Junior Eurovision 2020: The potential venues of the next contest

Thursday, 04 June 2020

• Two weeks ago during the special show "Europe Shine a Light" Warsaw was confirmed as the next host city along with the logo and slogan of the next Junior Eurovision. However TVP's announcement of the host city brought up speculations on the potential venues of the next contest. 
  

  On May 16, in the Europe Shine A Light program, the hosts connected with TVP studio in Warsaw, where Viki Gabor, winner of the Eurovision Junior 2019, presented the JESC 2020 logo and the Move The World slogan . This had been the long-awaited information for the fans who were worried after 2020 Eurovision's cancellation, that the children's competition would not take place due to the coronavirus epidemic. Maciej Łopiński, acting president of the Polish Television, dispelled these doubts:

  "Big musical ventures such as the Eurovision Junior Song Contest have invaluable value because they bring optimism and hope. The slogan of this year's Eurovision Junior, "Move the world", says about the need for active action for the common good. Eurovision Junior is undoubtedly such an activity. I am glad that Polish Television, after the success of last year's edition, has been chosen as the host again."

   

  Where can the competition take place?

  It is already confimred that Eurovision Junior 2020 will take place on November 29 in Warsaw.  However, TVP's announcement of having the contest held in selected special studios,  brought speculations as to whether the Eurovision Junior will take place in a television studio and concerns if the competition will maintain its spectacular show.

  Last year Eurovision Junior took place in Arena Gliwice , which can accommodate up to 17,000 music fans. In present times and with the threat of the coronavirus epidemic still over Europe, the organization of such large events in such short time since the outbreak, is out of the question. Despite this, TVP and EBU decided to take on this challenge, which gives grounds to believe that Junior Eurovision might be carried out without the participation of the public. However, TVP has not issued an official position on this matter.

         

                                                 The Warsaw Tower

  Therefore, the question remains where Eurovision Junior Eurovision 2020 will take place. Previously expected locations were the National Stadium or Warsaw Torwar. However, both facilities are not typically adapted for television shows and with the reservations about the covid-19 pandemic possibilities are fading out. 
  

   

                                             National Stadium

   

  Junior Eurovision 2020 at ATM Studio?

  It's a solution that at the moment is on the table as more likely. ATM Studio has as many as seven halls with a total area of ​​14 thousand square meters. The largest of them is about 1500 square meters and is fully technically adapted to broadcast live broadcasts. In addition, TVP has cooperated with ATM in more than one occasion. This is where the programs from The Voice series take place ,  during which several hundred viewers sit in the audience each time. Other entertainment formats, official celebrations broadcast on TV and fashion shows also take place in ATM Studio's facilities. Halls are adapted to provide a greenroom, backstage, storage space, a representative hall or additional services, e.g. catering. Thus we won't be surprised if we see the next edition of the contest held in this venue. 

   

  The Transcolor Studio

  

  If eventually the competition  takes place in a TV Studio don't be surprised if we see it held at Transcolor Studio, a facility often used in  television and advertising productions. Popular shows such as “Got Talent”, “You Can Dance” and “Dancing with the Stars” were produced there. Like ATM Studio it’s Hall 1 has a space of ​​1.5 thousand square meters while his ceiling has a lifting capacity of  70 tons a  crucial element for a show as the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. 

  Regarding the diffculties  the covid-19 restriction while planning the contest, in such a changing and challenging environment, the EBU will, therefore, work with TVP and its other Members to ensure the continuity of the event in a number of different scenarios.

  Last year the competition was hosted in Gliwice-Silesia with a total of 19 nations participating . Poland won the contest for a second year in a row with Viki Gabor’s entry “Superhero”.

  Source: eurowizja.org