The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) is planning to finalise the granting of individual rights of use for the 15 digital terrestrial television (DTTV) frequency channels by next May.

This was stated by the European Commissioner responsible for Culture, Vivian Reading, in reply to a parliamentary question by Labour MEP Joseph Muscat.

Referring to the allocation of DTTV channels by the MCA, Mr Muscat said four national television broadcasters, TVM, Net TV, Super 1 and Smash TV, were currently transmitting via the analogue system. They had all shown an interest in starting transmitting via digital, however, so far, they had not been allocated frequencies by the MCA, even though they have licences for broadcasting issued by the Malta Broadcasting Authority.

Mr Muscat queried whether the Commission is of the opinion that in order to secure the right to free information, the four broadcasters should be automatically allowed to continue broadcasting directly free-to-air with the digital system without the need to resort to service providers which would charge consumers for their service.

In its response, the Commission made it clear it does not share Mr Muscat's opinion on the automatic right for national broadcasters to be given a digital frequency. It referred Mr Muscat to the Authorisation Directive which specifies that, "without prejudice to specific criteria and procedures adopted by member states to grant rights of use of radio frequencies to providers of radio or television broadcast content services with a view to pursuing general interest objectives in conformity with Community law, such rights of use shall be granted through open, transparent and non-discriminatory procedures".

Ms Reading added that according to information received by the Commission on the issue, MCA has recently assigned frequencies for the purpose of trial transmissions and all national broadcasters that have expressed an interest were included.

However, she added, these frequencies are only of a temporary nature and without prejudice to any final granting of rights of use of radio frequencies for the commercial provision of DTTV services in Malta.