A new television station, Family Television Network, will go on the air with a bang tonight with the live broadcast of the Floriana fireworks festival on analogue cable TV service.
The new television station - which replaced the Rai News 24 on the analogue system as from yesterday and will be available on digital channel 109 as from Monday - will provide a variety of programmes that target all members of the family.
"I have been dreaming of this day since I was 11 years old... When I met my wife, 26 years ago, I told her I wanted to open a radio station and, as time passed, my dream evolved to a television station," managing director Andrew Farrugia said in an emotional speech in which he launched the new station.
Mr Farrugia explained that, last year, he met Norbert Friggieri who, like him, had experience in the broadcasting field - and the Family TV concept started brewing.
Mr Farrugia and Mr Friggieri are now two of the six station owners who also include Vince Mifsud, Martin Gauci, Steve Hoffmann and Mr Farrugia's wife Liz.
The station is a merger between two companies, Far-Fetched Media and Modern Images Studios that last year won an award for its visual effects.
In January this year, the station was granted a licence by the Broadcasting Authority and, since then, they have worked tirelessly to get the studios up and running.
Family TV aims to be recognised as a strong and active participant among the top local TV stations. It is determined to provide first-rate programmes to inform, educate and entertain with high-quality content.
Yesterday at 4.30 p.m. Rai News 24 (on the analogue system) was replaced by a still logo of Family TV that will remain there until tonight when the first live images of the Floriana festival will be aired. On Monday, it will be available on digital channel 109. Throughout this month and starting Monday the station will be undergoing testing during which time the audience will be able to see drama programmes. The four-hour drama schedule will be aired from 6 to 10 p.m. and, throughout the rest of the time, they will be repeated during this trial period.
Later this month live programming will be introduced so that, by May 1, the first programmes produced by the station will be broadcast. As the station perfects its workings, by September, the variety of the programmes will increase to form a continuous non-repetitive 24-hour service. Programmes, aimed at all age groups, will include a sailing programme, a daily children's corner and a political programme hosted by Mr Farrugia. Frank Portelli (head of St Philip's Hospital) will be hosting the programme 2 B Frank and Frans Attard will be turning the content of his book, The Malta Book Of Records And Firsts, into a programme.
The station will also offer teleshopping and provide news, collaborating with a local radio station to offer breaking news.
The station, which has 16 staff members, is equipped with two studios: a television studio and a production studio where special effects and low budget movies can be filmed.