Malta

[MT] Revision of the List of Major Events

IRIS 2007-3:1/26

Kevin Aquilina

Faculty of Laws, University of Malta

In November 2006, the Broadcasting Authority issued a consultation document proposing inter alia a review of the existing list of major events. The consultation period closed on 7 December 2006 and the Authority has now reviewed the responses received. The Authority had also consulted a number of organisations that have a direct interest in the matter. In the light of this review, the Authority has drawn up a revised list of major events.

The list of Cultural Events consists of the following: (1) the Malta Song for Europe: final and qualifying nights; (2) the Eurovision Song Festival: final night but the qualifying event has also been included in case of Maltese participation; (3) the Malta Carnival: Saturday Carnival for Children, Carnival Sunday and Tuesday Floriana Carnival.

The list of Sports Events consists of the following: (1) the Maltese national football team’s competitive home matches; (2) the Maltese national football team’s competitive away matches; (3) the final and semi-final games of the UEFA Cup and of the UEFA Champions League; (4) the opening ceremony, the opening game, the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, the game for third place and the final of the FIFA World Cup; (5) the opening ceremony, the opening game, the semi-finals and the final of the UEFA European Football Championship; (6) the opening ceremony and Maltese participation in the Summer Olympic games; (7) the opening ceremony and the finals taking place on the last day of the Games of the Small States of Europe; and (8) the March and September regattas.

Coverage of the above cultural and sports events is always direct and in full except in the following cases: (a) the Maltese national football team competitive home matches which could be aired on a deferred basis within 24 hours from the time that the match has ended; and (b) the Malta Carnival held on Saturday afternoon is to be broadcast on a deferred basis and in full on Carnival Sunday afternoon only if the actual Carnival Sunday event has been cancelled.

Finally, the semi-final of the UEFA Cup and of the UEFA Champions League will be considered a major event with effect from the football season 2007-2008.