BA replies to two PBS's appeals

The Broadcasting Authority yesterday filed its replies to the two appeals filed by Public Broadcasting Services Limited from judgments delivered by the Civil Court.

PBS had felt aggrieved by a judgment upholding the authority's decision to order PBS to broadcast MLP information spots on the EU free of charge to counter MIC spots.

The PBS also appealed from a judgment upholding the MLP's complaint that PBS had failed to implement the authority's decision.

PBS filed two appeals requesting the revocation of the judgments except for the declaration that the Constitution did not distinguish between public and private broadcasting.

The authority yesterday requested the court to dismiss PBS's appeal and confirm the Civil Court judgment finding that the authority had made proper use of the discretionary powers granted to it by law.

It also filed a reply to the appeal filed by PBS from the decision of the Civil Court upholding the complaint of the MLP and submitted that its decision had been correct and that the spots broadcast by MIC on TVM portrayed the subject of EU membership as the only option open to the country.

Prof. Ian Refalo signed the replies.