🇦🇺 Australia rules out Junior Eurovision 2022 participation

Australia has confirmed that neither broadcaster involved in Eurovision events will be broadcasting Junior Eurovision 2022. As a result, Australia will not be participating in the Contest.

No JESC 2022 broadcast down under

Previously, ABC – which organised Australia’s participation for Junior Eurovision – confirmed that the broadcaster would not be taking part in the upcoming Contest. However, as both ABC and SBS are Associate Members of the EBU, there was a possibility that SBS – which looks after the adult Contest – could broadcast the Contest and bring Australia back.

However, in an email received by That Eurovision Site, SBS confirmed that they will not be broadcasting the show. This, in turn, means that SBS will not be participating in this year’s edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. The statement read:

SBS is always exploring new ways to entertain audiences and enhance their Eurovision experience, however there are no plans to broadcast Junior Eurovision this year.

Eva Pitarides, SBS Head of Press for Eurovision

As a result, Australia joins a number of countries confirming they will not be returning or participating in the next Junior Eurovision Song Contest. The next edition will take place in Yerevan, Armenia following Maléna’s win in Paris.

Australia’s Junior Eurovision journey

Australia debuted in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015, alongside Ireland. Their first participant was Bella Paige, who performed “My Girls” in Sofia. At the close of voting, Australia finished in 8th place and receiving 64 points. Since then, Australia has participated a further four times. Their best result came in both 2017 and 2018, when Isabella Clarke and Jael both finished in third place.

Australia’s most recent participation was in 2019, when Jordan Anthony represented the country in Gliwice with his song “We Will Rise”. Following his performance, Australia finished in 8th place, earning 121 points. Professional juries from each participating country gave Australia 82 points, whilst the viewing public voting online gave Jordan 39 points.

What do you make of the news from Australia? Would you like to see the land down under return to Junior Eurovision in the future? What is your favourite Junior Eurovision song from Australia? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as we prepare for Junior Eurovision 2022!

News Source: That Eurovision Site / ESCPlus

Photo Credit: EBU / Thomas Hanses