Television in Malta
Television in Malta was first introduced in 1959. The first person to sell televisions in Malta was The Most Noble Count Consiglio D'Amato. There are 5 major nationwide television channels in Malta: TVM, One Television, NET Television, Smash Television and Favourite Channel - currently transmitted by analogue terrestrial, free-to-air signals. The state and political parties subsidies most of the fundings of these television stations. The Public Broadcasting Services is the state-owned station and is a member of the EBU. Media Link Communications Ltd and One Productions Ltd are affiliated with the Nationalist Party and Labour Party respectively. Smash Communications Ltd is privately owned. The Broadcasting Authority supervises all local broadcasting stations and ensures their compliance with legal and licence obligations as well as the preservation of due impartiality; in respect of matters of political or industrial controversy or relating to current public policy; while fairly apportioning broadcasting facilities and time between persons belong to different political parties. The Broadcasting Authority ensures that local broadcasting services consist of public, private and community broadcasts that offer varied and comprehensive programming to cater for all interests and tastes.
The only commercial TV station attracts an audience of 2%. Cable, terrestrial and satellite reception are all available, though the cable service is the most diffused, with Melita Cable. The Malta Communications Authority reported that there were 147,896 pay TV subscriptions active at the end of 2012, which includes analog and digital cable, pay digital terrestrial TV and IPTV.[1] For reference the latest census counts 139,583 households in Malta.[2] Satellite reception is available to receive other European TV networks such as RAI and Mediaset from Italy and the BBC from the United Kingdom.
Digital[edit]
Two commercial licences were awarded in Malta in 2005 to Multiplus Ltd and Maltacom (now GO). On July 2005, Multiplus Ltd started commercial operations in direct competition to the existing dominant cable operator utilising a total of 8 frequencies. Multiplus Ltd was acquired by GO in February 2007.
References[edit]
- ^ "MCA Communications Market Review, July to December 2012" (PDF). Malta Communications Authority. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing 2011 (Preliminary Report)". National Statistics Office, Malta. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
See also[edit]
List of television stations in Malta
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