After Kazakhstan‘s recent top-ten finish at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, the Central Asia nation’s Eurovision fever shows no signs of declining. Now Khabar Agency chairman Alan Azhibayev has revealed the broadcaster’s ambitions for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Speaking to Today.kz, Azhibayev confirmed that Khabar agency is not currently able to compete at Eurovision as it is only an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union. But Khabar Agency have their sights set on full membership.
While the transcontinental country — which is located in both Europe and Asia — is currently a full member of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, it would also like to become a full member of the EBU. And in doing so, participation at Eurovision could be possible.
Azhibayev revealed that the broadcaster has already been in talks with the EBU and that negotiations are ongoing. He explained, “There were big talks between the Minister of Information and Communications Dauren Abayev and the EBU management team … After Junior Eurovision we had meetings with them. I think they will come here to Kazakhstan. Negotiations will continue.”
For Kazakhstan to become a full member of the EBU, the broadcasting union would need to broaden its membership area. Currently Kazakhstan is outside the catchment area covered by the EBU.
The chairman also talked about the benefits that hosting Eurovision would bring to the winning country, suggesting that Kazakhstan very much has their eyes on the prize.
Kazakhstan also appear to have been studying the route that Australia took to Eurovision. The down-under nation — who is still only an associate member of the EBU and must be invited to participate each year — initially appeared as an interval act in 2014.
Azhibayev talked about the possibility of Kazakhstan appearing at Eurovision 2019 as a special guest performer. He mentioned Australia’s decades-long path to Eurovision and said, “We should do it step by step, to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, then we will have more chances.”
However, at this stage none of the interval acts for Eurovision 2019, nor Kazakhstan’s bid for full EBU membership have been confirmed.
What do you think? Should Kazakhstan become a full member of the EBU? Should they perform as an interval act in Tel Aviv? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
No more 12 points to Russia
Funny how people are afraid of Russia’s receving 12 points but recently western countries are more biased than eastern countries. Kazakhs are turkic people like AzerbaijanIans and Turks (bit more turkic as they stayed in central Asia ) so their 12 points will go to Azerbaijan and Turkey . If Kazakhstan takes part in Eurovision I hope their singer will be real Kazakh unlike Junior Eurovision.
They want in, let them. Im sure they will take it more seriously and do better than the U.K 😀
I would love my Kyrgyzstan join Eurovision family as well, cuz I’m sure Kazakhstan will become one in one-two years maximum.
I was a little hesitant about letting Kazakhstan participate at JESC at first, but now that Daneliya had done well (I love her <3) and they seem like they want to participate, why not? I hope they join in sometime soon!
Also, please let them be the interval act!! Australia did that in 2014 (technically 2013 too), and it worked out fine and eventually brought them to the stage!
They can easily become a full member by joining the Council of Europe.
Please!!! All I ask is, at minimum, that the “Guest Slot” rotates every year!!!
Izin Korem was such a strong song that is wasn’t just the obvious Turkvision winner, but it could easily have been a contender on Eurovision itself. Their music industry surprises me every time with its strength of talent and I’d love to see what they could bring to such a big competition as Eurovision!!
Nah I’m sure it’s a lovely country and they have a rich and ancient culture blah blah blah but come on its not in blooming Europe is it, I mean what next Papua new Guinea I don’t want this turning into the world song contest still no happy about Australia being there its just odd
It says in the article that part of Kazakhstan actually is in Europe- which means Kazakhstan meets the qualifications to become an EBU member. Sorry to burst your bubble but many countries that probably aren’t by your definition European are EBU members and eligible to compete in Eurovision, they just choose not to. I wonder how you would react if Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt , Algeria, Libya, Jordan, and Lebanon competed. Sadly, last time I checked Papua New Guinea didn’t meet the requirements for EBU membership
Please who really cares what the ebu says the more countries involved the more money they line there back pockets with thats their main priority,My main concern is where does it stop any country in the contest that has ebu membership. What are you wanting a 60 song contest with three semifinals, seriously the contest is big enough as it is. I suspect many Arabic countries don’t take part as they will run into all sorts of problems like China did this year with Ireland’s gay dance or just let the screen go blank when Israel performs which I’m sure… Read more »
I agree with you that the EBU cares more about money but they do have limits. If money was all that they cared about they never would have revoked the broadcasting rights for that network in China and they would allow all of the Arabic countries to compete and just allow them to edit out the Israeli performance. . I would agree with you if they were allowing membership and participation for just any country,like China or Brazil for example, but Kazakhstan meets the requirements for EBU membership as spelled out by the EBU so the rules aren’t being changed… Read more »
Fair enough it’s valid point, personally I feel around forty countries or so is enough for the time being and its nothing against kazakstan, like I said not a huge fan of Australia in the concert either, Realistically 26/27 songs in a final is enough. But hey the more the merrier I suppose.
Then Daneliya should be that guest act.
Yes please!!!!
Daneliya was simply flawless <3
Kazakhstan who has a part in Europe has more reasons to participate than Australia. They should definitely join, their jesc entry was very professional
The irony is that Eurovision isn’t even popular in Kazakhstan, not like it is in Australia anyway. This is just the Kazakh government wanting some positive PR to counteract the deep and lasting damage done by Borat, which wasn’t even filmed in Kazakhstan.
They were originally against the movie and banned it in Kazakhstan but after they saw an increace of tourism due to the movie they unbanned it and were actually okay with it
I would like to have as many participant countries as possible. My concern with Kazakhstan is that it would mean that the Eastern block would receive most of its points (Russia 12 pts from the televote 100%), making the competition even more unfair for Western countries.
This is how Kazakhstan juries voted:
Macedonia-12
Italy-10
Malta-8
Israel-7
Ukraine-6
Georgia-5
Russia-4
Australia-3
Belarus-2
Poland-1
Even though they gave minor points to Eastern countries such as Russia and Belarus, they gave major points to Italy and Malta which are considered more Western friendly. Also the East will ALWAYS have more advantage than the West because it has more countries. At the end , talent is talent and if the artist can show this , his region or block will not matter and they could be successful in winning regardless of the East or West.
Thank you for posting this, it actually eases some of my fears of Kazakhstan being a blank vote for Russia every year. Seeing this and knowing that they’re pushing to be in Eurovision to boost their public image I think they might actually encourage their juries to vote for western nations instead of eastern ones to help dispel the image that they are a puppet of Russia
Based on their debut on JESC they didn’t seem all that eager to send their 12 points to Russia like some of people claimed so that should calm some people’s nerves.
Their televote will always be 8-Ukraine, 10-Azerbaijan and 12-Russia, but it’s not like this should discourage to support its participation bc I’m sure KZ would enrich the competition.
They must do that that will be AMAZING! full membership! Go kazak!
Same as how it is with Australia; much better to welcome those who want to be there instead of hoping for the return of countries who take their ball and go home. 😉
Where’s the lie tbh!