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Public Broadcasting Services’ Creativity Hub cost €3.1 million
Information tabled in parliament reveals cost of new PBS newsroom.
5 June 2013, 12:00am
Jurgen Balzan
Jurgen Balzan
2 min read
A company belonging to the current broadcasting minister's chief of staff was paid 81,000 for studio lighting equipment.
Despite the secrecy which has shrouded the cost of the national broadcaster's Creativity Hub in Gwardamangia, information tabled in Parliament this week shows that the centre cost €3.1 million.
Contacted last week by this newspaper, the Public Broadcasting Services chief refused to disclose the cost of the Creativity Hub, inaugurated by former PM Lawrence Gonzi in December.
PBS CEO Anton Attard and the home affairs ministry refused to reveal the cost and replied to the questions by saying that "the information is confidential."
Attard explained that the project was funded by PBS together with a bank, however he did not go into the details respecting what kind of loan agreement was reached and how much PBS forked out.
Information tabled by the Home Affairs Minister, Manuel Mallia, confirms that the Creativity Hub cost PBS €3.1 million.
The sum consists of expenses including over €140,000 for three HD studio cameras for the news studio and another €140,000 for three more HD cameras to be used by the Outside Broadcasting Unit.
PBS also paid almost €20,000 for three tripods for the HD cameras, all the above items having been purchased from Dab Electronics Ltd. In total, the company, owned by Joseph Vella, received €1.15 million for the equipment it sold to PBS.
The national broadcaster also paid €236,100 for nine HD lenses and over €82,000 for an intercom system from Forestals Ltd. In total, Forestals, owned by Tancred Tabone, received €420,000 for the equipment it sold to PBS.
A number of tenders were awarded to Raymond Vella & Co Ltd, which was paid over €330,000 for the installation of data, ventilation and electrical infrastructure.
Nexos & Co Ltd, formerly owned by the home affairs minister's chief of staff, Silvio Scerri, was paid over €81,000 for studio lighting equipment.
Despite the heavy investment, the building is not being utilised at all, apart from the CEO's office and the sales department. All TVM programmes, including the news bulletins, are recorded and broadcast at the old PBS building down the road from the €3.1 million Creativity Hub.
Jurgen Balzan was a MaltaToday reported from 2011 to 2017.
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Din 'il-creativity hub' kienet tikkonsisti li Bondi Peppi u Norman ikunu kreativi hafna bil-propoganda sfaccata taghhom? 3 miljuni?
MHux ta b'xejn li ghabbewlna 6 biljuni dejn tal-pajjiz; 800 miljun ta l-EneMalta,80 miljun ta l-AirMalta, 80 miljun (special pupose vehicle) tal-parlament u tejatru bla saqaf; u l-bierah smajna li anke 'l-Fund for Good Causes' sfrondaw bid-dejn! Mela hi id-deficits mhux taghhom!
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When a Mayor used the Council's laptop from home, he was taken to court. Has anyone from PBA been investigated and taken to court? This is a big adventure with alot of smoke. No one needs to be an expert that these projects are done to make someone rich overnight.
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More millions down the drain.
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Outrageous out-of-control spending with our money!!!!!! Seems like someone made a lot in commissions by selling equipment at highly inflated prices.
