BA confirms that viewership survey coincides with airing of juicy programmes

The Broadcasting Authority has confirmed newspaper reports that a viewership survey was ongoing during the week when several popular TV shows decided to tackle controversial topics.
MaltaToday, the sister newspaper of The Malta Financial and Business Times, had reported that leaks were made to TV programme producers in its edition of 26 October.
The Broadcasting Authority has tried to shed doubts on the story carried by MaltaToday and other sections of the media by stating that the survey commenced on 26 October and not before.
However, journalists had contacted Telepage Ltd prior to that date and it was confirmed that another viewer-ship survey, conducted for a prominent advertising agency, was in fact being carried out during the days prior to the 26.
When The Malta Financial and Business Times contacted BPC Managing Director David Brockdorff yesterday about the survey, he did not deny or confirm that one took place that week.
Brockdorff said: "BPC’s Research and Planning unit is continually involved in a number of market research projects of both a qualitative and quantitative nature. These range from projects aimed at gathering general information about habits and perceptions of consumers to specific projects which investigate issues of particular interest to BPC’s clients. Dates and details about all our operations are commercially sensitive and therefore confidential."
The fact remains that the Bondi plus, Xarabank and Joegrima live programmes were aired both in the week preceding the survey and in week of the survey.
Monday’s press Broadcasting Authority press conference has only confirmed the substance of what was reported by the newspapers.
MaltaToday’s editor Saviour Balzan said: "The Broadcasting Authority is getting lost in legal jargon and is conveniently forgetting what was reported. MaltaToday had revealed that leaks occurred in prior years and the BA had nothing to say about that.
"It remains a fact that ‘during the week of the survey a number of controversial and sensational programmes were aired."