Despite the ever-increasing popularity of the internet, television remains far and away the most popular source of information and entertainment in Malta and the rest of the world. And with around half a dozen national TV channels available to Maltese audiences there is a wide variety of programming available: News bulletins, discussion programmes, sport, discussion programmes, variety, discussion programmes, children's TV, discussion programmes, education and not forgetting the ever-present discussion programmes. Oh yes, one must not forget culture and the arts.
Not difficult to see why this much-neglected sector is so badly served by our channels: Culture and the arts are seen as elitist in some quarters and in these days of democratic equality nobody wants to be perceived as in any way "superior"... least of all television programmers: "Give them more discussions, chaps, the dimmer the better. That's what the viewer wants". But is it?
Culture and the arts on TV are served by - to the best of one's knowledge - just one magazine programme Meander... with additional twice-weekly five-minute flashes from the same show. And however excellent Mariella Pisani Bencini's show is, it is hardly committing cultural overkill.
Some may remember a similar programme, fronted by Joyce Cassar, on Super One TV some years back... but the cupboard is really pretty bare.
Back in the days of monochrome TV viewers were treated to some excellent drama on Malta's then lone TV channel TVM, or Xandir Malta as it was then known. But no one would describe the current crop of tele-dramas as excellent.
Having said that, it is interesting to reflect on the Genesis and development of Mariella Pisani Bencini's 13-year-old Meander. Showtime asked Mr Pisani Bencini how difficult it had been to convince studio bosses and commissioning editors of the necessity for a TV arts programme. She replied: "Actually the concept had long been accepted by TVM". So no problem there apparently. But what had she initially set out to do? "Meander's main aim has always been to make the arts a part of people's everyday life, and above all to bring the beauty of art within everyone's reach."
Notwithstanding this, the programmers have constantly hidden Meander away in a late-night spot. We asked if this wasn't just a tad frustrating. Ms Pisani Bencini replied diplomatically: "Through feedback I realise that viewers do complain about the late hour 10.30 p.m. To be fair, PBS officials year after year have repeated Meander on Saturdays at around noon. Besides, in this year's schedule, TVM has introduced Meander arts slots of a few minutes aired twice a week before the eight o'clock news, an innovative idea that was applauded by many."
Over the past decade or so the programme has left the confines of the studio, to be aired from several locations. She said: "Every year for the past 10 we have been filming editions of Meander in various overseas places such as Sicily, Venice and Taverna in Calabria, Rochester in the UK, Gibraltar, Amsterdam, Brussels and Cairo... covering different aspects of the arts and culture, these mini documentaries in Maltese are very much appreciated by viewers. People call me afterwards enquiring about tours to these various destinations, because people do love culture and the arts".
Ms Pisani Bencini has interviewed quite a few well-known arts personalities on Meander. Showtime wondered who, out of these, had been the most rewarding subjects.
She replied: "I particularly liked interviewing the famous Italian actor Gian Carlo Giannini on a film set in Sicily, and my interview with the then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami was rewarding and enriching in that it revealed a different side to a man associated throughout his life with politics".
Finally Ms Pisani Bencini was asked how it felt to be a lone voice in the wilderness, where televised culture was concerned. Her prognosis was not as bleak as ours. She told us: "All we need are more dedicated people who truly love the arts and who are ready to share this appreciation with others. Since we only live once and we get enough of all that is ugly and bad happening in the world today, we need a respite, a getaway, a gateway leading to the beauty of this life which is much and which includes the arts."
Not difficult to see why this much-neglected sector is so badly served by our channels: Culture and the arts are seen as elitist in some quarters and in these days of democratic equality nobody wants to be perceived as in any way "superior"... least of all television programmers: "Give them more discussions, chaps, the dimmer the better. That's what the viewer wants". But is it?
Culture and the arts on TV are served by - to the best of one's knowledge - just one magazine programme Meander... with additional twice-weekly five-minute flashes from the same show. And however excellent Mariella Pisani Bencini's show is, it is hardly committing cultural overkill.
Some may remember a similar programme, fronted by Joyce Cassar, on Super One TV some years back... but the cupboard is really pretty bare.
Back in the days of monochrome TV viewers were treated to some excellent drama on Malta's then lone TV channel TVM, or Xandir Malta as it was then known. But no one would describe the current crop of tele-dramas as excellent.
Having said that, it is interesting to reflect on the Genesis and development of Mariella Pisani Bencini's 13-year-old Meander. Showtime asked Mr Pisani Bencini how difficult it had been to convince studio bosses and commissioning editors of the necessity for a TV arts programme. She replied: "Actually the concept had long been accepted by TVM". So no problem there apparently. But what had she initially set out to do? "Meander's main aim has always been to make the arts a part of people's everyday life, and above all to bring the beauty of art within everyone's reach."
Notwithstanding this, the programmers have constantly hidden Meander away in a late-night spot. We asked if this wasn't just a tad frustrating. Ms Pisani Bencini replied diplomatically: "Through feedback I realise that viewers do complain about the late hour 10.30 p.m. To be fair, PBS officials year after year have repeated Meander on Saturdays at around noon. Besides, in this year's schedule, TVM has introduced Meander arts slots of a few minutes aired twice a week before the eight o'clock news, an innovative idea that was applauded by many."
Over the past decade or so the programme has left the confines of the studio, to be aired from several locations. She said: "Every year for the past 10 we have been filming editions of Meander in various overseas places such as Sicily, Venice and Taverna in Calabria, Rochester in the UK, Gibraltar, Amsterdam, Brussels and Cairo... covering different aspects of the arts and culture, these mini documentaries in Maltese are very much appreciated by viewers. People call me afterwards enquiring about tours to these various destinations, because people do love culture and the arts".
Ms Pisani Bencini has interviewed quite a few well-known arts personalities on Meander. Showtime wondered who, out of these, had been the most rewarding subjects.
She replied: "I particularly liked interviewing the famous Italian actor Gian Carlo Giannini on a film set in Sicily, and my interview with the then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami was rewarding and enriching in that it revealed a different side to a man associated throughout his life with politics".
Finally Ms Pisani Bencini was asked how it felt to be a lone voice in the wilderness, where televised culture was concerned. Her prognosis was not as bleak as ours. She told us: "All we need are more dedicated people who truly love the arts and who are ready to share this appreciation with others. Since we only live once and we get enough of all that is ugly and bad happening in the world today, we need a respite, a getaway, a gateway leading to the beauty of this life which is much and which includes the arts."