Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015

For last year's contest, see Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2014.

Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015
Dates
Final	TBA
Host
Venue	TBA, Bulgaria
Presenter(s)	TBA
Executive supervisor	Vladislav Yakovlev
Host broadcaster	Bulgarian National Television (BNT)
Website	junioreurovision.tv/event/sofia-2015
Participants
Number of entries	4 (to date)
Participation map      Countries which have provisionally confirmed their participation in 2015

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 will be the 13th annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest and will take place in Bulgaria, with the date and host city yet to be determined. This will be the first time that the Bulgarian national broadcaster, Bulgarian National Television (BNT), are organising a Eurovision event. So far, four countries have confirmed their participation.

Location

Bidding phase

Further information: Bulgaria and the host country

Bulgaria

Italy

Malta

class=notpageimage|

The chosen host country is marked in green. Countries marked with red dots failed in their bids.

Following Italy's win at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2014, the European Broadcasting Union had given the Italian broadcaster RAI the first refusal to host the 2015 contest. However, on 15 January 2015, RAI declined the right to host the contest. The Executive Supervisor for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Vladislav Yakovlev, praised the Italian broadcaster RAI for their time looking into the possibilities of hosting, even though they made their début appearance in 2014, and further explained how the EBU were in a lucky position to have received bids from two countries.

We’re very lucky to be in a position that two broadcasters would like to host our competition this year. We would be very excited to work with either of them on Junior Eurovision 2015.

— Statement by Vladislav Yakovlev, January 2015.

The EBU announced later that day that they had received bids from two countries to host the contest; those countries being Bulgaria and Malta, who finished in second and fourth places respectively in 2014. Bulgarian broadcaster BNT confirmed on 15 January they had submitted a bid to host the 2015 contest. The national broadcaster for Malta, Public Broadcasting Services (PBS), stated prior to the 2014 contest that they would host again if they won.

It is expected that the chosen hosts will be announced at the end of January 2015. On 26 January 2015, it was announced that Bulgaria had been chosen to host the 2015 edition. It will be the first time that the nation will have organised any Eurovision event.

Provisional list of participants

The following countries have expressed their provisional interest for participation in the contest:

Draw	Country	Language	Artist	Song	English translation
-	Belarus
-	Bulgaria	Bulgarian
-	Netherlands	Dutch
-	Sweden	Swedish

Other countries

Further information: List of countries in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

For a country to be eligible for potential participation in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, it needs to be an active member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It is unknown whether the EBU issue invitations of participation to all 56 active members like they do for the Eurovision Song Contest. Four countries have confirmed their participation in the 2015 contest. The EBU Active Members listed below have made the announcements regards their decisions.

Active EBU Members

• Albania – On 28 January 2015, the Albanian broadcaster, RTSH, revealed that is possible the return of Albania to the contest in 2015, although an official decision from the broadcaster has yet to be announced.
• Austria – On 10 January 2015, the Austrian broadcaster ORF revealed that they would not be making their début at the 2015 Contest.
• Germany – ZDF together with Hungary's national broadcaster, MTVA, were observers at this year's contest. The EBU Executive Supervisor, Vladislav Yakovlev, said that he's hopeful that both countries will debut next year. However, on 8 January 2015, NDR said to an employee at ESC+Plus that NDR won't debut, meaning ZDF isn't ruled out yet.
• Hungary – In August 2014, representatives of the Hungarian delegation observed the Belarusian national selection due to the EBU's recommendation to gain experience in hosting a national selection.
• Ireland – Irish broadcaster, TG4, had shown interested in the 2014 contest but required funding from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) which was not granted by the BAI. On 14 October 2014, it was reported that TG4 are "very interested in taking part in Junior Eurovision 2015". Further reports were announced in November 2014 that Ireland were "very likely" to be at the 2015 Contest, but the final decision would not be announced until 2015. The station is working with Adare Productions, and as of November 2014 both parties are "in advanced discussions" regarding a 2015 debut in the contest. An announcement is expected in mid February 2015.
• Italy – In response to a fans tweet on 29 November 2014, the Junior Eurovision Twitter page stated that they hope Italy would be present in the 2015 contest after their victory in 2014, although an official decision from the national broadcaster RAI has yet to be announced. However, it was confirmed on 15 January 2015 that Italy declined the opportunity to host the contest.
• Malta – In response to a question posted on 21 November 2014 via the Junior Eurovision Twitter page, it was stated that the EBU hope to see Malta present in the 2015 contest. An official announcement from the national broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) regarding participation is still to be determined.
• Montenegro – On 16 November 2014, the Montenegrin broadcaster RTCG revealed that they'd like to participate in the 2015 Contest and will begin looking for sponsors to fund their participation.
• Norway – The official Junior Eurovision Twitter page stated on 23 November 2014, that they are crossing their fingers for Norway to return in 2015. Although an official announcement from either the national broadcaster NRK or the commercial broadcaster TV2 regarding their participation plans has yet to be publicised.
• Romania – On 2 August 2014, Romania had said they won't return in 2014, however there is still hope for that they can return in 2015.
• Russia – In response to a question posted on the Junior Eurovision Twitter page on 29 November 2014, it was stated that the EBU hoped Russia would be present in the 2015 contest, although an official decision from the Russian State broadcasting company has yet to be announced.

Non-active EBU Members

In August 2014, executive supervisor Vladislav Yakovlev said that they are working on finding a way to allowing commercial networks to participate in the contest, although they are not EBU members.

• Spain – Because Spanish broadcaster EBU member, Televisión Española (TVE), has declined invitations to participate since 2006, the European Broadcasting Union TV Committee will discuss in the coming months the possibility to allow commercial channels to take part in the contest. If the final decision is yes, they will continue negotiating with Spanish private TV channels to bring back Spain to the contest.

External links

• Official website