Almost five months after Destiny Chukunyere’s record victory, it’s been officially confirmed that Malta will host Junior Eurovision 2016. The 14th edition of the annual spectacular will take place on 20 November in Valletta. The island last hosted the contest in 2014 to much acclaim, so today’s news is unsurprising. However, change is afoot.
Junior Eurovision format changes
Eurovision’s little sister has undergone a lot of upheaval in recent months, including the departure of a number of high profile personnel. The change is set to continue with the event moving from its traditional Saturday night slot to Sunday afternoon. This is as a result of negotians between the EBU, the contest’s steering group and the host broadcaster PBS. The contest’s exectutive supervisor Jon Ola Sand explains:
“Within the Steering Group we have been discussing how to improve and further the JESC format. Many members, including some not taking part, felt that the timeslot was not suited to children and family viewing, so we have tried to bring the competition to a time more fitting for this type of event.”
The EBU press release also states that the 2016 event will be held across several locations around Valletta, with further details to follow. The EBU and PBS will hold a joint press conference at the Eurovision Song Contest in May.
Fan Reaction
Here’s a selection of the online reaction to today’s announcement.
what is happening to junior esc ????
— ????? ?????? (@orestmahlay) April 13, 2016
Junior Eurovision was already on a couple of hours earlier than ESC and didn’t last as long. Seemed a pretty reasonable time for kids.
— Thank You Europe (@Thankyoueurope) April 13, 2016
Wow, #JESC held in various locations in Malta! Wonder how that will work? & 14 years later, evening tv is suddenly too late for children? 😛
— Arianna (@Arianna483) April 13, 2016
JESC to take place in Malta on a sunday afternoon on several locations…………………… Interesting xD
— Maikel #TeamDouwe (@Maikeeel) April 13, 2016
How in the world will JESC be held in
DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS— Em #JaiCherche (@EurovisionEmily) April 13, 2016
RIP JESC
— Hear SlowTim Calling (@CalmAfterTheTim) April 13, 2016
What do you think of the Junior Eurovision changes? Will they strengthen the contest or is it all downhill from here? Let us know below.
FOLLOW ALL OF OUR JUNIOR EUROVISION COVERAGE.
Photo: Elena Volotova (EBU)
I’m sure Malta has influence and, when JESC gets the attention, Malta could have more influence over the competition if Sweden doesn’t get wise.
I like the rule change. Afternoon shows are better for the kids so that means better performances.
Well, I have to say that I’m not surprised at all that Malta will host Junior Eurovision again! They seem to pay a lot of attention to the contest and I’m happy about that! If only they would host the adult Eurovision one day, as well!
@ooooppps: this has nothing to do with Malta, the EBU made the decisions not Malta. We all know Malta, unlike Sweden does not have any power. Stupid comments all round, take a look at the map and see the size of Malta (you’d need to zoom a lot) and you’d confirm they surely don’t have power. Know your facts before you comment. Yeah I am against the time change as well but the EBU decided. Despite it’s limitations it still took the challenge to host JESC for a second very close time). That shows how proud Malta is of the… Read more »
But I will still love the past ESC editions, and the first 3 editions are actually the best. The contest is not the same without Denmark, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom, France, Poland and Switzerland. And ofc the song quality and stage.
Kid’s in that age don’t know how to vote, soon they will release an app, “Junior eurovision vote system”, something like the melodifestivalapp
@ESCFAN
well i’ve been a fan of Malta every year, I liked Kurt Calleja, Chiara, Gianluca, Firelight, last year the staging let Amber down ( too much cloning Rise like a Phoenix), hopefully better staging for this year
well if you are from Malta, you have all right to be proud 🙂 🙂
Alex, same in Sweden, they only broadcast until 9 pm, but they did broadcast Jesc, until 2015
Agree with Kalen, but PBS is worse
Interesting choice… I don’t think that’s a bad decision though :33
So all these people who were complaining that Evening TV is not too late for Children don’t understand time zones. Also with having the show broadcast on a Sunday afternoon would cashing in on the hang over audience.
PBS has become junior eurovision’s SVT
Everyone who don’t like the JESC system, boycott with me
UmerKim, you can drive from the top of Malta to the bottom in just over an hour 😛 surely Valletta doesn’t have a large arena suitable for JESC except the place where MESC2016 was held.. still curious on the various locations though
And this is how ESC and JESC are murdered! The EBU might say that the 2016 JESC format worked, so they’ll use it for 2017. Hopefully not!
Bring back Vlad!
How will they host on several locations. Whatever, let just every country send a Music video, see the host going on a walk on Malta while reveal the full Results.
There you did miss potential returning and debuting countries, like Germany, France and the Baltics. And ofc the nordic countries
WTF, Kids do not watch TV a sunday afternoon, they go outside and play. Even if my country participates (Sweden), which I don’t think will participate this year, both because of this and because of that JESC isn’t that popular in Sweden, I think almost no one except the fans watch JESC in Sweden, this will probably be the first time since 2012(When I haven’t heard of JESC) when I not watch JESC. I will either look afterwards on Wiwibloggs and wikipedia. Unless it was just a VERY late april fools, it is still April.
Having it on a Sunday afternoon may not be too bad of an idea, but at least try to center the contest to one venue for future editions. Most countries don’t have the limitations that Malta has.
Awesome, now I can’t see the show since I am always away from home on sunday. I will watch a muted livestream on my phone then.
I am so happy that Malta will host JESC 2016. So proud of Destiny ! Welcome back to warm, beautiful, sunny Malta, Europe! 🙂
RIP JESC… just call it ‘The Voice Kids’ and go on…
Malta has it’s limitations, yet we so love the Eurovision that we still will host it (unlike other countries). I hope the changes will be good, but I am sure that it will be a high production even as was delivered in 2014. So glad we will get you back to Malta 😀 😀 😀
Does anyone else read the words ‘Format Changes’ and just kinda cringe a bit? No? Just me?
Oh well, I hope they don’t undo all the work Vladislav did as Executive Supervisor. He really made the contest something else and it was beginning to pick up steam again, so hopefully this doesn’t ruin it.
EBU with Jon Ola Sand try to ruin both contest Junir Eurovision and Eurovision song contest. EBU send executive supervisor Vladislav Yakovlev to history, and replaced by Jon Ola Sand who has been executive supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2011
I just find the the whole junior Eurovision thing strange. The kids are vocally mature and then dressed up and flaunted in makeup and heels. Don’t get me wrong their is lots of talented vocals but it’s a bit cringe worthy and occasionally comes across as freakish. Shouldn’t be mixed in with the real Eurovision.
Is it because Germany is debuting this year?
The children’s channel KIKA only broadcasts until 9 pm over here and I’m sure there is no way ARD will air Junior Eurovision on the main channel. Also, if Germany were to host Junior Eurovision, it has to start earlier because children are not allowed to be on stage later than 10 pm here.
I never liked the principal of the JESC. Anyone can write or perform a song, be them child or adult. Also, last time i checked, children listen to the same pop music as everyone else. What this comes down to is a child talent contest, and those kind of things make me uncomfortable.
On the flip side, the JESC has found Destiny, who has the vocal capacity to win just about every music competition (so i suppose i should thank it for that). Destiny should enter the ESC though, very soon. 🙂
hosting it in different locations could work tbh, I’ve been to Malta twice now and it’s a very small island so it’s not like per se where I live the UK, you can drive from the top of Malta to the bottom of Malta in maybe 3 hours? so it’s not a bad idea.