The Ukrainian national broadcaster UA:PBC cut-off the analogue distribution across the majority of the country yesterday (with the exception of six border regions), due to debts.
UA:PBC is one of the broadcasters with the smallest budgets in Europe, and this year they only received around half the budget defined by national law. The EBU Director General, Mr. Noel Curran stated:
We are dismayed that the authorities have taken the decision to deprive the Ukrainian people of this important public service. We urge the authorities to restore transmissions immediately and allocate the necessary funding to allow public service media to fulfil its critical role to society and to democracy in Ukraine.
What does this mean for Ukraine in Junior Eurovision, and the Eurovision Song Contest – easily, nothing. UA:PBC continues to broadcast their TV programme digitally, and they are all set to compete in Junior Eurovision in Minsk later this year. They also already confirmed their participation in Eurovision 2019 in Israel, however, they have slightly less than a month to withdraw their application with no financial consequences.
Ukraine will be represented by Darina Krasnovetska and her song “Say Love” in this year’s Junior Eurovision in Minsk. Give it a listen here:
