Executive Supervisor Vladislav Yakovlev informed ESC Daily that Australia is invited back to the 2016 Junior Eurovision if they are still interested. “They are in, they are happy, and I am pretty sure we will approach them next year to join us again.”
Vladislav Yakovlev stated that SBS expressed their interest in participating early on in the build up to Sofia. “Australia is so in love with Eurovision, of course they want to be included.” After several years of broadcasting the event and showing a lot if interest, the EBU was not hard to beg. “We went for all of the procedures, with improval of both the steering committee and the TV committee and suddenly Australia was in.”
Since Junior Eurovision is a contest, the risk of disappointed children is high. Yakovlev points out that the EBU try to make the kids feel like it is not a competition. “We try to overload them with positive content through social media, and give a silver and bronze medal so there is not only just one winner.” Yakovlev also added that “a semi-final system doesn’t belong in Junior Eurovision, because think of all the non-qualifying kids.”
In the interview, Yakovlev also discusses the development of JESC, the possible participation of new countries and the changes that he and his team with Luke Fisher and Kath Lockett brought about.
See our whole interview with the Executive Supervisor here: