One in five Maltese does not watch television

Diane Bartolo

May 4th 2009, 22:44

Here we go again there are always which ever way we turn one way or another there are always moaners in Malta and most of them are either British or Germans never satisfied, well Mr. or Mrs. McMillan i suggest you learn our lingo for a change then you won't have any problems watching our national television good or bad, thats for the viewer to decide, as you say we can't please everyone.

c.t. busuttil

May 4th 2009, 19:46

The standard reached by local production falls below the expectations of viewers. Production houses rely solely on personal talent or looks which is clearly not enough. Professionalism is lacking in various fields in the Arts. Acquiring a BA in Communications is the first step; but we are still a far cry from being trained in broadcasting and entertaining. MCAST was a visionary necessity and now it needs to expand in the Arts to include filming, music, dance , publishing etc and all related subsidiaries.

Francis McMillan

May 4th 2009, 19:44

We only watch British televison mostly from our installed satellite dish, we receive we are spolied for choice and loads of English movies, we don't have Maltese TV, and for what i hear from most below that its not worth getting,beside its all mombo jumbo to us when it comes to Politics and for ever advertising even on good Friday so we were heared. Still you can't please everyone i suppose, everyone's got an opinion as what to watch and not to watch,its their right being a free for all country., besides we can't speak Maltese so even when we receive literature through the post, most of it is in Maltese so we end up by slinging the printed material in the bin.

charles vella

May 4th 2009, 19:35

Why should l see T V M to hear L-aqwa satazzjon tas sena ,xarabank aqwa program tas sena , Bondi ,biography ,please give us a break .Why not Peppi have a station for his programs . That why l do not see T V M Some time we used to see a football match on t v m but now you either pay Melita, or you see a program from were every body

Dr. John Zammit

May 4th 2009, 17:01

In the near future the Maltese tv stations will probably have to close down as they have too much politics and as a media consultant I am seeing also that the newspapers, even the most famous are finishing as 'returns' and go back to their publisher. The future is on the internet now. I am sorry to say this because I have always supported the printed word, but the situation is such that as we go along especially the youths, even my sons do not watch tv or read newspapers, only they go chatting on the internet. They don't bother about the news or what is happening. When I try to tell them to at least watch the news to keep up to date on what is happening they tell me "dad we don't care". They do not even bother to vote!

Brian Camilleri

May 4th 2009, 15:55

@ Norman Farrugia. My apology mate. I never meant to be a plagiarism. You mentioned Dubai; I thank you for bringing to my mind the most pleasant trips I have ever had. Dubai is a gem in the Middle East (this I can vouch for it and I don’t need the media to inform me).

Brian Camilleri

May 4th 2009, 15:53

@ Fabian Borg. Media is a type of business (this is not a bad thing by the way). Each media method has own agenda. Who pays (sponsors) dedicate the agenda items. Would you expect a Cigarettes CO. to sponsor an anti-smoking campaign? Or would you expect weapon manufacturers to sponsor media that could promote peace? However I sometimes fail to comprehend some people’s appreciation of connecting media with democracy. Absolute democracy and absolute freedom never existed anywhere in the world at any given point of time. In the USA there are heaps of newspapers, but somehow you feel that all these papers belong to same editorial mind stream! All democracies have fangs for self-protection. If anybody think otherwise then dwelling in illusion. What’s wrong about that? I would have commented just the same even if were reading Zimbabwe’s newspapers.

v.pulis

May 4th 2009, 15:26

I have nor watched local TV ever since the decision was taken not to show any foreign films. This decision would have been understandable had we the means and the talent to produce our own films but all we get is KC and a miriad of sorry excuses for series. The italian stations screen foreign albeit italian dubbed films and THEY have their own productions. So doe the Germans and the British but we think we can do better!! As for 'debate' programmes, they are a joke. How can one follow what's going on with all the participants talking at the same time with the presenter joining in?

Joe Fenech

May 4th 2009, 15:13

Norman Vella: "According to the Broadcasting Authority survey published today, Xarabank was once again confirmed as Malta's most watched programme. New Where's Everybody production, Bijografiji, placed third. Xarabank is Malta's most watched programme with 28.24% of the population."

Shows the quality of the Maltese people!!!!

Norman Vella

May 4th 2009, 14:59

According to the Broadcasting Authority survey published today, Xarabank was once again confirmed as Malta's most watched programme. New Where's Everybody production, Bijografiji, placed third. Xarabank is Malta's most watched programme with 28.24% of the population. Second most watched programme in Malta is Sunday's TVM comedy, KC (12.41%). WE documentary Bijografiji is the third most watched programme in Malta (11.49%).

Moira Heath

May 4th 2009, 14:40

To be honest it's not just local TV that's annoying. There are only so many times you can watch America's next top model, Jerry Springer, Charmed, the comedy re-runs on the comedy channel, anything on BBC Prime and E TV and the discovery channels etc. The repetition is nauseating. I haven't watched anything on TV in eons. Thank goodness for the joy of the Internet.

A.Camilleri

May 4th 2009, 14:15

One in five Maltese do not watch LOCAL television, all because Maltese programmes are boring and many are unintrested of watching the same stuff. How come no Local television station leaves some spare time only to provide some sort of recent movie, that might make it more interesting

Edward Grech

May 4th 2009, 14:12

I do not have a televsion, the main reason for this being that if I have free time to sit down waiting patiently for the TV to show something that interests me, I’d rather use that time to do something more creative, play an instrument, read, write, go out and socialize, listen to music, or just do nothing (which is a good thing to do).

Then again, if I really wish to watch something specific, I can usually find it on YouTube, and if it is a local production, I can either find it on or stream it live from di-ve.com

Having said that, I must admit that there is one particular circumstance in which it would be nice to have a TV: when I am sick. Apart from that, in the long run, without a TV not only do I feel that I am not missing anything, but I am better off.

Fabian Borg

May 4th 2009, 14:00

Local productions have improved in the last decade so please spare all this condemnation of local TV.
We have many educational programs which are tailored for Malta.
Examples :
Naturambjent, Id-Dura, X`Qala l- Bahar, Forcina etc....
And what about Xarabank, Bondi+ & Dissett. Those are unbiased programs , no?
I am refraining from commenting on the local News as that is pretty obvious PROPAGANDA.....

Norman Farrugia

May 4th 2009, 13:52

Brain Camilleri you beat to it my friend, those were going to be my exact to the point words. Ah well better luck next time, and as you say why worry be happy, the only thing you maybe forgot to mention is that we are dependent on ourselves and do not need oursiders to rule us, we are one of the richest countries apart from Dubaii tha is and the most happy go lucky people in the world. All i can say is when you smile the whole world smiles with you, especially after a few Maltese beers.

Joseph Debattista

May 4th 2009, 13:46

@P.Debono, yes thats a bit of a laugh too i know exactly what you mean, just like you i get home from work and bingo there is always some middle aged woman bubbling away about food recepies or to use my language ricetta!!! not forgetting the repeats, now come on we read in the papers that the majority of the Maltese are over weight and FAT (in caps), yes we are i am one of them but do you really blames us all we see on the box are these women with their cakes, and bread and what not and to top it all up some blond woman don't know her name off hand keeps on advertiseing restaurants and the lash food, Jesus the first thing i do is to make myself a snak, so now i just rather read the paper on the net or go out for a walk to loose a bit of fat and live a bit longer hopefully, points out of 10 for Maltese tv 3+

c.caruana

May 4th 2009, 13:45

Watching tv for what reason?! watching grande fratello or xarabank??? lol come on, I respect my IQ!!

A. Saliba

May 4th 2009, 13:44

I'm pretty sure the reason why 1/5 of Maltese people do not watch tv is because these days most tv shows, movies, and even news footage are available for free online. I know because I am part of that 20%. it has nothing to do with the quality of local television.

Brian Camilleri

May 4th 2009, 13:39

Many local and EU-sponsored surveys among European Union citizens conclude that, Maltese peoples are the shortest, Less-read, the laziest, most obese and not long ago we were classified among the raciest and less tolerant among EU citizens and today this survey doesn’t give a rosy picture on televises and radio listeners. What an amalgamation? But be happy and smile-we are the happiest among EU citizens!

Alex Bajada

May 4th 2009, 13:33

I would watch Maltese television only if the programes are worth watching, as things stand now i would say nearly all that is televised on Maltese tv is diabolical and not worth watching, i would rather read the Times of Malta to pass the time and absorb all the news, then listening to the news readers ie., its very agrevating when mostly the male news readers put such a heavy emphasies on the last word, its very annoying, why can't they just read it like their female colleagues, then i might make an effort and watch the news, otherwise i result to investing in a satllite dish and its cheaper too.

Miriam & Joseph Gauchi

May 4th 2009, 13:23

Sorry to hear that 1 in 5 just do not watch television, but do you really blame them, we are Maltese returned migrants and we too think that Mlatese television is just talk talk and more talk its just not worth watching, and we mean this in *a nicest possible way* just in case some bright Charlie fires abuse same as the British are getting lately from some bored individuals, however there is room for improvements after all, this is why we send comments not to be misunderstood. Take Italian television for instance, now that is something else, the lighten, the camera movements and the close ups one just cannot find any better in Malta unfortunitly,but in time i know we will get there, its a question of more investments in better programes and bigger podiums and the most important better lighten system,more experience directors. As i say we are Maltese and been away from Malta for nearly 49 years but and we can see the difference in quality and the kind of programes, not just talk talk and more talk and needless to say never ending Politics, an improvement in the sound studios wouldn't go amiss either.

Jurgen Cini

May 4th 2009, 13:20

Why should I watch a few hobbyist trying to impress and pretending they are the ultimate in performing arts and some journalists performing il doppio gioco.
Please not all people are that gullible and stupid. The thing is i feel ashamed that we have such level on television.

I prefer reading a good informative book than watching a discussion programme where usually everybody becomes a professor in the subject LOL.

Noel Zahra

May 4th 2009, 13:18

Local broadcasting pollutes the mind with trash politics

J Chircop

May 4th 2009, 13:11

Do you blame them? the more channels we get the less there is to watch. As to local channels the quality and substance is incredibly low. It seems like we are going to get flooded with digital tv channels with teleshopping all day long, and so called sports commentaries and digital backgrounds (just like Smash), with less than 1% of the population even bothering to ever zapp on channels why make more?

P Debono

May 4th 2009, 12:59

Why would I want to watch TV if the stuff I'm fed when I arrive home is some middle-aged woman whining about her new 'ricetta'? Or, even worse, a poor excuse for a comedy when I'm trying to relax in the weekend?

The only good shows that there used to be on Maltese TV were the ZOO production comedies. But obviously, these were quickly censored and laid to rest by the Big Brother of Maltese television.

So nowadays I stick to the Internet and foreign stations, which have far more credible programmes and more entertaining shows.

A Coppini

May 4th 2009, 12:59

Do not watch television? or do not watch LOCAL television?

If it's the latter, I pity the 1/5th that DO watch local TV.

adrian agius

May 4th 2009, 12:54

one fifth of the maltese population doesn't watch tv at all or local tv stations?? I am one of those who never watch local tv stations!!

Lou Mizzi

May 4th 2009, 12:48

Watch what? News about what the Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries did during the day? Or Peppi Azzopardi interviewing someome who claims to have miraculous visions? Or hearing Dr Gonzi say we've never had it so good? Or Dr Muscat promising us heaven or earth? Or Bondi imitating some CNN interviewer? What a joke. Who can blame those 20%?

joe scerri

May 4th 2009, 12:36

One in five Maltese do not watch television

They are definitely not missing anything especially the local stations.