The viewing figures for Eurovision 2024 have shown a decline compared to last year. The controversial decision to keep Israel in the competition despite protests against their actions in Gaza has caused a stir. Demonstrators have demanded a boycott, and their voices were heard during the Jury performance of Israel’s entry, with boos and chants of “Free Palestine.” The first semi-final of this year’s event saw a significant drop in UK viewership, with almost half a million fewer people tuning in compared to last year. While 2.3 million viewers watched the first semi-final in Liverpool last year, this year’s event only attracted 1.9 million viewers.
In addition to the lower numbers, it’s worth noting that these figures are still the highest ratings a first semi-final has received outside of a hosting year. The 2022 semi-final in Italy garnered 545,000 viewers when it aired on BBC Three in the UK. The switch to the main BBC channel in 2023 and continuing into this year may have contributed to the increased viewership. Olly Alexander, who is representing the UK in Eurovision 2024 with the song “Dizzy,” has been a vocal supporter of Palestine since the conflict in Gaza began last year. Earlier this year, over 450 queer artists signed an open letter urging him to withdraw from the competition.
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Olly, the UK act in the Eurovision competition, has been facing pressure to withdraw for weeks. Despite calls from fans to show solidarity with Palestine and pull out of the event, Olly decided to proceed with his appearance. However, the pressure took a toll on him, as he admitted to the Times that he was on the verge of a breakdown after being seen looking down at a Eurovision party. He described the experience as tough and expressed feelings of shame and embarrassment. Despite the challenges, Olly still believes in the power of people coming together for entertainment and that’s why he wanted to participate in Eurovision. In a recent statement, he joined Irish artist Bambi and other contestants in calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and the safe return of all hostages.
Meanwhile, tensions are escalating in the host city of Malmo, where police are increasing surveillance measures. They have announced the use of flying cameras to monitor the population for a period of nine days, with the aim of ensuring the safety and security of the event.
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