The state-funded Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) described as baseless the sharp criticism levelled by MLP general secretary Jason Micallef “on the integrity of the (broadcaster’s) chairman and chief executive officer”.

Mr Micallef on Monday charged that current affairs programmes were not being produced by newsroom staff, and that they were being manipulated to favour the Nationalist Party.

The PBS said it considered the attack as an attempt by a competing broadcaster to distract the attention of the public and advertisers from the positive results which PBS stations have been achieving since the company’s restructuring in 2004.

The PBS said the financial results of the last two years reduced to nothing Mr Micallef’s attack because the company was no longer a burden on the country’s finances, and was generating sufficient revenue to cover its operations.

Ina counter statement, the MLP said that the PBS board of directors confirmed that what Mr Micallef said on Monday was in fact true.