BA rejects potential 'political monologues'

The Broadcasting Authority has denied claims made by Azzjoni Nazzjonali last week that the authority had refused its request to have a one-hour political programme on Smash TV.

In a statement, the BA said AN had submitted a request to the authority for the acquisition of airtime on the TV station. The request was for a weekly, 90-minute programme with a repeat during the same week.

"Although the TV station in question is not licensed as a political station but as a commercial one, the authority, in light of the local broadcasting scenario and of the pertinent Constitutional provisions on broadcasting, approved AN's request but felt that a weekly 72-minute programme, including a repeat, would be adequate.

"The BA granted its approval subject to certain safeguards, including the proviso that the programmes broadcast by the party had to be subject to a reasonable degree of balance.

"The authority could not authorise discussion programmes which could turn out to be nothing more than political monologues. However, following a clarification requested by the station, the authority confirmed that it would not object to the coverage of AN activities.

"It now results to the authority that the facility granted to the party has so far not yet been utilised, but this is certainly not due to any objection on the part of the authority," the statement signed by BA head research and communications Mario Axiaq said.