The Malta Communications Authority has initiated a consultation process in order to obtain feedback on its proposed review of the 2012 must-carry determination.

Must-carry obligations require operators of commercial TV distribution networks (in Malta these are GO and Melita), to reserve part of their network capacity for the retransmission of a number of TV channels as, identified by the Broadcasting Authority, in order to ensure the availability of diverse programme content that reflects Maltese culture and identity.  Such TV channels are known as General Interest (GI) channels.

Must-carry obligations can only be imposed on networks that are used by a significant part of the population as the main means to receive TV broadcasts.

In February 2012, Melita Cable was designated as having must-carry obligations on both its cable analogue and digital networks.  At that point in time, the number of General Interest (GI) channels was established at six.  Towards the end of 2012, a seventh channel was added to the national GI channels, representing a significant development in the market.

Furthermore, throughout 2012 there was considerable migration of analogue cable TV subscribers to other platforms, mainly to Digital Cable TV, with the result that the number of analogue cable subscribers has now dwindled.

As a result of these developments, the MCA is consulting publicly in order to review the current must-carry obligations and propose changes where necessary.

The Authority welcomes interested parties to submit their feedback by no later than, Friday 24th May 2013.

The consultation document can be accessed from the MCA website at www.mca.org.mt