Here’s What The Broadcasting Authority’s Initial Suspended Fine To RTK103 Was All About
After news broke out about the Broadcasting Authority (BA)’s decision to fine RTK103 for radio host Andrew Azzopardi’s “unfair treatment” of Imperium Europa’s leader Norman Lowell, many were left wondering what the radio station’s previous fine was all about.
Last Monday’s decision by the BA kicked off a previous fine of €4,660 imposed by the Authority which had been suspended for three years, and has to now be paid on top of the €1,750 fine- a fine totalling to €6,410.
The first fine of €4,660 was, once again, handed out to the radio station for something that was said during Andrew Azzopardi’s programme.
It all kicked off on 26th March 2022, which happened to be election day in Malta.
During the radio programme in question, a comment by the Opposition leader Bernard Grech as soon as he exited the voting hall was shared.
According to the Authority, throughout the same programme, many political comments were shared by the station’s correspondents outside of the voting halls.
The Broadcasting Authority found RTK103 to be in breach of its Directive on two accounts and gave the platform a €4,660 fine which was suspended for three years.
RTK103 was found to be in breach of a Directive issued by the BA itself regarding programmes and adverts published on radio or television between 28th February 2022 and 26th March 2022, that is during the run-up to election day and the actual election day itself.
Last Monday RTK103 was found to have treated Norman Lowell “unjustly” and “unfairly” after radio host Azzopardi insisted that the Imperium Europa leader would never be invited on his programme.
This means that the 2022 suspended fine now kicks in, along with the newer penalty given to the radio station last Monday.
What do you think of the BA’s decision? Send this to someone who was curious to know what RTK103’s suspended sentence was all about
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