LRT has confirmed that it is looking to return to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest at its earliest in 2025.
In a statement to Eurofestivales, the Lithuanian broadcaster LRT has confirmed that it earliest edition of Junior Eurovision it would be taking part in would be 2025. LRT revealed that the broadcaster is looking at Junior Eurovision as part of a commitment to increase the amount of content for younger viewers broadcast by LRT.
LRT is broadcasting Junior Eurovision for the first time in over a decade this week, with the contest taking place in Nice, France. The broadcaster confirmed today that it will be airing the 2024 contest as well and then review ratings before making a decision on a potential return in 2025.
The Head of the LRT television department, Andrius Korenka commented:
LRT will broadcast the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 and 2024, but we will not take part. If the ratings are good, we will consider our participation in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2025.
Lithuania hasn’t participated in Junior Eurovision since 2011, initially withdrawing in 2012 due to the cost of broadcasting UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2012 Summer Olympics. Since then, they have repeatedly ruled out returning to the contest, citing the high costs of competing and low audience figures when they took part.
Source: Eurofestivales
Lithuania debuted in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2007. They participated in the contest from 2007 to 2008 and 2010 to 2011. Lithuania’s best result in any Eurovision contest came in 2008 when Eglė Jurgaitytė finished 3rd in Cyprus with “Laiminga diena” scoring a total of 103 points.
