Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) aired 532 "sound on tape" (SOT) clips featuring members of the government and 66 featuring members of the Opposition during a 12-month period between June 2025 and May 2026, parliamentary figures showed.
The figures were provided by Arts, Culture and National Heritage Minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea in reply to a parliamentary question by Opposition MP Michael Piccinino.
The question sought details on the number of SOTs featuring government and opposition politicians in PBS news bulletins between 1 June 2025 and 31 May 2026, as well as the identities of the politicians and the dates on which the clips were broadcast.
In his reply, Agius Galea said he had been informed that PBS's editorial mission as a public service broadcaster required it to report on national announcements and developments arising from ministerial responsibilities.
He said the majority of the 532 SOTs featuring government members were related to their official duties, including policy announcements, public services, schemes, projects and other initiatives, rather than party political activities.
Agius Galea added that PBS "rarely" included SOTs taken from political activities or conferences organised by the Labour Party.
During the same period, only two SOTs were broadcast in this context.
Meanwhile, PBS also reported on the positions of the Opposition, including criticism and proposals put forward by the Nationalist Party.
These included comments taken during press conferences and political activities organised by the PN, with 66 SOTs from Nationalist Party members broadcast during the period under review.
Agius Galea said PBS continued to fulfil its duty to report government decisions and initiatives while ensuring editorial balance in line with parliamentary representation chosen democratically by voters.
He added that balance was also maintained through current affairs and political discussion programmes, which consistently provided equal space for both the Government and the Opposition to express their views and positions.