TV Hemm knocked off air - ministry denies involvement

TVM this evening cancelled today’s edition of its popular TVHemm programme, with the presenters saying they had not been given an explanation.   A spokesman for the minister responsible for broadcasting, Manuel Mallia, said the decision was taken by PBS CEO Anton Attard for administrative reasons and the ministry was not involved in any way. Presenter Norman Vella said he was informed by the PBS head of programmes that the programme would not be broadcast. The message was relayed 50 minutes before the programme was due to start, when programme guests were already on the premises. Today’s edition was not political. Mr Vella did not know if future editions of the programme would be broadcast. TV Hemm is produced jointly by Where's Everybody and PBS. Mr Attard confirmed this was an administrative decision which had nothing to do with the ministry and was not political. He said the minister recently visited PBS and had said he would not interfere in the running of the station. Mr Attard said that for now, only today's programme was cancelled.