The state TV station, PBS is to be reimbursed for the expenses it incurred while filming Andrea Bocelli's concert last Saturday, the station's chief executive Albert Debono told The Times, yesterday.
Mr Bocelli's representatives had cut off the sound to the footage being shot by PBS during the tenor's concert at Ta' Qali, even though the broadcaster had entered into an agreement with the organisers, Renaissance Productions, to cover the event.
Despite the agreement, Mr Debono said, it seemed there were no transmission rights. The concert was due to be broadcast on Christmas Day.
But the chief executive declined to say whether PBS had paid for the rights to film the concert, saying this was "sensitive commercial information" which could not be divulged.
Mr Debono said Renaissance Productions had agreed to cover all the costs incurred in setting up the Outside Broadcasting Unit, which could run into thousands of liri.
However, when contacted, Renaissance Productions director Anton Tabone declined to comment, saying the issue was between two private entities and should not enter the public arena.
Dr Tabone did confirm, however, that the broadcaster was filming inside the tent.
He added that answering questions of this nature was a "waste of time for me", and he said he thought The Times ought to be asking about the success of the concert, which was held at the Malta Convention Centre at Ta' Qali.
When asked whether PBS was considering taking legal action against Renaissance Productions, Mr Debono said all options were currently being considered and the company was quantifying the costs.
He pointed out that attempts are being made to try to reach an agreement with the tenor's recording company.
However, the PBS chairman's assistant Andrew Psaila said the concert would definitely not be aired on Monday, although the parties are working on the possibility of broadcasting it at a later date.
Mr Psaila explained that at the beginning of Saturday's concert, just after the national anthem was played, he was informed by one of the broadcaster's technicians that they had been stopped from filming with sound by the tenor's representatives.
PBS continued filming the concert but without sound.