View source for NET (Maltese TV channel)

{{Short description|Maltese terrestrial TV channel}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = NET Television
| logo = NET Television (Malta) logo.png
| logo_size = 150px
| logo_caption = Former NET Television logo
| logo_alt = 
| image = 
| established = 
| airdate = 
| launch_date = {{Start date|1998|06|10|df=y}}
| closed_date = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} -->
| picture_format = 
| network = 
| owner = NET Media, previously known as [[Media.link Communications]] <br/>{{small|([[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalist Party]])}}
| parent = 
| slogan = 
| motto = 
| country = [[Malta]]
| language = [[Maltese language|Maltese]]
| area = 
| affiliates = 
| headquarters = [[Pietà, Malta|Pietà]], [[Malta]]
| former_names = 
| replaced = 
| replaced_by = 
| sister_channels = 
| timeshift_service = 
| website = {{URL|https://netondemand.mt/}}
| terr_serv_1 = Free-to-air
| terr_chan_1 = 43 ([[Ultra high frequency|UHF]])
| terr_serv_2 = [[GO (Malta)|GO]]
| terr_chan_2 = 102
| terr_serv_3 = [[Melita (telecommunications company)|Melita]]
| terr_chan_3 = 102
| sat_radio_serv_1 = 
| sat_radio_chan_1 = 
| online_serv_1 = 
| online_chan_1 = 
| 3gmobile serv 1 = 
}}

'''NET Television''' (normally shortened to '''NET''') is a [[free-to-air]] [[terrestrial television|terrestrial]] [[television station]] in [[Malta]] owned by NET Media (previously known as [[Media.link Communications]]), the media arm of the [[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalist Party]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sammut|first1=Carmen|title=Media and Maltese Society|date=2007|publisher=Lexington Books|isbn=9780739115268|page=56|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QjzxFF8ZjfwC&dq=net+television&pg=PA56|accessdate=8 April 2016|language=en}}</ref> It started broadcasting in 1998 from [[Pietà, Malta]].

NET Television is also one of the most watched television channels, with it being the 3rd most viewed channel in Malta (7.88% of the population) as of May 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Broadcasting Authority|first=Malta|date=|title=TV View Results|url=https://cdn-attachments.timesofmalta.com/9868d8f5914b954f7ebde140dade19b1256c86b3-1560260474-5cffaf7a-1920x1280.png|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref>

==History==
The government liberalised the television market in 1991 by granting licences to the two parties. Following the launch of Super One (now One Television) by the Labour Party, the Nationalist Party followed in 1998 with NET TV, precisely when the party lost at the polls to [[Alfred Sant]].<ref>[https://timesofmalta.com/article/TV-and-the-democratic-process.651330 TV and the democratic process]</ref>

In its early years, as of 2004, NET TV's parent company lost Lm1.9 million, without witnessing a break even period. It cut some of its losses between 1999 and 2002 to achieve some form of turnaround.<ref>[https://timesofmalta.com/article/political-tv-stations-lose-lm3-4m-in-eight-years.109625 Political TV stations lose Lm3.4m in eight years]</ref>

==Criticism and fines==
In November 2007, NET Television was fined, paying Lm600 in libel damages to architect Lawrence Mintoff, who had been libelled in a 13 November 1998 ''NET News'' bulletin. According to Mintoff, the bulletin carried footage of him entering the Labour Party headquarters (its rival channel One is owned by Labour), allegations that were claimed by Mintoff as being false.<ref>[https://timesofmalta.com/article/net-tv-fined-for-libel.184303 Net TV fined for libel]</ref><ref>[https://timesofmalta.com/article/court-finds-labour-party-candidate-s-honesty-integrity-were-not.351255 Court finds Labour Party candidate’s honesty, integrity were not ‘attacked’]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://netnews.com.mt/|name=NET News Website}}
* {{Official website|https://netondemand.mt/|name=NET On Demand Website}}

{{Malta TV}}

[[Category:Television stations in Malta]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1998]]
[[Category:1998 establishments in Malta]]
[[Category:Nationalist Party (Malta) publications]]
[[Category:Pietà, Malta]]


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