Public Broadcasting Services (PBS)

Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) is a public broadcasting operator in Malta. It was established in 1975 and operates two television channels and three radio channels.

Media assets

Television: TVM, TVM2

Radio: Radju Malta, Radju Malta 2, Magic Malta

State Media Matrix Typology

Ownership and governance

PBS is a government-owned company with a Board of Directors nominated by the government.

According to media experts and independent journalists in Malta consulted for this report, the government exerts undue influence at PBS by abusing governing body procedures. For example, in April 2021, Mark Sammut, an IT entrepreneur with no experience in journalism or broadcasting, was appointed by authorities as the executive chairman at PBS. Sammut is known for his connections with the Labour Party in Malta.

This was further evidenced by a management shake-up in September 2024. Following Mark Sammut’s resignation, the government announced a new leadership structure for PBS, opting to appoint a non-executive chairperson and a separate CEO, rather than an executive chairman. Anna Bonett, who has over 45 years of experience in broadcasting, was appointed non-executive chairperson, while Engineer Keith Chetcuti was named CEO. Chetcuti, who previously worked in the private sector for two decades, was described by some media as being “very close to Castille and to the Labour Party.” Engelbert Grech was also appointed Chairperson of the PBS Editorial Board, following the retirement of Joseph Sammut.

Source of funding and budget

PBS is primarily funded by the government, with little transparency around its budget and spending. Media reports indicate that the state subsidy received by PBS has increased over the past few years.

The broadcaster is not transparent about its budget. PBS has consistently failed to release annual reports detailing how taxpayer money is spent despite being obligated to do so by the country’s National Broadcasting Policy. Officials at the broadcasting ministry in Malta stated in June 2022 that they were still collecting the necessary information.

According to the latest officially available data in 2017, PBS received a state subsidy of €4m. Additionally, PBS generates funding through advertising time sales.

In January 2021, the government had announced plans to grant PBS a total of €30m to be spent on non-commercial content over five years, resulting in an annual subsidy of €6m. Despite requests from media outlets for information on how it spends public funds, PBS remains utterly opaque in its accounting for taxpayer money. According to a media report, PBS received in 2023 a total of €8.9m from the government, €2.5m of which was aimed at a “systems update.” The public broadcaster has reportedly finished in the red for many years.

According to data from the European Audiovisual Observatory, PBS had a total income of €13.5m in 2022, of which €6.1m was a state subsidy. This trend of increasing state subsidies continued, with the Public Service Obligation (PSO) grant for 2024 set at €6,18m. Specific budget figures for 2025 and 2026 are not publicly available.

Editorial independence

There are no specific rules imposed by the government on PBS requiring the broadcaster to give privileged coverage to the government. However, the government indirectly controls the station’s editorial policies. Independent reports about the government’s control at PBS have been widespread recently.

In July 2023, Norma Saliba resigned from her position as the head of TVM news. She claimed that she left for personal reasons, but it was reported that she was removed after a clash with TVM’s head Mark Sammut. This suggests that journalists who do not conform to the station’s expectations are often ousted.

In a further editorial shake-up in January 2024, PBS elevated junior journalists Liam Carter and Massimo Axisa to key managerial roles, giving them control over news content across all platforms. This move placed them in positions of authority over more seasoned journalists such as Owen Galea, Mario Xuereb, Ruth Amaira, Mario Micallef, and Maria Muscat, and occurred in a period where the position of Head of News had not been filled since Norma Saliba’s departure.

Furthermore, various political figures and journalists have made numerous allegations of censorship against TVM in recent years. Additionally, NGOs frequently criticize PBS for not providing them with adequate representation on TVM. According to the director of a prominent NGO in the country, PBS should act as a platform for diverse voices, including those that are critical of the government.

No domestic statute or independent assessment and oversight mechanism to validate PBS’ editorial independence has been identified.

August 2025