria, 49,8% Germany. In United Kingdom the show peaked at 62,7% or 12,7 million with the average of 9,5 million viewers or 40,4% almost doubling last year and being the highest since 1999.
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