The editorial board of the Public Broadcasting Services has ordered a change to the planned format of tomorrow’s Xarabank programme after the Broadcasting Authority’s chief executive wrote to point out that the planned programme was in breach of policy and could be involving conflicts of interest.

The BA said it had taken note of promotional information being given about the programme over the past week. This was that the opening ceremony of the Mater Dei hospital was going to be transmitted directly during Xarabank and that the presenter was inviting a group of people to accompany him during the programme on a tour of the new hospital.

The BA’s chief executive wrote as a precaution to the editorial board chairman to express preoccupation that the programme format was in breach of editorial policy as the chief executive understood it was not TVM editorial policy to carry live transmissions of inauguration ceremonies relating to public projects.

As the production company, Where’s Everybody, had been awarded a contract to produce TV advertising about the facilities at the new hospital, the presenter could have a conflict of interest – both editorial and commercial – if the programme was presented in the announced format. This could affect the impartiality condition relating to current affairs programmes on public broadcasting.

The chief executive pointed out that there would be no objection for a discussion programme in the studio so long as this would be balanced and representative of all parties concerned.

The editorial board subsequently informed the chief executive that after considering the letter, it was decided that transmission of the official opening of the hospital would be separated from Xarabank, that the direct transmission of the opening of the hospital was a national event of a public project and the board had noted that in the past, the inauguration of large, public service projects had been transmitted on public broadcasting.

The board also decided that the Xarabank programme of the day would not be of a controversial nature.

The BA said the monitoring department would verify the programme and if necessary, the chief executive would take all opportune steps against the station, according to law.