Final 20 November 2016 Executive producer John Bundy | ||
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Presenter(s) Ben CamilleValerie Vella Host broadcaster | ||
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016 was the fourteenth annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which took place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta, Malta. This was the second time that Malta have hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, their first being in 2014. Jon Ola Sand was appointed as the Executive Supervisor for the 2016 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, following the dismissal of the former supervisor, Vladislav Yakovlev.
Contents
- Location
- Executive supervisor dismissal
- Voting
- Interval acts
- Participating countries
- Scoreboard
- Other countries
- Active EBU Members
- Official album
- References
Seventeen countries participated in the contest with Montenegro and Slovenia both withdrawing from the competition after two contests, and San Marino withdrawing after three, whilst Cyprus is returning after a one-year break, Israel is returning after a three-year break and Poland is returning to the contest after a record eleven-year break. For the first time since the inauguration of the contest the voting procedure will not include a public televote. The overall results will be determined by combination of professional and young jurors.
Georgia's Mariam Mamadashvili won the contest. This marks the third time Georgia has won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest (following 2008 and 2011 respectively), making Georgia the first country to win the competition three times.
Location
During a press conference interview on 21 November 2015, a representative from the EBU stated that they had already begun approaching several broadcasters in regards to being the host country for the 2016 contest. On 13 April 2016, it was confirmed that Malta would host the contest. This was the second time that the country hosted the contest, having previously done so in 2014.
The contest took place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, in the Maltese capital, Valletta; which will also be hosting the Eurovision Young Dancers 2017.
Executive supervisor dismissal
An announcement was made in December 2015, regarding the contract termination of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor Vladislav Yakovlev. Yakovlev was fired without any clear reasons after three contests, and was replaced by Jon Ola Sand who has been Executive Supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2011.
Voting
During the press conference for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016, held in Stockholm, the Reference Group announced several changes to the voting format for the 2016 contest. Previously, points had been awarded based on a combination of 50% National juries and 50% televoting, from each country with one more set of points also given out by a 'Kids' Jury'.The new voting system would be an adaptation of the new system used in the adult festival, but instead of the televoting, which was removed, a children's jury would be used by each country.From this year 1-8, 10, and 12 will be awarded based on a 50/50 combination of each country’s Adult and Kids' Jury, to be announced by a spokesperson. This will bring an end to the use of televoting for the first time. For the first time, an expert panel from the professional music industry will provide feedback on each of the artists performances. The members of the panel are: Christer Björkman, Mads Grimstad, and the 2011 and 2012,participants at the adult version Jedward. Also for the first time since 2005 the starting 12 points are being dropped. In 2005 these where added to make sure nobody would end up with Nul Points.
Interval acts
It was announced on 3 November 2016 that last year's Junior Eurovision winner, Destiny Chukunyere, would be part of the interval act during the show. Poli Genova who represented Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and 2016 and also hosted the last´s year contest, will also be a part of the interval acts. On 16 November 2016,along the experts juries, it was announced that Jedward would join the interval act by performing a new song entitled "Hologram".
Participating countries
On 28 September 2016, it was confirmed that seventeen countries would take part in the contest. Cyprus is returning after a one-year break, Israel is returning after a three-year break and Poland is returning to the contest after a record eleven-year break. Montenegro and Slovenia both withdrew from the competition after two contests, and San Marino withdrew after competing in the past three editions. TVM, the television network operated by the Maltese national broadcaster (PBS), initially expected that a total of eighteen countries would participate in the 2016 contest.
Scoreboard
Other countries
For a country to be eligible for potential participation in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, it needs to be an active member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It is unknown whether the EBU issue invitations of participation to all 56 active members like they do for the Eurovision Song Contest. At a press conference held during the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015, the former contest Executive Supervisor, Vladislav Yakovlev, announced that broadcasters in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had expressed interest in participation. Additionally, during the Junior Eurovision Song Contest press conference held in Stockholm during the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, Jon Ola Sand confirmed that the EBU was in contact with a number of broadcasters regarding participation including Belgium, France, Germany and Spain.
The EBU Active Members, listed below, have made the following announcements in regards to their decisions:
Active EBU Members
The following broadcasters publicly declined to participate in the contest without providing any further explanations:
Official album
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016: Valletta, is a compilation album put together by the European Broadcasting Union, and was released by Universal Music Group on 11 November 2016. The album features all the songs from the 2016 contest, as well as two new songs by 2015 winner Destiny Chukunyere: "Embrace" and "Fast Life".