Melita's 'change of mind' means Smash TV injunction no longer necessary, court rules

A court has rejected an urgent request for an injunction, filed by local analogue TV station Smash TV, against a local cable operator’s switch to digital-only broadcasts, after it noted that the switch would be taking place mid-next year.

Smash Communications Ltd had filed the warrant of prohibitory injunction against Melita, after it received a letter from the telecoms provider's CEO, Harald Rösch, in August, informing it that the cable TV and internet service provider would be going ahead with plans to upgrade its local digital infrastructure and discontinue analogue TV broadcasts.

The First Hall of the Civil Court, presided by Judge Anthony Ellul noted that after the request was filed, Melita Ltd had replied in writing, clarifying that it would be continuing to carry analogue broadcasts for as long as the platform was operating. Analogue channels would be discontinued by “not later than mid-next year” it said.


The court noted that the defendant company had evidently changed its mind on the issue. In view of this development, Smash TV was being given the same time as other major local stations to prepare for the change and that at this stage there was no danger of discriminatory treatment. This meant that the merits of the case no longer existed.