S.L. 350.32 Art. 4Mandatory criteria for niche general interest objective television services. from cultural, nature; of Mass to original that enhance of that highlight

(1) Niche general interest objective television services may be of a highly varied nature and consequently the Broadcasting

Authority is expected to be flexible in the application of these regulations and shall be ready to adapt to address particular requests which would enhance the range of offer to the consumers.

(2) Such a service shall broadcast a minimum duration of ten hours of programme content per day which may be spread over a broadcasting time table between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

(3) Such a service shall predominantly transmit programmes from a limited number of genres which are considered to fulfil a core or extended public service obligation which genres are listed in Schedule A. Sixty per centum of the output (whether first run or repeat) during the mandatory broadcasting timetable shall consist of such programmes.

(4) A niche general interest objective television service may only broadcast a maximum of two hours of teleshopping windows per day in the mandatory broadcasting timetable referred to in sub-regulation (2).

(5) The duration of repeat programming on a niche general interest objective service shall normally not exceed an annual average of forty-five per centum of the total mandatory broadcasting time. This requirement shall not however apply to re-runs of programmes first broadcast by other services or the repeat broadcasts of documentaries, drama, cinematographic productions and educational and cultural programmes. Schedule A [Regulations (3) and 4(3)]

List of Programme Genres

(i) The transmission of events of a national character as determined time to time by Government;

(ii) Public service announcements without payment;

(iii) One-off transmission of Parliamentary debates

(iv) Current affairs programmes;

(v) Discussion programmes dealing with topics of a social, educational, environmental, economical, industrial or political

(vi) Programmes dealing with religious topics and the transmission on Sundays and some holy days of Obligation;

(vii) Programmes that have children as their principal audience;

(viii) Drama programmes in Maltese with preference being given drama in Maltese;

(ix) Programmes that are cultural in nature but especially those the Maltese language, the arts and culture; as well as programmes classical music;

(x) Programmes that are focused on Gozo and in particular Gozitan society, culture and way of life;

(xi) Programmes that focus on Maltese communities abroad;

(xii) General information programmes;

(xiii) Programmes that are educational in nature;

(xiv) News bulletins;

(xv) Programmes featuring local sports.