Broadcasting Authority's EU slots

Many writers in certain newspapers, ready to doubt the PBS's decision not to abide by the BA's ruling to broadcast free of charge slots by the MLP, are not aware of broadcasting laws and Malta's obligations under Council of Europe laws and conventions, including the many signed by Malta, such as the Transfrontier TV Convention, by which PBS and the BA are bound.

The decision taken by the Broadcasting Authority allocating free spots to the Labour Party to broadcast its views on the party's proposal for an alternative to EU membership, goes contrary to the BA's policy, is unfair to PBS and is a step backward in broadcasting in Malta.

The Broadcasting Authority has made it clear that its decision is no censorship of MIC's slots and in no way does it reflect the authority's opinion on the same slots. However, the BA has decisded to allocate free slots to the Labour Party to balance the MIC's slots.

Why is there the need of a balance, when there is no imbalance? Is the authority ready to make sure that what is broadcast in the Labour slots is the full truth? Or is it going to allow a repetition of what is broadcast on Super One?

And is the authority competent enough to judge the veracity of the content of these slots? On the other hand does it appear that the BA intends to introduce censorship also of MIC's slots? Will the authority become an accomplice in broadcasting false news?

This is a very serious decision. And under European laws, the BA is bound to see that all stations are balanced and truthful, as European laws do not make a distinction in responsibility, between public and private stations. It is not enough for Europe to create a balance between stations. It is clear that each station has to be balanced and impartial.

In allocating slots to the MLP, the BA is itself creating an imbalance as other political parties are being discriminated against. To add insult to injury, the BA has ordered the slots to be given free (PBS paying), when slots by MIC are being screened under a contract and against payment at commercial rates. The authority is therefore giving an unfair advantage and a financial boost to the Labour Party and at the same time putting more financial pressure on PBS.

Again, under European regulations, no authority or government can make a station give free time to a political party, if that free time can cause financial loss to that station.

If the BA is ready to allocate slots to political parties (any party, MLP, PN or AD) they should at least be carried against payment at the established commercial rates and if need be, the BA should foot the bill. Who orders pays! As simple as that.

The BA is already imposing political slots, which by its own admission are not watched by many viewers. It has also imposed an additional series of discussions on the EU, which the Labour Party has chosen to boycott, because it does not want to be contradicted. Now the order is more slots for political use, when the same parties have their own TV and radion stations in default of European conventions.

It is pertinent to point out that too much politics means loss of revenue and loss of televiewers, as confirmed in the BA's surveys.

If the Broadcasting Authority wants to give another voice to the parties, (which were given radio and TV licences to broadcast their views and leave PBS free of too much politics), it should have given them time to replace its slots of political broadcasts. It is also duty bound to ascertain that no false information is given by either party. After all, the BA was watchful on MIC not to be partial. The same obligation applies to political parties both on public broadcasting and on their own national station.

It is very evident that the BA aims to adopt a policy of appeasement. It is creating injustices, be they political or financial.

Finally the BA is interfering where it should not. But fools rush in where angels fear to tread!

What is to be expected next from a constitutional dinosaur: decisions by the BA based on perceptions?

What a self-inflicted sorry state!