SBS and ABC have confirmed to Aussievision that neither broadcaster will air the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020.
Following speculation that Australia may reverse its decision to withdraw from Junior Eurovision 2020 due to the EBU’s announcement that all participants will perform remotely, SBS has confirmed it has no intention to compete or broadcast this years contest. A spokesperson for SBS explained that:
Due to restrictions and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, SBS informed the EBU in July that Australia would not be competing in the Junior Eurovision Contest 2020.
The ABC and SBS have also confirmed they will not broadcast the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2020.
SBS had aired every edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest from its debut in 2003 through to 2016. In 2017 ABC Me took over organisation of Australian participation and competed in the contest up to 2019.
Image Source: Thomas Hanses / Source: Aussievision
Australia debuted in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015, the same year as their Eurovision Song Contest debut. The country is yet to win the contest, and their best result was in 2017, when Isabella Clarke performed her song “Speak Up” and received 3rd place with 172 points. They later went on to place 3rd at the 2018 contest with “Champion” by Jael Wena.
