Public Broadcasting Services

Last updated
Public Broadcasting Services Limited
FormerlyXandir Malta
Industry Public broadcasting
Predecessor Rediffusion Malta
FoundedNovember 11, 1975;47 years ago (1975-11-11)
Headquarters 75, St. Luke's Road,
Gwardamanġa
,
Malta
Area served
Malta
Owner Government of Malta
Divisions
Website www.pbs.com.mt

Public Broadcasting Services Limited (PBS) is the public broadcaster of Malta. PBS is funded by government grants and the sale of commercial airtime. Its TVM channel is Malta's most watched television channel, and its radio station Magic Malta enjoys huge popularity among local and tourist listeners.

Contents

History

PBS was founded on November 11, 1975 as Xandir Malta and became joint member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) together with the Maltese Broadcasting Authority (MBA). The latter was previously admitted as a full, active member, as Malta Television Service Ltd already has been, in 1970. Since 2003, PBS is the sole Maltese member of EBU.

Prior to Xandir Malta, Rediffusion broadcast television programmes in Malta under the name The Malta Television Service Ltd. The service was run by Rediffusion, a London-based independent broadcaster. [1] Transmissions in Malta started from Hamrun on 11 November 1935 under the name of "Broadcast Relay Service Malta Ltd." Charles Whotcroft and George Powler were the first manager and chief engineer respectively. [2] On 29 September 1962 Rediffusion (Malta) Ltd. inaugurated a television service covering the Maltese islands. [3] On 14 February 1975 the employees of the Rediffusion (Malta) Ltd staged a sit-in strike at the company's premises in Malta [4] and they even started to run the company. [5] On 30 July 1975 an agreement was reached between Rediffusion Group of Companies and the Dom Mintoff led Labour Party government of Malta for the transfer of all Rediffusion's assets in Malta to the Maltese government. [6]

Following the transition to digital television using the DVB-T standard in October 2011, [7] all licensed terrestrial channels in Malta are distributed through a network of transmitters operated by PBS. These transmitters are located in Delimara (Marsaxlokk), Nadur, Mellieħa, Mtarfa, Naxxar and Portomaso (St. Julian's). [8]

PBS is managed by a board of directors. The current Executive Charmain is Mark Sammut. Charles Dalli is the Chief Operations Officer. In 2021, they announced that the TV channels will change their logos but one changed a name as well. [9]

Services

Radio

PBS' radio services consist of the Radju Malta, Radju Malta 2 and Magic Malta radio stations.

For a short period in 1975/1976 it also had an Italian-language station, called Radio Malta Tre; the news were read by Anna Bonanno.

Television

PBS' television services consist of the TVM, TVMNews+ and TVMSport+ television channels. It also operates the Parliament TV service under an agreement with the Parliament of Malta. [10]

Related Research Articles

Rediffusion was a business that distributed radio and TV signals through wired relay networks. The business gave rise to a number of other companies, including Associated-Rediffusion, later known as Rediffusion London, the first ITV franchisee to go on air in the UK. Rediffusion also spawned a record label, Rediffusion International Music, in 1968.

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Malta participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with the song "One Life" written by Paul Giordimaina and Fleur Balzan. The song was performed by Glen Vella. The Maltese entry for the 2011 contest in Düsseldorf, Germany was selected through the national final Malta Eurosong 2011, organised by the Maltese broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS). The competition consisted of a semi-final round and a final, held on 11 and 12 February 2011, respectively, where "One Life" performed by Glen Vella eventually emerged as the winning entry after scoring the most points from a six-member jury and a public televote.

Malta participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with the song "This Is the Night" written by Johan Jämtberg, Kurt Calleja and Mikael Gunnerås. The song was performed by Kurt Calleja. The Maltese entry for the 2012 contest in Baku, Azerbaijan was selected through the national final Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2012, organised by the Maltese broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS). The competition consisted of a semi-final round and a final, held on 3 and 4 February 2013, respectively, where "This Is the Night" performed by Kurt Calleja eventually emerged as the winning entry after scoring the most points from a six-member jury and a public televote.

Malta participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song "Coming Home" written by Richard Micallef. The song was performed by Firelight. The Maltese entry for the 2014 contest in Copenhagen, Denmark was selected through the national final Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2014, organised by the Maltese broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS). The competition consisted of a semi-final round and a final, held on 7 and 8 February 2014, respectively, where "Coming Home" performed by Firelight eventually emerged as the winning entry after scoring the most points from a five-member jury and a public televote.

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Malta participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "Taboo" written by Johnny Sanchez, Thomas G:son, Christabelle Borg and Muxu. The song was performed by Christabelle. The Maltese entry for the 2018 contest in Lisbon, Portugal was selected through the national final Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2018, organised by the Maltese broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS). The competition consisted of a final held on 3 February 2018, where "Taboo" performed by Christabelle eventually emerged as the winning entry after scoring the most points from a five-member jury and a public televote.

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Malta originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "All of My Love" written by Bernarda Brunović, Borislav Milanov, Sebastian Arman, Dag Lundberg, Joacim Persson and Cesár Sampson. The song was performed by Destiny Chukunyere, who had previously represented Malta at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in the 2015 edition where she achieved first place with the song "Not My Soul". The Maltese entry for the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, was selected through the second season of the music competition X Factor Malta, organised by the Maltese broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS). The competition concluded with a final on 8 February 2020 where Destiny Chukunyere eventually emerged as the winner. The song Destiny would perform at the Eurovision Song Contest, "All of My Love", was internally selected and was released to the public on 9 March.

Malta participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Je me casse" written by Malin Christin, Amanuel Dermont, Nicklas Eklund and Pete Barringer. The song was performed by Destiny Chukunyere, who was due to compete in the 2020 contest with "All of My Love" before the 2020 event's cancellation. The song Destiny would perform at the Eurovision Song Contest, "Je me casse", was also internally selected and was released to the public on 15 March.

Malta participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy. Emma Muscat was selected as the Maltese representative via the national final Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2022, where she competed with the song "Out of Sight", but on 14 March 2022 it was announced Muscat would perform the song "I Am What I Am" instead.

References

  1. ↑ Connolly, Margaret; Pragnell, Mervyn O. (1975). The International Yearbook and Statesman's Who's Who. Bowker British Library Kicko. p. 287. ISBN   9780610005008.
  2. ↑ Ix-Xandir F'Malta, Remig Sacco, Malta 1985, 24.
  3. ↑ Public Service Broadcasting in the Age of Globalization, Indrajit Banerjee, Kalinga Seneviratne, AMIC, 2006, page 245
  4. ↑ Ix-xandir F'Malta, Tony C. Cutajar, Malta 2001, 63.
  5. ↑ The Untruth Game, Francis Zammit Dimech, Malta 1986, 94.
  6. ↑ The Untruth Game, Francis Zammit Dimech, Malta 1986, 95.
  7. ↑ "Digital Switchover". Malta Communications Authority. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Malta Communications Authority. 17 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "Board of Directors - PBS". www.gov.mt.
  10. ↑ "Free-to-air broadcasts from parliament". Times of Malta. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2016.

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