Eurovision 2025 in Basel marked the end of an era for BBC audiences, as the broadcaster confirmed it will no longer offer premium-rate phone voting. From now on, all BBC voting will take place online.
From premium-rate calls to online voting
For years, premium-rate phone voting was a staple of BBC shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, Sports Personality of the Year and the Eurovision Song Contest. However, the BBC announced that this system is now outdated and costly to maintain.
The shift comes after BT, which provided the premium-rate service, decided to discontinue it in early 2025. By that point, the majority of viewers were already casting their votes online, with the BBC reporting that most of the Strictly votes last series were made through digital platforms.
What this means for Eurovision
For Eurovision fans in the United Kingdom, the change means future votes will be cast online only. The BBC notes that the process is straightforward: viewers with a BBC account can log in and vote via the show’s official site, with instructions displayed during the broadcast.
The broadcaster also highlighted extra benefits for account holders, including personalised iPlayer recommendations and cross-device streaming options.
United Kingdom’s Eurovision journey
The UK is one of the most successful countries in the Eurovision Song Contest. Debuting at the second edition of the Contest in 1957, the United Kingdom won the competition on five occasions. The most recent win for the UK was in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves, singing “Love Shine A Light”. The UK also holds the record for second-place finishes – currently at 16.
In 2025, Remember Monday represented the UK in Basel with his song “What the Hell Just Happened”. At the close of voting, the UK finished 19th in a field of 26, earning 88 points. All these points came from the jury.
Do you like this new voting system? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2026!
News Source: BBC
Photo Credit: Corinne Cumming / EBU
Rory Gannon