In reply to comments given to The Malta Independent by Ms Pace (TMID 25 August), Media.link Communications broadcast manager Anton Attard said that from a total of 39 programmes, Ms Pace has to date been paid for the first 26, which means that the outstanding production payments date from April to the first week of July.
Such situations are very realistic when the industry’s standards are taken into consideration, he said. It was surprising that Ms Pace, a seasoned broadcaster (former director of Max Plus TV and former producer and presenter for both TVM and Super 1 TV), had reacted in such a manner.
Up until recently, Ms Pace and NET Television had enjoyed a healthy working relationship, said Mr Attard.
Apart from co-producing L-Isfida, Ms Pace had also presented another programme on NET, featured as a regular contributor in Life & Style magazine and acted as a freelance saleswoman with Media.link Communications.
Added to this, she also presented a daily show on a competing radio station without NET ever raising an objection (which incidentally sheds light on the inconsistency of Ms Pace’s claim that she worked “full-time” on L-Isfida). Moreover, when her husband claimed to be receiving threats following difficulties with another TV station, NET Television had agreed to provide and pay for extensive security measures to ensure their safety, Mr Attard said.
Furthermore, it was the intention of the station to continue L-Isfida as from October 2004 and to do so with the same team. However, Ms Pace had refused to have further discussions unless all outstanding amounts were paid before the commencement of production for the second series.
NET Television acknowledged that the success of L-Isfida would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of the management and staff of Masquerade Theatre Company and Arts School and Yada Dance Company/The Collage of Jazz Dance.
NET Television believed in local talent, said Mr Attard, and will continue to provide a platform for the performing arts.
“For Ms Pace ‘money makes the world go round’. For NET TV, there are also ethics and principles,” Mr Attard concluded.