As soon as the new Board of directors was appointed for the Maltese Public Broadcasting Services back in the beginning of the month, it was announced that the Maltasong Board would not be re-appointed and a new operational structure would be determined for the selection of the country's representatives in the Eurovision Song Contest . This week a four-member advisory team was appointed by PBS which will work on the county's entries for the Junior as well as the Eurovision Song Contest.
Following the pressure after Malta's disappointing results in the recent editions of the Eurovision Song Contest, PBS have now taken full responsibility of the selection of future Maltese representatives by assimilating Malta Songboard. This will result in a reduction of the sum spent on Eurovision each year which amounted to about €180.000 for the organisation of the Malta Song for Europe festival and the country's participation in the contest.
The first step towards the new structure has been taken as the Maltese broadcaster have proceeded to appoint a new advisory team comprising of local professionals with a great deal of experience in the contest. The Eurosong Advisory team appointed this week consists of: Dr Isabelle Gatt who is a member of the new Board of Directors of PBS and a lecturer in Creative and Expressive Arts Education at the University of Malta. Ms Gatt has served as board member of St. James Cavalier and the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts. Mr Martin Gauci, secretary of former Maltasong Board, who has been a part of the Maltese Eurovision Delegation on six different occasions is also a member of the board.
The other two members of the team are quite well known to Eurofans as they have had extensive TV exposure and involvement in the coverage of the contest. Mr Deo Grech is the president of OGAE Malta and well known TV host. He has been producing and presenting the popular Eurovision Fever show on One TV for the past three years as well as many local contests. Deo has reported from location during the past four contests. Last but not least, is Mr Frederick Zammit, Head of Programmes for NET TV and chairperson for the Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza, has been involved in the local media for the past 12 years. Since 2003, he has been producing the Lejn il-Eurovision TV show which focuses on the country's participations in the Eurovision Song Contest. Frederick has covered the three last contests from Athens, Helsinki and Belgrade for local media.
The new team's first assignment is to issue the rules and regulations for the upcoming local Junior EuroSong 2008 selections.
