Poland has entered the Junior Eurovision Song Contest eleven times, competing in the first contest in 2003. The Polish broadcaster Telewizja Polska (TVP) decided to withdraw from the contest after coming last in both 2003 and in 2004, despite TVP signing a 3-year contract with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). In 2016, it was announced that Poland would return after an 11-year break. Poland was the first country in the history of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest to win twice in a row: in 2018 with Roksana Węgiel and her song "Anyone I Want to Be" and then in 2019 with Viki Gabor and her song "Superhero".
There was some debate on whether Poland could return to Junior Eurovision in 2008. TVP stated that the contestant could be chosen through the existing program Mini szansa, and would be broadcast on the secondary channel TVP2. This however did not materialise, and Poland remained out of the contest. On 14 June 2016, the Head of Music at TVP announced that Poland was considering a return to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2016, after an 11-year absence from the contest. He stated that an invitation was issued to potential participants to submit songs to the broadcaster, but reaffirmed that they had not made a complete decision on whether they would actually be participating. On 30 August 2016, TVP officially confirmed that Poland would return and launched its national selection.[1]
History
Olivia Wieczorek performing at the 2016 Polish National Final.
Poland made their debut at the inaugural Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2003. The Polish broadcaster, Telewizja Polska (TVP), were in charge of organising their entrants into the contest. Thirteen participants took part in the first national selection which was held on 28 September 2003. The winner who went on to represent Poland at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2003 was Katarzyna Żurawik with her song "Coś mnie nosi".[2] Żurawik performed in position 7 at the contest. She finished in last place scoring 3 points. In 2004, girl group Kwadro represented country with song "Łap życie"; however, Poland again came last scoring 3 points.[2] Despite TVP signing a 3-year contract with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), they later decided to withdraw from the contest.[3]
Poland had considered returning to Junior Eurovision in 2008, as TVP stated that the contestant could be chosen through the existing program Mini szansa, and would be broadcast on the secondary channel TVP2.[4] However, Poland decided to remain absent from the contest.[5] On 14 June 2016, the Head of Music at TVP announced that Poland was considering a return to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2016, after a 12-year absence from the contest. He stated that an invitation was issued to potential participants to submit songs to the broadcaster, but reaffirmed that they had not made yet a complete decision on whether they would actually be participating.[6] On 30 August 2016, TVP officially confirmed that Poland would return and launched its national selection.[1]
In 2018, the form of choosing a representative and song changed - the person representing Poland was selected internally based on the viewers' votes in the previously performed program The Voice Kids and the song was fully internally. Roksana Węgiel was as the Polish representative, competing with the song "Anyone I Want to Be". She won the contest and gave Poland its first victory in the competition. In 2019 in Gliwice, the host country used a children's talent show format, Szansa na sukces, as the selection method for their artist. Viki Gabor and her song "Superhero" represented Poland and won with 278 points. It is the second time Poland won and the first time a country won on home soil. As hosts, they finished 9th being represented by Ala Tracz and the song "I'll Be Standing", which is their worst result since 2016. In the following year, Poland achieved its third podium result by finishing in 2nd place with Sara James.
The contests are broadcast online worldwide through the official Junior Eurovision Song Contest website junioreurovision.tv and YouTube. In 2015, the online broadcasts featured commentary in English by junioreurovision.tv editor Luke Fisher and 2011 Bulgarian Junior Eurovision Song Contest entrant Ivan Ivanov.[9] The Polish broadcaster, TVP, sent their own commentators to the contest in order to provide commentary in the Polish language. Spokespersons were also chosen by the national broadcaster in order to announce the awarding points from Poland. The table below list the details of each commentator and spokesperson since 2003.
