1991 Broadcasting Act : a historical and conceptual analysis

Abstract

At a time of considerable growth and development in world media in general, broadcasting in Malta found its launching pad in Act XII of 1991. The Act allowed us to witness the inevitable breakdown of a state monopoly system in broadcasting. Broadcasting monopolies, starting with radio, in the large countries of western Europe, fell in the course of the last two decades : the British in 1972, the Italians in 19 76, the French in 1981 and the West Germans in 1987. It comes as no surprise that we are at present witnessing the crumbling of the broadcasting monopoly system in Eastern Europe. Who could predict a few years ago that countries in Eastern Europe would consider selling the State media to the highest bidder? Would anyone have guessed that Italy would have innumerable radio stations and TV channels scattered along the peninsula? monopoly system in broadcasting Undoubtedly, was stable the and predictable. The new, pluralistic competitive system is full of surprises, challenges and opportunities. The new broadcasting system in Malta offers the same scenario, not excluding, of course, the inevitable positive and negative aspects. In the following chapters, I shall attempt to analyse recent developments in broadcasting in the Maltese situation. The obvious point of departure is the historical aspect, starting from its origin and, fortunately, the origins of cable and wireless broadcasting can be traced centuries after written and recorded history commenced! The course of this history, inevitably, leads to the major development of the 1991 Broadcasting Law. The concepts contained in the new law together with their application are discussed in Chapter 2 and 3. If the 1991 law was a major development in the history of broadcasting in Malta, it surely brought about a major upheaval and disturbed the unnaturally still waters of broadcasting in Malta. The aftermath of the law is discussed in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 deals with the paradoxical concept in broadcasting, namely that of impartiality. In these chapters, I invite the readers to join me in tracing or delving into the various labyrinths of the arguments in broadcasting, keeping in mind, however, that one cannot fly into mythology and keep his voice directed towards the earth.