A letter on a local newspaper: No to the Poker Channel in Malta

[marcus19]

I came across this letter on a local Maltese newspaper:


Zapping through the list of channels on Melita's digital cable television, I came across the television station Poker Channel. Melita informs its customers that this channel will be "coming soon". What exactly are we to expect? Twenty-four hours of television coverage of poker tournaments, beamed to our homes, reinforcing the myth that poker is some sort of game of skill, at which anybody can excel provided he or she applies himself or herself sufficiently?

Are we to expect indiscriminate viewing times, even during day-time reserved for children? Is this how our local broadcasters aim to achieve a leap in quality?

What is the Broadcasting Authority's position in this regard? Are we not realising that such programmes, already being broadcast to our television screens (even, ironically considering that by no stretch of the imagination can poker be called a sport, on Eurosport channels), albeit late at night, are actually marketing the internet gaming industry?

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles.../poker-channel

I decided to register on these forums because I had to post this 'cause I couldn't believe my ears.

Btw this guy is from an NGO called Sedqa, which is basically supposed to "help" addicts (gamblers, drug users, alcholics, smokers etc). Now they want to ban the poker channel?

Anyone interested in replying do this [censored] can can send an email to the editor at: daily@timesofmalta.com providing you give your full name, address and id number (only name and city is posted on the paper).