Television in Malta

Television in Malta started in 1957, bringing news, shows, and entertainment into homes across the island. This was an exciting time as people could now watch events and programs together as a community. The first person to sell televisions in Malta was The Most Noble Count Consiglio D'Amato, who helped make this new technology available to everyone.

History

The first television broadcasts in Malta came from Sicily. In 1962, TVM started as Malta's public broadcaster and is still the most popular channel.

In 1991, the government allowed more television stations. Licenses went to the two main political parties and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta. The Labour Party's channel, One, is the second most popular, while NET Television, controlled by the Nationalist Party, is the third.

Today, there are also three private channels: Smash Television, fLiving Channel, and Xejk. Cable television is the most common way to watch TV in Malta. The Broadcasting Authority makes sure all local channels follow the rules and offer different kinds of programs for everyone.

Digital

In 2005, two companies, Multiplus Ltd and Maltacom (now GO), received licenses to provide television services. Multiplus began its services in July 2005, competing with the main cable company Melita. Later, in February 2007, GO acquired Multiplus.

Malta transitioned from old television broadcasts to digital television using the DVB-T standard in October 2011. To prepare for this change, the Malta Broadcasting Authority created rules to decide which channels would be part of the new digital system.

Free television in Malta is sent through transmitters operated by the national broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services in several places including Marsaxlokk, Nadur, Mellieħa, Mtarfa, Naxxar, and St. Julian's. Since 2017, all free television channels have been broadcast using a specific frequency called UHF channel 43, instead of the older UHF channel 66.

The channels allowed to broadcast for free include TVM, TVMNews+, Parliament TV, One, NET Television, Smash Television, F Living, and Xejk.

Signals from Sicily became weaker after that area stopped using old broadcasting methods, since digital signals from there are not as strong.