Around this time a decade ago, everyone was worried about an inexistent bug; those of us who scoffed at the panic could later smirk and utter the infamous phrase "I told you so!"

I had the marvellous opportunity to repeat it this week, when the monies collected for L-Istrina surpassed not only the expectations of the naysayers, but, frankly, even my own.

I had long been saying that, as a nation, we would do ourselves proud if we got a chance to prove we did not need carrots to show that we have retained the qualities by which we are described in the Good Book.

And, as an aside, I was also pleased that my idea for a counter was also implemented. This is psychologically motivating. Just as it is 'nice' for students in a classroom to see their L-Istrina piggy-banks fill up, it is also wonderful to see the collection mounting as the numbers change, sometimes so fast that we cannot discern them.

• Chess-board moves across the ether usually take place just before a schedule is in motion or a season starts. This time, it's the new year, as well as expiring contracts, which are behind some of the shifts.

I am pleased to note that the much-loved Victor Formosa will be returning to 8.97 Bay as station manager as of tomorrow, January 4. Mr Formosa said "89.7 Bay has a great team in place, notwithstanding the latest departures which are common and expected in the broadcast media.

"I met the presenters and staff, and I am overwhelmed with the reception I got. The minister has very kindly accepted my resignation from the post of PBS deputy chairman, a position I held since last July, even though my appointment was until March, since it would have been a conflict of interest."

Mr Formosa had managed Bay from January 1993 until he took over as general manager of the Eden Century Cinemas, which are also part of the Eden Leisure Group. For a while, together with Kevin De Cesare, he presented Kif Taħsibha, a very interesting talk show.

In June 2002, Mr Formosa was elected executive chairman of Radio RTK and the Media Centre.

The 'recent departures' about which Mr Formosa spoke were of Elinor and Jonathan Abel, the duo who presented the Breakfast Show.

This confirms the rumours that had been flying around because of their no-show at the Bay Music Awards.

Just in time for the launching of the two new 89.7 Bay digital radio stations, Captain Drew (who presents the drive-time Fly Home) will be taking it over.

However, those of us for whom it is (relatively) normal to wake up at 4.30 a.m. cannot understand how Kevin De Cesare could say that "breakfast show hosts were bound to grow tired of waking up at 4.30 a.m. every day". A job is a job, after all.

• The 'natural movement of people in the audio/visual media' is also evident in the Station of the Nation.

The contract of the incumbent CEO Albert Debono is due to expire in June, and it has not been renewed.

Mr Formosa's deputy chairman post, however, is not one for which there would be a call for applications, so it remains to be seen whether he will be replaced by another board member, or whether someone else with a great deal of experience in the broadcast media will be nominated to replace him.

The selection process for programmes manager is in its final phases; people on the shortlist are both in-house PBS staff, as well as 'outsiders', I am told.

The job is currently being apportioned between a co-coordinator and several section managers.

It is envisaged that eventually, there will be a call for applications for 'New Media and Radio Programmes Manager' (in that order). Plans are also in hand to revamp the PBS website, which has 'Learner plate' splashed all over it.

• Several people have written to me, hoping that New Year will bring with it a grassroots change in the way presenters treat the language.

Listeners and viewers are sick and tired of hearing 'mill-lenti pożittiva' and other such barbarisms. Moreover, the use of 'ovvjament' and 'biex ngħidu hekk' in the same sentence is not even logical - and this shows there are people in broadcasting who do not take pride in their work, but think of it as a meal ticket.

It is patently obvious that some people have chosen to be in the media because they think it will confer instant popularity. I have actually heard some of them boasting how they pick five CDs by pot-luck from their collections, and play random tracks from them while encouraging people to call in for a chat, or to win a prize or two. And hey presto, the job is done.

With magazine programmes, it is painfully obvious that some presenters just pick a magazine off the newsagent's shelf, and translate certain paragraphs - thinking, perhaps, that no one else would have read it.

It's the same with newspaper reviews where self-styled opinion-makers translate directly from Italian, English, or French, and the result is stilted, almost incoherent Maltese.

television@timesofmalta.com