At the end of November, it was reported that Kazakhstan’s Channel 31 intended to participate in both the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 and the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. Now, the broadcasted claims to have become an EBU member and says that they will take part in the upcoming contests!
The head of Channel 31, Bagdat Kodzhahmetov, met today with Arystanbek Mukhamediuly, the Minister of Culture and Sports. Kodzhahmetov says that:
“In order to participate in Eurovision – both Junior and adult – Channel 31 must become an EBU member. So, they have taken initative and became members of the EBU. Therefore, they can send a performer to Eurovision to represent Kazakhstan. If they win, then Eurovision will be held in Kazakhstan!”
Do Kazakhstan have EBU membership?
The Ministry of Culture and Sport has confirmed that Channel 31 made an application for EBU membership. However, the EBU have not yet confirmed if the application has been successful.
Since the start of 2016, the Kazakh media outlet, Khabar Agency, has been an associate member of the EBU. But only full members can participate in Eurovision events, which prevented them from taking part without being specially invited. If what Channel 31 says is true, then Kazakhstan will be able to take part without a special invite!
Will Kazakhstan do well in Eurovision?
Kazakhstan was one of the most successful countries of the Turkvision Song Contest, a contest inspired by the Eurovision Song Contest which included Turkic-speaking countries and regions. They won the next to last edition of the contest in 2014 and came second in the junior version of the contest! Perhaps this success could carry over to Eurovision itself.
What do you think? Would you like to see Kazakhstan join the Eurovision Song Contest? Are there any Kazakh artists that you’d like to see take part?
Let us know in the comments below, and on social media @ESCXTRA!
Comments on Kazakhstan’s Channel 31 claims: “We will participate in Eurovision 2019!”