The world’s most famous song contest is upon us once again, hosted this year in Liverpool on behalf of the people of Ukraine.
Eurovision is well known for bringing together nations from across Europe and beyond. However, preparing for a show of this scale, collecting votes from participating nations and streaming the live footage across the globe is no easy feat.
So, as Eurovision returns to UK shores this week, we’re taking a look at the technologies that make the event possible and the patents that protect them.
More than just a song contest
The name “Eurovision” is broadly synonymous with the flagship annual song contest. However, the event itself is just one facet of the Eurovision brand, which is managed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), who organise, publicise and distribute coverage of the contest every year.
However, over the years the distribution of Eurovision has not just been the concern of the EBU. Since its inception, individual participating countries have also had to consider the most efficient way to broadcast footage of the event to fans watching at home.
Overcoming challenges
The challenge of broadcasting to the masses has given rise to inventions considered worthy of patent protection. In 1966, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) submitted a patent application for one such invention in the form of patent number GB1174064, which describes an apparatus, invented by Robin Evan Davies, for use in synchronising a television signal from an original source so that is can be phased with a second television signal.
Eurovision was cited as a specific example of where this technology could be useful. The patent specification describes the challenges and how the invention addresses them, as follows:“When television signals for local transmission are received from remote sources (for example, over the Eurovision link) it is sometimes necessary that they should be locked to local station synch pulses in order to facilitate mixing, fading and other like processes.“The locking can be carried out using an image transfer (sic) converter (in which the remote signals are applied to produce a television picture and are scanned under the control of the local synch pulses) but a significant amount of picture impairment occurs. The present invention provides an improved means for effecting the required locking.”The patent application was granted by the UK Patent Office in 1970. However, although patents can last up to 20 years from their filing date, this patent was allowed to lapse in 1978; which would suggest that the technology was, by that point, obsolete.
Eurovision Televoting
An iconic element of Eurovision as we know it today is the public vote, where members of the public in participating nations, and beyond, are invited to vote for their favourite entry. While in recent years many of these votes have been submitted electronically, “televoting” remains a key part of the Eurovision experience for many fans.
Voting by telephone replaced the traditional “jury vote” system in 1997, and was the subject of another granted patent. European patent EP0820680 describes “televoting in an intelligent network” and again specifically mentions the Eurovision Song Contest as a practical example of televoting, describing the message a caller may expect to receive to confirm their vote has been registered:
“The method proposed makes it possible to give the caller a more accurate and individualized (sic) announcement. The exemplary message given above, for example, may thus become: ‘You have phoned to a televote on the Eurovision Song Contest. Your vote has been registered for song number 5, LaLaLaa, performed by Jussi & the Boys. Thank you for calling.’ The caller is hereby notified that his vote has been registered correctly.”
The future of Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest has remained a staple of international broadcasting since the first contest in 1956. The contest’s enduring popularity is a testament to the innovative technologies that enable audiences across the globe to enjoy and participate in the contest.
As the appetite for audience interaction increases year on year, Forresters look forward to seeing how new technologies are utilised to further enhance the Eurovision experience.
When you’re casting your vote on Saturday night, spare a thought about the patented technology that makes it all possible!
