Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1526203
4 NEWS 4 MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 4 SEPTEMBER 2024 KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt MARTHESE Portelli has denied reports on One News that she could be the Nationalist Party's next secretary general, insisting she is committed to the Cham- ber of Commerce. She was reacting to a specu- lative story on One News that suggested Portelli, a former PN MP, was being lined up by a faction within the PN to suc- ceed Michael Piccinino. "These claims are factually incorrect and baseless. I have no intention whatsoever to contest or take up any position within any political organisa- tion," Portelli said in a Face- book post. She added that her commit- ment "remains solely at The Malta Chamber, where I am totally dedicated to continue advocating in favour of ethical business and better good gov- ernance". Portelli had resigned from the PN in February 2020 and served as director-general of the Malta Developers Associ- ation before being appointed CEO of the Malta Chamber in April 2021. On Sunday, Piccinino an- nounced that he will be step- ping down from PN secretary general to become a general election candidate on the 4th District. The secretary general is elect- ed by the PN executive and so far, no one has publicly de- clared their interest in the post. Marthese Portelli dismisses reports she will contest PN secretary general post Maltese-language kids' platform Perlina TV to start streaming in November Chamber CEO Marthese Portelli shoots down Labour media reports she is being pushed to replace Michael Piccinino as PN secretary general: 'I am committed solely to the Chamber' Marthese Portelli says she is committed to the Chamber of Commerce where she has been serving as CEO since 2021 THE expansion of the Mal- tese-language audiovisual market will see the launch of a new digital app that will provide childrens' programming, with user features set to rival typical streaming plat- forms like Disney and Netflix. Sharp Shoot Media's Perlina TV will add new content from one month to the next, with var- ious programmes and interactive games aimed at the Maltese-lan- guage children's market. "Sharp Shoot Media will be us- ing its experience and creativity so that every boy and girl can be afforded the opportunity to learn Maltese through audiovisual pro- grammes," directors Justin Farru- gia and Steven Dalli said. "Perlina TV will be brim- ming with original programmes penned by Audrey Brincat Dalli, the author of renowned television series Strada Stretta, L-Għarusa, Iż-żmien Bejnietna and others, and all produced by Maltese art- ists and professionals of high cali- bre," Farrugia and Dalli said. This platform will be similar to popular digital television plat- forms such as Disney and Netflix and will consist of new content that will be added on from one month to the next. Amongst oth- er things, there will be a puppet show, original animated series, as well as a number of characters that will be roaming around Mal- ta and Gozo to introduce chil- dren to our history and culture. Amongst Perlina's new features will be the Frattarija puppet show with eight characters living on a farm, experiencing sweet adven- tures whilst learning how to live in harmony. Animated series F'Ħajt tas- Sejjieħ features a group of indig- enous animals in the country- side, teaching children numbers, colours, seasons and the days of the week bthrough song. Farrugia and Dalli said the animated series is "at par with what children are used to watching on foreign plat- forms, except that in this case, it will be all in Maltese." Other characters on Perlina will be Linu Perlinu, who discovers a number of places of interest for children within the Maltese is- lands; bedtime stories from Mal- tese authors and read by various personalities; a series that uses virtual reality – Fid-Dinja ta' Faqqusu – for early-year view- ers, where children Faqqusu and Perla live in villages surrounded by toys, teaching viewers var- ious Maltese games, as well as the numbers in Maltese and the Maltese alphabet; and the series L-Istejjer tan-Nannu, based on popular tales with more of a local twist to them. Farrugia and Dalli said the con- tent will be supported by the Centre for the Maltese Language. "This platform will be a strong and useful tool for parents and teachers, yet above all else will also protect and promote our cherished language," the direc- tors said. Dr Maris Camilleri, from the Centre for the Maltese Language, said a recent national survey had shown that one out of every four parents aged 26-45 revealed their children do not understand Mal- tese and only speak in English. "Perlina TV is an innovative project and attracts new and ac- cessible resources with the use of technology for children to learn the Maltese language," Camilleri said. "Children will be exposed to Maltese through interactive and enjoyable games, video clips and exercises that are very much nec- essary for the Maltese language to remain alive amongst our fu- ture generations." The platform will be supported by Arts Council Malta, and start streaming in November.