Times of Malta’s TV programme Times Talk has not only topped the audience viewership news programme ratings in the latest survey, but substantially increased its figures.

The Broadcasting Authority survey, carried out in February and released last week, showed Times Talk emerge top among the four weekly current affairs programmes, bar Xarabank.

Presented by Times of Malta’s head of media Herman Grech and chief reporter Mark Micallef, the programme aired live every Tuesday on TVM at 6.45pm had a peak audience of 26,300.

Times Talk registered an average audience of 18,560 at 7pm, climbing up to 26,391 at 7.30pm and retaining the same figure until it ended at 7.45pm.

The peak figure marks an increase of 10,000, compared with the same survey last season, when the programme also topped the ratings in the pre-news hour slot.

The survey showed that Times Talk also emerged as the most watched show around 7pm for all the local TV stations.

It is followed by Dissett on Thursday, presented by veteran journalist Reno Bugeja, which starts with an audience of 9,355 and finishes with 15,461. The news discussion programmes have to compete with the news bulletins of the two political party stations, both broadcast at 7.30pm.

Saviour Balzan’s Reporter, the only programme aired after the main news bulletin on TVM 2, attracts an audience of 5,842, before dropping to 4,475. The repeat of Reporter on TVM starts with an audience of 16,930 before dropping to 2,210.

Thousands of others view Times Talk on demand on timesofmalta.com the day after the live screening on TVM.

Mr Grech said: “Together with our newsroom, we try to choose programme themes that are informative, relevant and in the public interest. I believe we’ve managed to create a product which works perfectly in tandem with our newspaper and website.”

Times Talk has spawned several headlines since it started broadcasting in October 2013. Subjects this season included a debate between the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader, discussions about the new Archbishop, the migration and Libya crises and an animated discussion with Alastair Campbell.

The Broadcasting Authority survey was conducted by the National Statistics Office and polled a sample of 1,120 people. The TVM news at 8pm remains by far the most watched programme, registering the highest average peak audience for all programmes on all stations.

TVM remains the most popular station, with 36.6 per cent, followed by One at 17.5 per cent and Net TV at 8 per cent.

Audience share

Programme 7pm 7.30pm 7.45pm
Times Talk 18,562 26,391 26,391
Dissett 9,355 15,461 15,461
Realta 5,913 7,590 7,590
  8.30pm 9pm 9.30pm
Reporter  (TVM2) 3,623 5,842 4,475
  10pm 10.30pm 11pm
Reporter (TVM) 16,930 7,183 2,210

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