Two countries are in the running to host the 2006 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Eurosong.be said that yesterday, based on intensive research. Initially, a decision was to be taken at the same time as the announcement of the participants list, now a decision about the 2006 host country will be taken in October. The European Broadcasting Union requested the potential host broadcasters for more detailed information.
The postponed decision about the 2006 Junior Eurovision Song Contest was the basic foundation for a widely spread rumour that the 2005 edition would be the last edition of the event. “In Hasselt, the formal decision was taken to organise another edition next year”, the press department of 2005 host broadcaster VRT said.
Originally, four countries were in the running for the honourable job to host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest next year. Two of them dropped out, two are still left. Eurosong.be sources claim to know that among these four countries, two eastern European countries, that didn't participate in the junior contest yet, can be found.
The Netherlands?
The Dutch broadcaster AVRO already applied to host the 2005 edition of the junior contest, but Belgian broadcasters VRT and RTBF won the pitch. “Are you still in the running to host the 2006 Junior Eurovision Song Contest?”, eurosong.be asked the broadcaster.“Would you please give us a chance to communicate this first?”, was the reply. Confirmation 'between the lines'…?
Romania? Croatia?
After contests in Denmark (2003), Norway (2004) and Belgium (2005), it seems a logical decision to send the Junior Eurovision Song Contest to eastern Europe. Therefore, an application from the Romanian or Croatian broadcasters might stand a good chance as well. Its, however, unknown if geography plays a role in the selection of the host country, but it can be assumed that the EBU would not ask the Dutch broadcaster AVRO for a more detailed proposal if the fact that the Netherlands is the neighbour country of this year's host country would be crucial. It makes sense as well to state that at the end, the contest should go to the broadcaster with the best plan.
Croatian HRT was selected to organise the 2004 edition of the contest, but was not able to organise the contest. British ITV had been originally chosen, but refused because of the budget. Norwegian NRK finally took over, after neighbour country Denmark hosted the first edition of the junior event.
Most likely to be continued!
