Candidus II, writing in "On the Dot" recently, has "partly opened" the door to answers to my queries addressed to Melita Cable plc over the past two years, through The Times.

Candidus II wrote that notwithstanding the new increase in fees Melita Cable is "persisting in offering a medley of programmes, some in unfamiliar languages, on what was to be the EWTN channel".

It is very opportune to remind Melita Cable plc of my previous contributions on "the EWTN round the clock" topic, by quoting below parts of my correspondence that has appeared in this paper over the past two years. Maybe, thanks to Candidus II, we might now have some realistic answers.

In February 2002 I had written "Last July, after a lengthy correspondence (about lack of channel space, etc), Melita Cable plc, promised that the introduction of digital services was very near" - at that time, they said that works had already started. "In view of this they would be able to allocate EWTN a channel covering the 24 hours: quote from one of their e-mails: 'once we introduce our digital system, we can offer more channels and variety'. Every Melita Cable subscriber has just received a New Year's greeting in the form of a 4.68 per cent global rate increase effective as of February 1!"

In April 2002, quote from published letter "EWTN European Marketing Manager in one of her communications to me did state that EWTN is 'aware that Melita Cable plc carries our channel only part-time, overnight, but have reasons to believe that within the next year (2002) EWTN should be available full-time to the Maltese'."

In October 2002, quote from published letter, "I had mentioned that in July 2001 Melita Cable plc had promised, in an e-mail to myself, that digital services were very near at that time. They also told me that once the digital system is introduced, more channels and variety could be offered. Nothing of the sort materialised."

Yes, it is a real shame that Melita once again has raised its fees. The Entry Tier has a 99 cents increase per month - for this increase the subscribers were "rewarded" with three channels which I doubt very much as how much these are "quality television programming" as Melita Cable states in their notice to subscribers dated last June 30. It also states "consistent with our policy to constantly improve our programming content".

The extra three channels are CNBC (a market dispatch and stocks channel), Leonardo (overloaded with fashion shows) and Club (a channel dedicated for women who only have time for aerobics etc). One has to wait and see the popularity these channels will be having!

And yet Melita Cable plc have not upgraded to digital... do we expect then to have a channel exclusively for EWTN?

I join forces with Candidus II in demanding the "fruits of the long-awaited liberalisation of telecommunications".

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