The state-funded Public Broadcasting Services yesterday launched a rebranded identity and the autumn programme schedule, presenting a wide range of new and existing programmes for TVM, Radju Malta and Magic Malta. A number of established producers and presenters have joined the state television and radio stations from other stations while established names are returning to PBS or continuing with their strong programmes.
During the launch at The Radisson Golden Sands Resort for advertising partners, PBS chairman Joseph Mizzi said the autumn programme schedule will continue to foster the existing healthy relationships with successful producers and presenters while it nurtures new productions to achieve their potential.
“The up-coming programme schedule aims to consolidate TVM’s leading position as the most viewed television station in Malta. The last Media Warehouse Audience survey shows that 57.5% of viewers prefer to watch TVM between 7pm and midnight while TVM news enjoys a peak audience of 180,000 viewers – that’s half the adult population in Malta and Gozo” said Mr Mizzi.
Chief Executive Officer Anton Attard said that this year, the Expression of Interest for programme selection had yielded very high calibre programme proposals, even better than previous years.
A stronger dose of news and information programmes and popular entertainment shows underpin the new TVM programme schedule.
Journalist Daphne Cassar will present a daily TV breakfast which will take on a news programme format while veteran TV host Claudette Pace returns to TVM with the strong afternoon entertainment brand ‘Sellili’.
Family entertainment has been scheduled to fill in the evening (pre-news) time band with Carlo Borg Bonaci and Ronald Briffa presenting ‘Kwizzun’ and ‘Puree’ respectively – both family oriented entertainment game shows.
Prime time slots will be dedicated to entertainment with the exception of the discussion programme ‘Dissett’ on Saturday. From Monday to Friday and on Sundays, TVM will present popular drama and comedy such as Deceduti, Min Imissu, Salib it-Toroq, Bijografiji and DREAMS... Xarabank returns on Friday nights and for the second consecutive year, TVM will once again be offering a new selection of blockbuster movies on Saturday evening.
Children’s programmes also play an important role in TVM’s schedule. A totally rebranded version of Zona will be transmitted daily from 4.10pm.
TVM is also launching three new programs on Sundays: primetime comedy Min Imissu, a culture/information programme Malta u Lil Hinn Minnha at 9.50am and Style Watch at 6.40pm. A selection of the best all-time classic British comedy takes Sunday’s pre News evening slot at 7.15pm.
2012 will mark the 50th year from the setting up of Malta Television Services (MTV). To mark this important milestone in the development of Malta’s public broadcasting services, PBS has also launched a rebranded visual identity which traces the origins of the state broadcaster and displays elements of Malta’s most widely recognised symbol – the Maltese cross.
Malta Television Services was setup in 1962 while Public Broadcasting Services Ltd was set up as a commercial entity in 1991, 20 years ago.
Mr Attard announced that TVM will soon start trials in high definition (HD) with the aim of migrating the station’s transmission to HD in the medium term. He also announced that as a first step in the migration process to HD, TVM will start native widescreen transmissions in a 16:9 format from the forthcoming autumn schedule.
PBS has obtained broadcasting rights for the entire Euro 2012 competition.
Mr Attard also announced that the dates for the semi-final and final nights of the 2012 Malta Song Festival have been set for Friday 27 and Saturday, 28 January respectively.