A Broadcasting Authority ruling that found a Bondiplus episode guilty of bias was an “absolute, total condemnation” of the way in which the national broadcaster was being used to manipulate public opinion, the Labour Party said yesterday.

Broadcasting Authority is empowered to act as regulator

Labour said the ruling was further proof of political bias within the Public Broadcasting Services and the latter’s defiance of the authority in the middle of an electoral campaign was unacceptable.

“It is the Broadcasting Authority which is empowered to act as broadcasting regulator. Political appointees within PBS certainly don’t carry any weight when it comes to ensuring impartiality in national broadcasting.”

Last Monday, the authority rapped presenter Lou Bondi for lacking professionalism and impartiality during an episode of his TVM show Bondiplus, which saw Labour party affairs deputy leader Toni Abela square up to Nationalist Party deputy leader Simon Busuttil.

PBS retaliated by saying it would be taking the authority to court. It alleged it had been denied a fair hearing and that some authority board members were openly antagonistic in its regard.

Labour criticised PBS’ decision to turn to the courts: “It would be better if those responsible explained what they were going to do to address this political imbalance and provide taxpayers, who fund the national broadcaster, with the service they deserve.”