Nicosia calling! Junior Eurovision 2016 is getting closer and today Cyprus‘ broadcaster CyBC officially confirmed that Cyprus is returning to the contest after a year of absence.
Cyprus’ last entered JESC back in 2014, when Sophia Patsalides performed the somg “I Pio Omorfi Mera”. The country fell out of the contest last year due to economical problems, but with a new board of directors at CyBC, things have changed and the broadcaster decided that Cyprus will return. This makes a total of 13 participating countries who’ll be performing at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in November.
CyBC has also started the search for Cyprus’ JESC representative. An open submission period has been launched for interested entrants, closing on 9 September.
The winning song will be selected by a five-member jury, consisting of three adults and two children. The national selection process will not be broadcast so there won’t be a public televote in selecting the act for Valletta.
Cyprus first entered Junior Eurovision in 2003, and have participated seven times previously. Cyprus tends to place in the middle of the scoreboard, with its best results being eighth place in 2004 and 2006. In their last participation, Cyprus placed ninth with 69 points.
So what do you think? Can Cyprus make a big comeback and win for the first time?
They have also confirmed participation at Eurovision 2017! Great!!! 😀
It’s nice to have them back – but what the contest really needs to keep alive is to get the BIG countries join.
When I contacted the Australian broadcaster with the question if Australia will join the next edition, they said: ‘We have no plans on this.’
This could mean Australia is withdrawing, but I don’t know if it is true what they said.
Laburnum, most of the swedish JESC fans I know, including me, don’t want to return until the rules are changed back. But I asked someone who did work at melodifestivalen by internet, and he was interested to see how these changes turned out, and interested in returning. But I do want the least possible amount of countries to participate, then EBU can change the rules back and I’ll love the contest again, even though I still love past editions, especially the first 3, when everyone wanted to participate.
Nice to have Cyprus back again. And now 13 countries is good. Still waiting on the following though:
– Sweden (Return)
– France (Return)
– Spain (Return)
– Belgium (Return)
– Germany (debut)
We need more western countries in order for JESC to get more viewer attention. Rather than just having random countries compete from the other side of the world (ahem Australia) just to get a high viewership.
Whatever song they choose could lead somewhere in Cyprus 2017! 😀
Isn’t Sweden aupposed to return too?
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They where my 2nd favorite in 2014. If there are going to be 18 countries, i hope the following countries will be:
– Serbia
– Georgia
– Montenegro
– Germany (debut)
– Estonia (debut)
That wuld mean that Australia is withdrawing, but this would be my ideal list 😀