For the first time ever, the Broadcasting Authority (BA) is allowing political parties to broadcast political spots on private television and radio stations.
Each of the four political parties contesting the March 28 general elections will be allowed to book a maximum of five minutes of airtime per day.
The parties will have the opportunity to choose the time when the spots are aired, however the stations will have to air a declaration to the effect that the spot is part of a scheme organised by the BA for the March 8 general elections.
These spots have to be vetted by the BA before being broadcast on commercial radio and television stations.
Furthermore, the political parties radio and television stations – Radio 101, NET TV, Super One Radio and ONE TV -- will be permitted to broadcast up to 10 minutes a day of political spots of their respective political parties.
This will be in addition to the political adverts which are usually broadcast on PBS free of charge as part of the scheme organised by the BA.
Under this scheme, the MLP and the PN will be allotted a maximum of 76 minutes each, AD will be allotted a maximum of 36 minutes, while AN will be allotted a maximum of 20 minutes.
However the political parties cannot book any additional political adverts on PBS, Radio Malta, Magic FM as well as Education 22 and Campus FM.