Channel dropping: View from the couch

Subscribers of television service providers Melita and Go are upset that two of their “favourite” stations, Living TV and Comedy Central, have been dropped. They air their grievances with Nikki Abela Mercieca.

Thomas Pavia, 61, of Pembroke

I think discontinuing the transmission of these two stations was a big farce, as the agreement I made was for the whole package. I think the compensation was adequate. However, the competition between stations has been of detriment to customers. For example, I like football, what am I going to do? Go with both providers?”

Rita Parker, 51, of Fgura

To me it was a big deal that Living was dropped, because I really liked it. If they stop the Comedy Channel too I don’t know what I will do as those were the two channels I liked most. I don’t feel at all compensated for what happened but there is little alternative apart from Dream Box, which is probably illegal too. When I’m abroad, like in Italy, I notice how much cheaper the television rates are. I’m really disappointed, even because they cut it off so suddenly.

Noel Attard, 50, of Valletta

The biggest farce about Melita is that after my father died one year ago, I had sent them a letter to stop providing the service. However, two days ago I again got the bill for his account. With regard to the situation where they dropped certain stations, I think if they didn’t have a right to transmit them, then there’s not much that can be done.

Alison Gauci, 24, of Kirkop

I don’t think the whole affair was fair. I used to watch those channels, they had really nice programmes, even though I have to admit I don’t watch television much lately because of work. The compensation didn’t leave much choice. It would have made more sense if they compensated viewers with similar, more popular channels.

Olivia Camilleri, 25, of Qala

I don’t watch television as much as I used to. I have Melita and now we’ve been given Melita More but still I love the programmes on Living and it’s hard to substitute them. I don’t think it was fair how they went about it, it was like they removed the channel without telling us anything.

Lyndsay Farrugia, 17, of St Julians

I don’t think it was fair that the two stations were cut off. I used to especially like watching Living and I don’t feel compensated with the new channels that replaced them. I much preferred the ones we had before.