Television viewers spoiled for choice

All but 12 World Cup matches, including four which have a big following in Malta, will be broadcast free to air on PBS, the national television station, and Italian TV Rai.

The national television station, TVM, will broadcast 46 of the 64 World Cup matches with a Maltese commentary for free.

Melita plc will screen all matches with English and Italian commentary when Italy is playing but these will only be available for those who purchase the sports package.

The World Cup kicks off in South Africa on June 11.

The four big matches that will only be available to those who subscribe to Melita's sports channels are Netherlands vs Denmark, Germany vs Serbia, France vs South Africa and Slovenia vs England.

It is the first time Maltese viewers are spoilt for choice as to where to watch the matches.

Melita will be screening matches in both standard and high definition.

It is also the first time TVM will be broadcasting 46 World Cup matches, making it one of a few national stations in Europe to carry such an extensive coverage for free. In fact, TVM will broadcast more than double the number of matches expected to be aired by the Italian national broadcaster Rai. Rai will screen one match a day and will broadcast extensive highlights of each game 30 minutes after the end of the match.

Matches on PBS and Rai are free to air

Friday, June 11, 2010
4 p.m. - S. Africa vs Mexico, Group A
Mel, PBS, Rai
8.30 p.m. - Uruguay vs France, Group A
Mel, PBS

Saturday, June 12, 2010
1.30 p.m. - S. Korea vs Greece, Group B
Mel
4 p.m. - Argentina vs Nigeria, Group B
Mel, PBS
8.30 p.m. -England vs USA, Group C
Mel, PBS, Rai

Sunday, June 13, 2010
1.30 p.m. - Algeria vs Slovenia, Group C
Mel, PBS
4 p.m. - Serbia vs Ghana, Group D
Mel
8.30 p.m. - Germany vs Australia, Group D
Mel, PBS, Rai

Monday, June 14, 2010
1.30 p.m. - Netherlands vs Denmark, Group E
Mel
4 p.m. - Japan vs Cameroon, Group E
Mel, PBS
8.30 p.m. - Italy vs Paraguay, Group F
Mel, PBS, Rai

Tuesday, June 15, 2010
1.30 p.m. - New Zealand vs Slovakia, Group F
Mel, PBS
4 p.m. - Ivory Coast vs Portugal, Group G
Mel, PBS
8.30 p.m. - Brazil vs North Korea, Group G
Mel, Rai

Wednesday, June 16, 2010
1.30 p.m. - Honduras vs Chile, Group H
Mel
4 p.m. - Spain vs Switzerland, Group H
Mel, PBS
8.30 p.m. - S. Africa vs Uruguay, Group A
Mel, PBS, Rai

Thursday, June 17, 2010
1.30 p.m. - Argentina vs S. Korea, Group B
Mel, PBS
4 p.m. - Greece vs Nigeria, Group B
Mel
8.30 p.m. - France vs Mexico, Group A
Mel, PBS, Rai

Friday, June 18, 2010
1.30 p.m. - Germany vs Serbia, Group D
Mel
4 p.m. - Slovenia vs USA, Group C
Mel, PBS
8.30 p.m. - England vs Algeria, Group C
Mel, PBS, Rai

Saturday, June 19, 2010
1.30 p.m. - Netherlands vs Japan, Group E
Mel, PBS
4 p.m. - Ghana vs Australia, Group D
Mel, PBS
8.30 p.m. - Cameroon vs Denmark, Group E
Mel, Rai

Sunday, June 20, 2010
1.30 p.m. - Slovakia vs Paraguay, Group F
Mel
4 p.m. - Italy vs New Zealand, Group F
Mel, PBS, Rai
8.30 p.m. - Brazil vs Ivory Coast, Group G
Mel, PBS

Monday, June 21, 2010
1.30 p.m. - Portugal vs N. Korea, Group G
Mel, PBS
4 p.m. - Chile vs Switzerland, Group H
Mel
8.30 p.m. - Spain vs Honduras, Group H
Mel, PBS, Rai

Tuesday, June 22, 2010
4 p.m. - France vs S. Africa, Group A
Mel
4 p.m. - Mexico vs Uruguay, Group A
Mel, PBS
8.30 p.m. - Greece vs Argentina, Group B
Mel, PBS, Rai
8.30 p.m. - Nigeria vs S. Korea, Group B
Mel, PBS

Wednesday, June 23, 2010
4 p.m. - Slovenia vs England, Group C
Mel
4 p.m. - USA vs Algeria, Group C
Mel, PBS
8.30 p.m. - Australia vs Serbia, Group D
Mel, PBS
8.30 p.m. - Ghana vs Germany, Group D
Mel, PBS, Rai

Thursday, June 24, 2010
4 p.m. - Paraguay vs New Zealand, Group F
Mel, PBS
4 p.m. - Slovakia vs Italy, Group F
Mel, PBS, Rai
8.30 p.m. - Cameroon vs Netherlands, Group E
Mel, PBS
8.30 p.m. - Denmark vs Japan, Group E
Mel

Friday, June 25, 2010
4 p.m. - N. Korea vs Ivory Coast, Group G
Mel, PBS
4 p.m. - Portugal vs Brazil, Group G
Mel, PBS
8.30 p.m. - Chile vs Spain, Group H
Mel, PBS, Rai
8.30 p.m. - Switzerland vs Honduras, Group H
Mel

Saturday, June 26, 2010 - Round of 16
4 p.m. - Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group B
Mel, PBS, Rai *
8.30 p.m. -Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group D
Mel, PBS, Rai *

Sunday, June 27,2010 - Round of 16
4 p.m. - Winner Group D vs Runner-up Group C
Mel, PBS, Rai *
8.30 p.m. -Winner Group B vs Runner-up Group A
Mel, PBS, Rai *

Monday, June 28, 2010 - Round of 16
4 p.m. - Winner Group E vs Runner-up Group F
Mel, PBS, Rai *
8.30 p.m. -Winner Group G vs Runner-up Group H
Mel, PBS, Rai *

Tuesday, June 29, 2010 - Round of 16
4 p.m. - Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group E
Mel, PBS, Rai *
8.30 p.m. - Winner Group H vs Runner-up Group G
Mel, PBS, Rai *

Friday, July 2, 2010 - Quarter Final 1 & 2
4 p.m. - Wnr Group E/R-Up Group F vs Wnr Group G/R-Up Group H
Mel, PBS, Rai *
8.30 p.m. - Wnr Group A/R-Up Group B vs Wnr Group C/R-Up Group D
Mel, PBS, Rai *

Saturday, July 3, 2010 - Quarter Final 3 & 4
4 p.m. - Wnr Group B/R-Up Group A vs Wnr Group D/R-Up Group C
Mel, PBS, Rai *
8.30 p.m. - Wnr Group F/R-Up Group E vs Wnr Group H/R-Up Group G
Mel, PBS, Rai *

Tuesday, July 6, 2010 -Semi Final
8.30 p.m. - Winner Q/F 1 vs Winner Q/F3
Mel, PBS, Rai

Wednesday, July 7, 2010 - Semi Final
8.30 p.m. - Winner Q/F 2 vs Winner Q/F4
Mel, PBS, Rai

Saturday, July 10, 2010 - Third Place
8.30 p.m. - Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2
Mel, PBS, Rai

Sunday, July 11, 2010 - Final
8.30 p.m. - Winners SF1 vs Winners SF2
Mel, PBS, Rai