Opposition Accuses Public Broadcasting of Government Propaganda in Entertainment Programs

The Nationalist Party has escalated its criticism of Malta’s Public Broadcasting Services (PBS), claiming that pro-government messaging has expanded beyond news broadcasts into entertainment programs and quiz shows.

In a statement issued Friday morning, Shadow Minister for Public Broadcasting Graziella Attard Previ highlighted what the party described as “hidden propaganda” favoring the government. The opposition party pointed to a specific example from the TVM quiz show “Tipping Point,” where a government-sponsored question focused on a particular government benefit, with the correct answer being the highest number.

“When advertising or references to ‘government benefits’ are inserted into such programs, this ceases to be a public service. It becomes hidden propaganda,” Attard Previ said in her statement.

The PN has long criticized what it perceives as a pro-government slant in PBS news broadcasts. However, the party now contends that this bias has infiltrated other programming formats while government benefits are simultaneously being heavily advertised on the same channel.

Attard Previ emphasized that both the Broadcasting Authority and the courts have established clear guidelines requiring balance in state broadcasting, but she claims these standards are being ignored. “When public funds are used to promote a single narrative, citizens are being deprived of their fundamental right to balanced information,” she stated.

The opposition party expressed particular concern about what it called “the power of incumbency,” arguing that the current government is using state resources to strengthen its political position through media messaging.

The debate over PBS’s neutrality has been a recurring issue in Malta’s political landscape, with the opposition repeatedly calling for reforms to ensure more balanced coverage. Public broadcasting in Malta, as in many countries, operates under legal obligations to provide impartial and comprehensive information to citizens.

In her statement, Attard Previ called for a “free, independent and credible” public broadcaster. “PBS cannot and must not serve as an extension of any party’s partisan machinery – in this case, that of the Labour Party. PBS belongs to the whole nation, not to any one party, and the public has a right to balanced broadcasting where all narratives and viewpoints are heard,” she concluded.

The government has not yet responded to these specific allegations about entertainment programming, though in the past it has defended PBS’s editorial independence and programming decisions.

This latest criticism comes amid broader discussions in Malta about media independence and the role of state-funded broadcasting in a democratic society. Media watchdogs have previously expressed concerns about political influence over public broadcasting in Malta, highlighting the importance of editorial independence in maintaining public trust in state media institutions.