News | Sunday, 26 July 2009

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PBS public service funds included TVM overheads

List of EPSO funds paid to production companies included transmission costs and overheads paid to TVM

Matthew Vella
A list of government funds paid for the Public Broadcasting Services’ extended public service obligation (EPSO), has given the incorrect impression that TV presenters were scooping large sums of tax money.
The EPSO is a fund for the production of additional programmes on TVM to fulfil public service obligations, and includes monies paid on farmed-out productions.
A list provided by the Ministry of Education of EPSO funds last week however attracted some complaints from presenters, who said they did were not paid all the money that had been listed.
In fact, three television presenters who spoke to MaltaToday said the EPSO list contained funds that were being paid back to PBS for its own station costs.
The revelations confirm that of the €834,075 in EPSO funds distributed for 2008-2009, a substantial sum actually goes back to PBS in the form of station costs.
Moira Delia, the presenter of Puss In Boots, said she had not been paid any of the €2,159 listed next to her name in the EPSO list, which was provided to MaltaToday by the Ministry of Education.
Delia said she sells adverts for the airtime she is allocated by PBS but that she covers all production charges and expenses.
After seeking an explanation from the PBS board, she was told the costs were for transmission and overheads incurred by PBS.
Similarly, Clare Agius, presenter of Mhux Ghal Kulhadd, said she had received €12,500 from the €81,524 that was listed next to her name. “The sum of €12,500 was not for presenting only, but for producing the show which includes my researchers. When I contacted PBS, I was told that the rest goes to PBS overheads! This would mean that in that amount is calculated the studio, cameramen and director, airtime etc.”
Another presenter, Mariella Pisani Bencini, said she did not personally receive or manage any of the €55,000 in funds allocated to her programmes Meander and Encore last year. The cultural review programmes are jointly produced by PBS and herself. “I receive a fee from PBS to cover amongst others, research, scriptwriting, as well as the presentation of the programmes.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education told MaltaToday the EPSO list contained no errors: “Media production has a cost. The amount of money you mention were production costs which never went directly to [the presenter] but were used for the production of the programmes.”
Other producers who spoke to MaltaToday, but wished to stay anonymous, said it the EPSO list did not list what companies actually took in EPSO funds, and how much they paid back in airtime costs.
“Several companies have their own special arrangements with PBS. Some do not pay for their airtime cost, instead allowing PBS to take a bigger slice of advertising revenues. Others pay PBS more money in airtime costs than what they take in EPSO funds,” one producer said.

Full EPSO list
www.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/07/19/t10.html

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