Public Broadcasting Services


Public Broadcasting Services Limited is the public broadcaster of Malta. PBS is funded by government grants and the sale of commercial airtime. Its TVM channel is Malta's most watched television channel, and its radio station Magic Malta enjoys huge popularity among local and tourist listeners.

History

PBS was founded in 1975 as Xandir Malta and became joint member of the European Broadcasting Union together with the Maltese Broadcasting Authority. The latter was previously admitted as a full, active member, as Malta Television Service Ltd already has been, in 1970. Since 2003, PBS is the sole Maltese member of EBU.
Prior to Xandir Malta, Rediffusion broadcast television programmes in Malta under the name The Malta Television Service Ltd. The service was run by Rediffusion, a London-based independent broadcaster.
Following the transition to digital television using the DVB-T standard in October 2011, all licensed terrestrial channels in Malta are distributed through a network of transmitters operated by PBS. These transmitters are located in Delimara, Nadur, Mellieħa, Mtarfa, Naxxar and Portomaso.
PBS is managed by a Board of Directors. The current Chairperson is Anthony Porthugese. Poet Albert Marshall is the Deputy Chairperson.

Services

Radio

PBS' radio services consist of the Radju Malta, Radju Malta 2 and Magic Malta radio stations.
For a short period in 1975/1976 it also had an Italian-language station, called Radio Malta Tre; the news were read by Anna Bonanno.

Television

PBS' television services consist of the TVM and TVM2 television channels. It also operates the Parliament TV service under an agreement with the Parliament of Malta.