BA says PBS ‘not at fault’ over Labour’s TV spot

The Broadcasting Authority has clarified that neither the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) nor head of news Reno Bugeja were at fault over the content of a TV spot produced by the Labour Party as part of the MEP elections campaign.

The letter was published by PBS in reaction to a statement issued by the Nationalist Party earlier today.

In the letter, BA CEO Pierre Cassar informs PBS CEO Anton Attard that the decision taken by the BA was intended to offer a remedy following the PN’s complaint over a spot entitled ‘Issa Nista’.

“The decision did not find PBS or Reno Bugeja at fault. It was however intended to offer a remedy to the complaint raised,” Cassar said, explaining that the BA understood that a TV station could find it difficult to decide what can be accepted as a public service announcement.

In its reaction, the PN said PBS and Bugeja had been found guilty of imbalance by the BA.

In its statement, PBS said that in its decision, the BA also pointed out that such spots have been aired on for years including under a Nationalist administration.

“This spot is extremely similar to other productions aired during past Nationalist administrations,” PBS said, quoting the BA decision.

It was also pointed out that the PN’s statement failed to make reference to six other complaints the BA heard over a month. The complaints were raised by the PN against Dissett, TVM News and TVAM.

“The PN’s complaints were not upheld. Allegations that PBS has become a partisan tool are not only founded, but contradicted by the substantial increase in viewership,” PBS said.