Do not adjust your set

Do you know what happened a few hours ago? You probably do. But have you realised what the consequences are?

After a running court battle, the Nationalist Party has finally won back the right to air the same number of political spots on PBS as the Malta Labour Party.

You might recall that this was a result of a bizarre Broadcasting Authority decision to give the MLP free airtime to respond to MIC spots.

This decision was taken without any rational justification even by the BA's own admission and without giving the same airtime to the PN. Now the BA has finally seen this monumental blunder explode in its face.

Well, actually, it has exploded in your face unless you've already noticed. The PN might be the winner so far and justifiably so.

But in the next few months you, the televiewer, will be the loser. Now that the PN has regained an equal right to air spots as the MLP, Alternattiva Demokratika should automatically obtain the same right.

By the same logic, the Campaign for National Independence, the IVA movement, Front Maltin Inqumu and who knows who else will be clamouring for identical treatment. And there appears to be no logical reason why their claim should be denied. You get the drift.

Anthony J. Tabone, the former PBS chairman, has been proved right and a pandora's box has now been opened. PBS programming as you know it will cease to exist, at least until election time.

First, these spots are extra, in addition to tons of other political broadcasts, party productions, other spots and debates that the two main political parties are already entitled to by law.

Secondly, the parties have the absolute right to slot as many of these spots on PBS as they wish and at any time. With six organisations flogging their slots every day, the national station is going to be reduced to a tedious and irritating bulletin board of political propaganda.

It is conceivable that from now on commercial breaks during PBS's prime time will contain between five and six political spots each.

It will be enough to drive you around the bend. But do not adjust your set. As from tomorrow, this will be normal programming. And you have the gentlemen and lady of the Broadcasting Authority to thank for this televisual mess.

In our view, the problem with the BA today is that it takes decisions according to the needs and requirements of political parties rather than your interests, the interests of the viewer.

The BA has not realised that the television set in your living room belongs to you and not to whoever wants to win the next election.