PN Media Chief’s Wife To Produce Net TV Drama Show But ‘On A Strictly Voluntary Basis’
Pierre Portelli (left) with his wife Diane
The head of the Nationalist Party’s media house has rebutted conflict of interest warnings after his wife was entrusted with producing a drama show on Net TV.
Pierre Portelli told Lovin Malta that his wife Diane – who owns TV production house Watermelon – will not get paid a cent for producing the drama Fattigi on NET TV.
“When I spoke to her about the possibility of her producing such a show, she said she’ll only discuss it on condition that she doesn’t get paid,” he said. “While the actors and crew will get paid, my wife will be working on a purely voluntary basis, because she wants to help the Nationalist Party and Net TV. All advertising revenue from the show will also be retained by Net.”
Diane Portelli’s role in the new Net TV show was criticised by David Thake – a former PN radio presenter who has become critical of the party since it elected Adrian Delia as its leader.
“Well done Diane, it must have been difficult to convince Pierre Portelli to accept your proposal,” Thake said. “Definitely no suspicion of conflict of interest there.”
His Facebook post was picked up by ONE News, which said the show will see Portelli earn even more money from the PN – over and above his salary as head of Media.Link. One News claimed he earns €90,000, but Portelli clarified he actually earns €35,000 – like the other managers at Dar Centrali.
Portelli rebutted by accusing ONE of conducting a “malicious attack” out of concern the PN’s revamped media is making inroads. Asked to react to Thake’s comments, he accused him of hypocrisy, claiming the PN had paid him €100,000 in the previous five years for presenting a daily radio show and for WiFi services purchased from his company Vanilla Telecoms.
“Maybe David Thake can tell us what voluntary work he intends to carry out for the PN,” Portelli remarked snidely.
Fattigi, a show revolving around three women, is one of three new drama shows announced by Net as part of its new schedule. Miraklu, produced by Take 2 Entertainment, and Morris, produced by Eileen Montesin, have also been added, while long-running prison drama Santa Monika has been cut for financial reasons.
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