Public funding for PBS programmes

I refer to the report on the public consultation (February 2) organised by the Minister of Tourism and Culture Francis Zammit Dimech, in connection with his ministry's funding for public broadcasting programmes on PBS, for which the minister deserves the industry's praise and gratitude.

Once again I have to correct erroneous impressions gained by the twisting and turning of some over this issue. Regrettably I have to refer, again, to Where's Everybody with whose partners have no quarrel whatsoever. In my opinion PBS is manipulating arguments in order to dip into public funds to support programmes that are definitely not entitled to taxpayer money.

According to The Times report, rebutting accusations that Xarabank bites a chunk out of public funds when it is not entitled to, the minister (it was actually Fr Joe Borg) said that the biggest chunk of public money goes to children's programmes. If I am not mistaken, Where's Everybody also have at least one programme that I know of in that area and therefore do benefit from public funds as it is probably entitled to. That programme, like Xarabank and Bondiplus, seems to be in the PBS schedule in perpetuity.

When it comes to Xarabank, The Times report unwittingly condemns PBS hands down. The report says "(Xarabank) is considered to be a net contributor to it (PBS)." As a commercial, net contributor Xarabank is therefore not entitled to benefit from public funds for any part of the amount that Where's Everybody are paid for Xarabank each week or for the sum weekly that the partners receive for Bondiplus.

"However", your report states "its (Xarabank's) contribution is not enough for the fixed costs that PBS works out for that particular airtime. Funds from EPSO therefore go towards covering the outstanding amount, sources from the industry said".

I have no hesitation in considering that portion of the financial contribution to Xarabank from public money as daylight pilfering and the best advice I can give the well-meaning minister is to distance himself from it. Xarabank is not entitled to public funds and that's it. It may not be benefiting out of public funds to the same extent as their children's programme on PBS is, but they are benefiting nonetheless. Do we have an Auditor General in this country or don't we?

The report also states that "Xarabank has often suggested paying the station and taking the advertising revenue". At the public consultation that was not what Lou Bondì said. He said that they had often asked PBS to give them the airtime for nothing and Where's Everybody keep the advertising revenue. That is as much as Where's Everybody consider themselves to be the chosen people of God. While Austin Gatt's diktat (in the Black or your dead meat) which has turned PBS into an Arab market, makes money up front the prime requirement if producers want their programmes to see the light of day, Mr Bondì expects to get free airtime for their programmes while keeping the advertising money to boot.