25/08 - 12Jun2008




Consultation on Sponsorship Rules

Circular 20/05 dated 18th March 2005 provides that:

"(2)  It is allowed to identify a sponsor not only at the beginning and at the end of the programme but also when the programme is interrupted by advertising breaks. In terms of paragraph 13 of the Third Schedule, a period of at least 20 minutes must elapse between each successive advertising break within a programme. During such interruption of a programme it is allowed to identify a sponsor of a programme.

(3) A segment (rokna) of a programme can be sponsored but mention of the segment's sponsor can take place only as stated in paragraph 2 above, that is, during one advertising break per segment."

The Authority is considering changing these paragraphs to read as follows:

(2) It is allowed to identify a sponsor not only at the beginning and at the end of the programme but also when the programme is interrupted by advertising breaks. In terms of paragraph 13 of the Third Schedule, a period of at least 20 minutes must elapse between each successive advertising break within a programme. During such interruption of a programme it is allowed to identify a sponsor of a programme.

(3) In the case of magazine programmes only, which consist in more than one segment (rokna) dealing with different subject matters, a segment of a programme can be sponsored but mention of the segment's sponsor can take place only at the beginning and at the end of a segment (rokna)." Each mention should not exceed a maximum of ten seconds and during a given clock hour broadcasters should ensure that if they elect to apply this paragraph or to apply paragraph 2 and this paragraph together, there still should not be more than 6 such mentions within a given clock hour.

The Authority welcomes any feedback on the proposed change. Feedback should be sent not later than Friday, 4th July 2008 and should be addressed as follows:


Dr Kevin Aquilina,Chief Executive
Broadcasting Authority
7 Mile End Road
Hamrun HMR1719
e-mail: ambuhagiar@ba-malta.org
Fax 21 240855

Dr Kevin Aquilina
Chief Executive
12th June 2008
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