GENERAL INTEREST OBJECTIVES (TELEVISION SERVICES) (SELECTION CRITERIA) REGULATIONS (selectioncriteria)

GENERAL INTEREST OBJECTIVES

(TELEVISION SERVICES) (SELECTION CRITERIA)

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 350.32

GENERAL INTEREST OBJECTIVES

(TELEVISION SERVICES) (SELECTION CRITERIA)

REGULATIONS

21st June, 2011

LEGAL NOTICE 240 of 2011.

The title of these regulations is the General Interest

Objectives (Television Services) (Selection Criteria) Regulations.

These regulations set out the criteria to be adopted by the

Broadcasting Authority in the selection of television services that

fulfil a general interest objective, whether such services are

generalist or niche.

(1) A television service which is assigned the status of a

generalist general interest objective service by the Broadcasting

Authority shall broadcast a minimum of programme content of a

continuous duration of 16 hours to cover a broadcasting timetable

between 7:00 a.m. and 11 p.m.

(2) Such a television station shall offer a wide range of quality

programming that address a broad range of genres. Thirty five per

centum of the output during the mandatory broadcasting timetable

shall consist of a selection from at least five genres which are

considered to fulfil a core or extended public service obligation

which genres are listed in Schedule A.

(3) A generalist general interest objective television service

may only broadcast up to a maximum of three hours of

teleshopping windows per day in the mandatory broadcasting

timetable referred to in sub-regulation (1).

(4) A generalist general interest objective television service

shall broadcast at least one news bulletin during the mandatory

broadcasting timetable referred to in sub-regulation (1).

(5) A generalist general interest objective television service

shall broadcast at least 30 minutes of weekly programming

accessible to people with hearing disability.

(6) A generalist general interest objective television service

shall produce at least one current affairs programme per week

during the period October to June of each year.

(7) The duration of repeat programming on a generalist general

interest objective television service shall not exceed an annual

average of thirty five per centum of the total mandatory

broadcasting time. This requirement shall not apply to repeat

broadcasts of documentaries, drama, cinematographic productions

and educational and cultural programmes.

GENERAL INTEREST OBJECTIVES

(TELEVISION SERVICES) (SELECTION CRITERIA)

(1) Niche general interest objective television services

may be of a highly varied nature and consequently the Broadcasting

Authority is expected to be flexible in the application of these

regulations and shall be ready to adapt to address particular

requests which would enhance the range of offer to the consumers.

(2) Such a service shall broadcast a minimum duration of ten

hours of programme content per day which may be spread over a

broadcasting time table between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

(3) Such a service shall predominantly transmit programmes

from a limited number of genres which are considered to fulfil a

core or extended public service obligation which genres are listed

in Schedule A. Sixty per centum of the output (whether first run or

repeat) during the mandatory broadcasting timetable shall consist

of such programmes.

(4) A niche general interest objective television service may

only broadcast a maximum of two hours of teleshopping windows

per day in the mandatory broadcasting timetable referred to in sub-

regulation (2).

(5) The duration of repeat programming on a niche general

interest objective service shall normally not exceed an annual

average of forty-five per centum of the total mandatory

broadcasting time. This requirement shall not however apply to re-

runs of programmes first broadcast by other services or the repeat

broadcasts of documentaries, drama, cinematographic productions

and educational and cultural programmes.

GENERAL INTEREST OBJECTIVES

(TELEVISION SERVICES) (SELECTION CRITERIA)

Schedule A

[Regulations (3) and 4(3)]

List of Programme Genres

(i)

The transmission of events of a national character as determined from

time to time by Government;

(ii)

Public service announcements without payment;

(iii)

One-off transmission of Parliamentary debates

(iv)

Current affairs programmes;

(v)

Discussion programmes dealing with topics of a social, cultural,

educational, environmental, economical, industrial or political nature;

(vi)

Programmes dealing with religious topics and the transmission of Mass

on Sundays and some holy days of Obligation;

(vii) Programmes that have children as their principal audience;

(viii) Drama programmes in Maltese with preference being given to original

drama in Maltese;

(ix)

Programmes that are cultural in nature but especially those that enhance

the Maltese language, the arts and culture; as well as programmes of

classical music;

(x)

Programmes that are focused on Gozo and in particular that highlight

Gozitan society, culture and way of life;

(xi)

Programmes that focus on Maltese communities abroad;

(xii) General information programmes;

(xiii) Programmes that are educational in nature;

(xiv) News bulletins;

(xv) Programmes featuring local sports.