Live in the morning, but delayed by days in primetime makes no sense any more.
It’s great that SBS screens Eurovision live every year on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings for die-hard fans eager to see it as it happens.
But in 2026 I’m a bit perplexed by the nighttime replays, and I think it deserves a rethink for 2027.
Semi Final 1, which is Live on Wednesday morning does not screen until Friday night in primetime, because SBS likes to host a Eurovision weekend festival.
Semi Final 2, live on Friday morning, screens in primetime on Saturday night.
That means if Delta qualifies this Friday morning (which she surely will) SBS won’t screen her in primetime until Saturday night.
That’s despite all the news articles that will have flooded our feeds. Most people will have watched her on YouTube by then anyway, but it really deserves to be same day for the broad audience.
Next year I’d like to see SBS actually maximise Eurovision fever by starting it earlier in the week, with the Wednesday morning live broadcast followed by an evening replay. This contributes to more buzz and a longer build up to the Final.
By screening on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights, the only significant loss is a Saturday night show… and frankly that can be kept going with another bloody ABBA special!
SBS did dabble with this idea in 2018 and 2019 with Wednesday or Thursday night broadcasts. I believe the numbers were lower than what they were getting with Friday and Saturday broadcasts. But much has changed since 2018. Event television needs to be Live (which it is) and as near to Live (which it isn’t) as possible.
The BBC, which to be fair gets to screen live events in primetime, has pulled their normal scheduling for MasterChef, Interior Design Masters, Race Across the World and Casualty to make way for Eurovision.
SBS should do the same with its usual mix of doco, travel and foodie shows for one week.
Photo: Alma Bengtson / EBU