The Director General of Kazakhstan Channel 31 has today announced that a deal has been reached to see Kazakhstan debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019.
It was first reported at the end of November, that Channel 31 intended to participate in Junior Eurovision 2018 as well as the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. At the time the broadcaster stated that discussions were ongoing with the EBU to seek the membership required to participate in the contests, but it has today been confirmed.
Bagdat Kodzhahmetov the Head of Channel 31 met today with the Minister of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan Arystanbek Mukhamediuly and stated that Kazakhstan will debut in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 and hold a national selection process for the competition.
He stated;
In order to participate in the Eurovision – both Junior and the adult – the broadcaster must become the EBU member. Therefore, Channel 31 took the initiative, so we became members of the EBU and therefore can send a performer to the Eurovision on behalf of Kazakhstan. In case the Kazakhstani performer wins, the next Eurovision will be held in Kazakhstan
The Ministry of Culture and Sport has confirmed that Channel 31 has applied for EBU membership. The European Broadcasting Union has yet to state whether Channel 31 has been granted membership.
Khabar Agency has been an associate member of the EBU since January 1 2016. As only full members of the EBU can participate in the contest, Khabar Agency must be invited by the EBU to participate.
Kazakhstan currently takes part in the ABU TV Song Festival, having done so every year since 2015. They were also one of the most successful countries in Turkvision, winning the 2014 edition with “Izin korem” by Zhanar Dugalova and coming second in Bala Turkvision, the children’s edition of the contest, with “Samga” by Erkin Tursynhan.
