The Broadcasting Authority is seeking more power to ensure the media use Maltese correctly.

In a consultation document, it proposes tighter regulations and a new penalty structure for television and radio stations that breach rules on the correct use of the language.

A code on using Maltese properly had been introduced in 2010 but the BA said the hefty fine made enforcement problematic. The only possible action – even in case of a first-time offence – was to impose a fine of €2,330.

While such a huge penalty should not be imposed haphazardly, efforts to address the problem through good will were not enough, the broadcasting watchdog said.

The authority is therefore proposing that first-time offenders be fined €350, with the amount increasing by 20 per cent for each breach until it reaches €2,330.

The proposals are in the form of a draft legal notice ­– to remain open for public consultation until October 1 – which was issued following discussions with the Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ilsien Malti (National Council for the Maltese Language).

The BA is also proposing the obligatory use of Maltese fonts in captions and crawls in accordance with official orthographic rules.

However, this would not apply to text messages sent in by viewers, which television stations occasionally reproduce during discussion programmes.

National stations that do not broadcast music exclusively would be obliged to air a weekly 30-minute programme promoting the Maltese language.

In case of any material broadcast in a foreign language, during news or current affairs programmes, stations would be obliged to translate it to Maltese, either through subtitles or a voice over.

Stations would also be expected to monitor their own content and take action if necessary, as well as seek the advice of qualified professionals approved by the council.

Meanwhile, the BA itself made a couple of orthographic mistakes in a schedule, within the draft document, on the correct use of locality names.