PBS promises audiences Christmas bonanza
Programming will include operatic performances, Christmas movies and the L-Istrina telethon
Following its excellent performance in the recent audience survey, PBS is offering audiences a schedule packed with festive programming.
On Christmas Eve, TVM will broadcast the Joseph Calleja Summer Concert on the Granaries, in Floriana. Thanks to the agreement reached between the Ministry of Tourism and NNG Productions, PBS had obtained the rights to transmit this spectacular concert.
After the concert, TVM will broadcast Midnight Mass from St John’s Co-Cathedral.
As an aperitif to all the Christmas sparkle, TVM will be showing a concert of Christmas music by international Soprano Lesley Garret, together with other operatic stars. This is a curtain-raiser for a season of operatic enchantment following an agreement with the BBC.
On Christmas Day in the morning, TVM will broadcast the Papal benediction Urbi et Orbi. Christmas day programming will include popular movies such as ‘Ice Age’, ‘The Simpsons’ and the all-time favourite ‘Miracle on 24th Street’.
Boxing Day is ‘L-iStrina’ day and TVM will be broadcasting this annual charity telethon in aid of the Community Chest Fund from noon till late evening.
On the 30 December, TVM will be broadcasting the Royal Variety Performance from the London Palladium. This year’s star studded performance includes Bette Midler, Dame Shirley Bassey, Demi Lovato, Simply Red and One Direction.
PBS finishes the year in style with a live broadcast from Pjazza San Gorg for the New Year’s Eve celebrations held in Valletta. TVM will broadcast these activities leading up to the countdown to welcome the New Year, 2015.
On the 1 January 2015, TVM will broadcast popular concert by the National Philharmnic Orchestra, Rockestra followed by the movies ‘The Tooth Fairy’ and ‘Chronicles of Narnia’.
PBS Chairman Tonio Portughese said that the programming for this time of the year is designed to bring families together and foster enjoyment for children of all ages. He conveyed to the public the season’s greetings of the Board of Directors and the management and staff of PBS.