Khabar Agency, the Kazakh national broadcaster, has confirmed that it will not participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Madrid.
Khabar Agency confirmed to ESC Plus that they will not return to Junior Eurovision in 2024. Zhamilya Muhamedzharova, Head of Content Acquisition for Khabar Agency, confirmed that Kazakhstan would not be participating for various reasons, including lack of funding and the new start time for the final.
“Khabar Agency appreciates the uniqueness and importance of the contest that promotes talent development and cultural exchange among younger generations from different countries.
To participate, as well as to broadcast such a large-scale event, the following payments must be made: participation fee, purchase of broadcasting licence rights, technical services for a satellite channel, production of original music videos and songs, organisation of participation of representatives and tax obligations. The final amount of all costs is very high and Khabar does not have such funds.
In addition, this show gets low rating every year, and the grand final takes place at a time unsuitable for Kazakhstan’s audience.
In this regard, Khabar Agency is obliged to inform that it will not be able to participate in 2024, but it does not lose hope of returning in the near future.”
On their last appearance in the contest in 2022, David Charlin represented Kazakhstan with “Jer-Ana”. He finished 15th with 47 points, which was Kazakhstan’s worst result in the contest.
Junior Eurovision 2024
The 2024 edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Madrid, Spain, following their second-place finish at the 2023 contest. The final will take place at the Caja Mágica on November 16, bringing the contest back to a Saturday for the first time since 2015. The winner, France, declined the hosting responsibility after hosting the 2023 edition in Nice.
To date, the following countries have confirmed participation:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Cyprus
- Estonia
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Malta
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Poland
- Portugal
- Spain
- Ukraine
Image Source: EBU / Corinne Cumming | Source: ESC Plus
Kazakhstan in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Kazakhstan first participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2018, with Daneliya Tuleshova and her song “Ózine sen”. She went on to finish in 6th place. The country’s best result is 2nd place, which they achieved in 2019 with “Armanyńnan qalma” by Yerzhan Maksim, and in 2020 with “Forever” by Karakat Bashanova. Kazakhstan last participated in the competition in 2022 in Yerevan, Armenia.
