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Television in Italy

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Television in Italy was introduced in 1939, when the first experimental broadcasting began. However, this lasted for a very short time: when fascist Italy entered World War II in 1940 all the transmission were interrupted, and were resumed in earnest only nine years after the end of the conflict, in 1954. There are two main national television organisations responsible for most viewing: state-owned RAI Radiotelevisione italiana (with its three generalist channels), funded by a yearly mandatory licence fee and Mediaset (owner of generalist stations Canale 5, Italia 1 and Rete 4), commercial network founded by current Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi that also holds 50.1% of the Spanish broadcasting firm Mediaset España Comunicación and heads a consortium which owns the television production house Endemol. Currently La7 is considered as the third major network in Italy, it is owned by Telecom Italia Media, the media branch of the telephone company Telecom Italia, which also owns 51% of MTV Italia. While many other networks are also present, both nationally and locally, RAI and Mediaset together, with their six traditional ex analogue stations plus a number of new free to air digital channels, reach 75-80% of the TV ratings, as detailed further below. Apart from these three free to air companies, News Corporation's satellite pay tv platform Sky Italia is increasing in viewing and shares, reaching almost 10% of the tv ratings (in 2009 it was also allowed to enter the digital terrestrial market through free station Cielo).

As with all the other media of Italy, the Italian television industry is widely considered both inside and outside the country to be overtly politicized.[1] The public broadcaster RAI is, unlike the BBC which is controlled by an independent trust, under direct control of the government; the most important commercial stations in the country are, in turn, owned by the current prime minister. According to a December 2008 poll, only 24% of Italians trust television news programmes, compared unfavourably to the British rate of 38%, making Italy one of only three examined countries where online sources are considered more reliable than television ones for information.[2][3]

Digital terrestrial television

Digital terrestrial television technology is expanding rapidly and now every major network in Italy, including RAI, Mediaset and Telecom Italia Media transmits in DVB-T format, while continuing analog broadcast until the end of the transition, originally set by law to 31 December 2006 but later pushed forward to the end of 2012.[4][dead link]

The Berlusconi II Cabinet started promoting the digital format in December 2003 by granting a public financial contribution for the purchase of a MHP digital television decoder. Starting from January 2005 Mediaset and Telecom Italia Media started offering pay TV services through a prepaid smartcard, including football games, movies and TV shows. On February 2006, during the 2006 Winter Olympics held in Turin, RAI experimentally broadcast a number of sport events using a 1080i signal and H264 coding. The HD signal has been transmitted over the Turin area, using DVB-T hierarchical modulation, and only specially crafted decoders have been able to receive this signal: they were placed in strategical points in the town.

During the UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2008 Summer Olympics, RAI has started experimental High Definition broadcasting on Rai Test HD, available only in Turin, Milan, Rome, Sardinia and Aosta Valley, continuing with the 2008 UCI Road World Championships and few matches of UEFA Champions League. In July 2008 the European Commission's directorate for competition expressed concerns on whether the actions taken by the current Italian government will be able to alter the current status of duopoly in the broadcasting market held by RAI and Mediaset[5] Beginning 31 October 2008, in the first region of Italy planned to interrupt analog transmission, Sardinia, television networks broadcast multiplexes only in digital format. Licence fee payers from the region are entitled to a 50 euros detraction from the price of a digital television decoder or a new, digital-compatible TV set.[6]

Satellite television

Italy has had digital satellite broadcasts since 1997. Currently SKY Italia pay TV platform is broadcasting from Hotbird satellites. HDTV regular services started in June 2006 under the name SKY HD, with the broadcasting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in High Definition. Additional movie and sport channels are planned for the service. Tivù Sat, a Free Satellite Service similar to the UK version Freesat, has been launched in June 2009, ensuring access to national television channels from digital terrestrial television networks. Shareholders include Mediaset, Telecom Italia Media and the State Owned Company RAI.[7]

Cable television

In the 1960s the public television network RAI was a monopolist and the only authorized to broadcast in Italy. Giuseppe Sacchi, a former RAI editor, launched on April 21, 1971 the first "free" television station, called Telebiella and based in Biella. It started to broadcast on April 6, 1972, devoting primarily to news and information. Immediately the government led by Giulio Andreotti forced Sacchi to dismantle Telebiella. Later a new law was issued to regulate and allow the cable broadcasting, although with tight limitations[8]: only one cable system for every city and only one TV channel for each system. Cable television remained undeveloped for many years, with the exception of few amatorial project. In the 1990s, first Telecom Italia and then FASTWEB created Optical fiber networks and launched their IPTV offers (however associated by SKY Italia or Mediaset Premium subscriptions). IPTV was the only service to offer Video On Demand up until 2009.

Pay Television providers

Provider Owner Households Transmission
SKY Italia News Corporation 4,900,000[9] DTH; IPTV[10]
Mediaset Premium Mediaset 2,700,000[11] DTT; IPTV[12]
Dahlia TV AirPlus TV closed down in March 2011 DTT
Europa 7 HD Centro Europa 7 srl unknown DTT[13]
Alice Telecom Italia 329,000[14] IPTV
Fastweb Fastweb 200,000[15] IPTV
Tiscali Tiscali closed down in 2008 IPTV
Infostrada TV Wind unknown IPTV

List of nationwide television stations

Former analogue and digital

EPG No. Channel Notes Owner company Broadcast hours Format Multiplex
1 Rai 1 it was born in 1954 as the primary station of RAI, the national public service broadcasting network, with both public and commercial financing. It is a generalist channel, mainly focused on shows, great events and festivals, entertainment, movies, Italian fiction, news and public service; its direct competitor is Mediaset's Canale 5. Also FTA on digital satellite. RAI 24 hours 16:9 SDTV RAI Mux A
2 Rai 2 it was founded in 1961 as the second nationwide public channel. It is focused on shows, tv series, news, infotainment. Also FTA on digital satellite RAI 24 hours 16:9 SDTV RAI Mux A
3 Rai 3 it started in 1979 as the third public station focused on regional issues. Its programs are typically oriented to information, rather than entertainment, and they look for a qualitative approach, instead of seeking higher TV ratings. Also FTA on digital satellite. RAI 24 hours 16:9 SDTV RAI Mux A
4 Rete 4 it is the third commercial station belonging to Mediaset group. It was founded in 1982 by Mondadori group. It was the third channel to join Berlusconi's Canale 5 network in 1984 in order to create a three-network-broadcasting-system able to compete to Rai's three channel block. It focuses on movies, sports, tv series and information. Also FTA on digital satellite. Mediaset 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Mediaset 2
5 Canale 5 the major private television channel in the country owned by Mediaset. It was founded in 1978 as Telemilano Canale 58 but started to have a national range in 1980. It's Rai 1's direct competitor and focuses on variety shows, reality shows, Italian fictions, news, movies and game shows. Also FTA on digital satellite. Mediaset 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Mediaset 2
6 Italia 1 it is the second commercial television channel owned by Mediaset. It is oriented mainly at young people. It was launched in 1982 by Rusconi group but soon merged with Berlusconi's Canale 5 in order to create a strong commercial franchise previously known as Finivest group and later called Mediaset. It is focused on American Tv series, cartoons, light entertainment, movies, sports. Also FTA on digital satellite. Mediaset 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Mediaset 2
7 La7 it is the main station owned by Telecom Italia Media, considered as the third major network in the country. It was founded in 2001 (it was previously known as TMC). It is a private channel focused on information, politics, cultured-oriented programs, news and also entertainment. Its ratings are increasing due to the arrival of the most popular anchorman in Italy, Enrico Mentana, as the editor-in-chief of the channel's news Tg La7. Also on digital satellite (encrypted on Sky Italia pay tv platform). Telecom Italia Media 24 hours 16:9 SDTV TIMB 2
8 MTV it is a free-to-air channel dedicated to music and youth entertainment. It is the Italian version of the popular American 24hour music channel. It is available since 1997 and airs tv series, cartoons, music shows, realities, light entertainment programs focused on young target. Also on digital satellite (encrypted on Sky Italia pay tv platform). Telecom Italia Media 24 hours 4:3 SDTV TIMB 1
9 Deejay Tv it was launched in 2009 replacing All music channel, and focuses on music and light entertainment shows. Also FTA on digital satellite. Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso 24 hours 16:9 SDTV L'Espresso 1
20 Retecapri it is the only private nationwide station based in the south of the country. It was founded in 1982 and focuses on commercial programs, classical movies and tv series. Television Broadcasting System 24 hours 4:3 SDTV Omega

Syndicated

  • 7 Gold: founded in 2000; airs movies, sports debates and old TV series;
  • Canale Italia: airs entertainment shows, music and dance programs, home shopping shows and classical movies. Also available on digital satellite and digital terrestrial;
  • Cinquestelle: launched in 1988; reduced coverage up to 2011;
  • Odeon TV: launched in 1987; also known as Odeon 24;
  • Supersix: closed down in 2010 due to financial problems.

Digital (free to air)

EPG No. Channel Notes Owner company Broadcast hours Format Multiplex
21 Rai 4 entertainment, American TV series. RAI 24 hours 16:9 SDTV RAI Mux 2; RAI Mux A
22 IRIS movies, TV series, cultured-oriented programs. Mediaset 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Mediaset 2
23 Rai 5 cultured-oriented entertainment, documentaries. RAI 24 hours 16:9 SDTV RAI Mux 4
24 Rai Movie movies. RAI 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Rai Mux 3
25 Rai Premium the best of Rai past programs (shows, Italian dramas and fictions, talk shows). RAI 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Rai Mux 3
26 Cielo TV series, reality shows, game shows, light entertainment, news simulcasting Sky TG24. Also FTA on digital satellite. News Corporation 24 hours 16:9 SDTV L’Espresso 1
27 Class News Msnbc news, economic and finance station. Class Editori 24 hours 4:3 SDTV Mediaset 2
28 TV2000 talk shows, documentaries focused on religion. Also FTA on digital satellite. CEI (Italian Episcopal Conference) 24 hours 4:3 SDTV Rai Mux B
29 La7D women infotainment, light entertainment, tv series, La 7 reviews. Telecom Italia Media 24 hours 16:9 SDTV TIMB 1
30 La 5 tv series, reality shows, female-oriented station. Mediaset 24 hours 16:9 SDTV TIMB 1
31 Real Time lifestyle programs, dedicated to female audience. Also FTA on digital satellite. Discovery Networks Europe 24 hours 16:9 SDTV TIMB 1
32 QVC home shopping channel. Also FTA on digital satellite. QVC 24 hours 16:9 SDTV TIMB 1
34 Mediaset Extra cult shows of the past and the present from Mediaset channels. Mediaset 24 hours 16:9 SDTV TIMB 1
35 For you home shopping and movie channel. Mediashopping
(Mediaset group)		 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Mediaset 2
36 RTL 102.5 TV radio music channel. Also FTA on digital satellite. RTL 102.5 24 hours 4:3[16] SDTV TIMB 1
37 HSE24 home shopping channel. Home Shopping Europe 24 hours 16:9 SDTV TIMB 1
40 Boing children/teen channel, cartoons. Mediaset and Turner 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Mediaset 2
41 K2 children channel, cartoons. Also FTA on digital satellite. Switchover media 18 hours 4:3 SDTV TIMB 2
42 Rai Gulp children channel. Also FTA on digital satellite. RAI 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Rai Mux B
43 Rai YoYo children/teen channel. RAI 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Rai Mux 3
44 Frisbee children/teen channel. Also FTA on digital satellite. Switchover media 24 hours 4:3 SDTV TIMB 3
48 Rai News all-news channel. Also FTA on digital satellite. RAI 24 hours 4:3 SDTV Rai Mux B
49 Coming Soon Television station focused on film trailers and programs dedicated to cinema. Also FTA on digital satellite. Anica 24 hours 4:3 SDTV Mediaset 2
50 Repubblica Radio TV news, information, talk shows. Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso 24 hours 16:9 SDTV L’Espresso 2
51 TG Mediaset all-news channel, information. Mediaset 24 hours 4:3 SDTV L’Espresso 1
54 Rai Storia documentaries focused on history. Also FTA on digital satellite. RAI 24 hours 4:3 SDTV Rai Mux B
57 Rai Sport 1 sport channel. Also FTA on digital satellite. RAI 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Rai Mux B
58 Rai Sport 2 sport channel. Also FTA on digital satellite. RAI 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Rai Mux B
59 POKER Italia24 poker channel. Also FTA on digital satellite. Gruppo De Agostini 24 hours 4:3 SDTV L’Espresso 1
60 Sportitalia 24 hour sport channel. Also on digital satellite via Sky subscription. Holland Coordinator & Service Company Interactive Group 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Tivuitalia
61 Sportitalia 2 24 hour sport channel. Also on digital satellite via Sky subscription. Holland Coordinator & Service Company Interactive Group 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Tivuitalia
62 Sportitalia 24 24 hour sport news channel. Holland Coordinator & Service Company Interactive Group 24 hours 4:3 SDTV Tivuitalia
66 Radio Capri TelevisiON 24hour radio music station. Television Broadcasting System 24 hours 4:3 SDTV Omega
67 MTV Music 24 hour music and youth entertainment channel. Also on digital satellite via Sky subscription. Telecom Italia Media 24 hours 16:9 SDTV TIMB 3
68 Play.me Tv 24 hour music television. DaDa 24 hours 4:3 SDTV various
69 Virgin Radio TV 24hour radio music station and entertainment. Gruppo Finelco 24 hours 16:9 SDTV various
70 Radio Italia TV 24 hour italian music. Gruppo Radio Italia 24 hours 16:9 SDTV L’Espresso 2
104 Rete 4 +1 time-shifted version of Rete 4. Mediaset 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Mediaset 6
105 Canale 5 +1 time-shifted version of Canale 5. Mediaset 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Mediaset 6
106 Italia 1 +1 time-shifted version of Italia 1. Mediaset 24 hours 16:9 SDTV Mediaset 6
109 Deejay TV +2 time-shifted version of Deejay TV. Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso 24 hours 16:9 SDTV L’Espresso 2
120 Neko tv japanese manga and anime culture, videogames. Neko Tv 24 hours 4:3 SDTV Alpha
122 Capri store home shopping channel. Television Broadcasting System 24 hours 4:3 SDTV Omega
177 Odeon 24 generalist channel. Odeon TV 24 hours 4:3 SDTV various
180 Supertennis tennis channel. Also FTA on digital satellite Supertennis 24 hours 4:3 SDTV various
222 Nuvolari car and motor channel. Also FTA on digital satellite Sitcom 24 hours 4:3 SDTV various
285 Anime Gold japanese anime channel. 7 Gold 24 hours 4:3 SDTV various
501 Rai HD Rai programs in HD RAI 24 hours 16:9 HDTV Rai Mux 4
505 Canale 5 HD Canale 5 in HD upscaling Mediaset 24 hours 16:9 HDTV Mediaset 6
506 Italia 1 HD Italia 1 in HD upscaling Mediaset 24 hours 16:9 HDTV Mediaset 6
507 La7 HD La7 in HD Telecom Italia Media 24 hours 16:9 HDTV TIMB 4
529 La7 Test 3D Test channel of La7 in 3D Telecom Italia Media 24 hours 16:9 3DTV TIMB 4

Digital (pay tv)

Mediaset Premium

  • Premium Cinema: blockbuster movies.
  • Premium Cinema Emotion: movies.
  • Premium Cinema Energy: action movies.
  • Studio Universal: movies.
  • Joi: tv series.
  • Joi+1: time shifted version of Joi.
  • Mya: tv series.
  • Mya+1: time shifted version of Mya.
  • Steel: tv series.
  • Steel+1: time shifted version of Steel.
  • Discovery World: documentaries
  • BBC Knowledge: documentaries
  • Disney Channel: children channel.
  • Disney Channel+1: time shifted version of Disney Channel.
  • Disney Channel: small children channel.
  • Cartoon Network: cartoons.
  • Hiro: japanese anime, cartoons.
  • Premium Calcio (from 1 to 6): football channels, matches.
  • Premium Extra 1: live reality/talent show channel.
  • Premium Extra 2: live reality/talent show channel, extended versions of reality shows.
  • Moto GP Premium:

Europa 7 HD

  • Fly
  • Sentimental HD
  • Horror HD
  • Classic HD
  • Action HD
  • Family HD

Digital satellite only (free to air)

Digital satellite (pay tv)

Sky Italia

News Corporation for Sky Italia

  • Sky Uno
  • Sky Uno +1
  • Sky TG24
  • Sky TG24 Eventi
  • Sky TG24 Meteo
  • Sky TG24 Primo Piano
  • Sky TG24 Rassegne
  • Sky Calcio (from 1 to 14)
  • Sky Supercalcio
  • Sky Cinema 1
  • Sky Cinema +1
  • Sky Cinema +24
  • Sky Cinema Classics
  • Sky Cinema Family
  • Sky Cinema Hits
  • Sky Cinema Italia
  • Sky Cinema Mania
  • Sky Cinema Max
  • Sky Cinema Max +1
  • Sky Sport 1
  • Sky Sport 2
  • Sky Sport 3
  • Sky Sport 24

AXN

  • AXN/AXN HD
  • AXN +1
  • AXN Sci-Fi

Chello Zone

  • Jimjam
  • Caccia e pesca
  • Caccia e pesca +
  • Zone Fantasy

Class editori

  • Class Cnbc


De Agostini Editore

  • DeAKids
  • DeAKids +1
  • DeASuper!

Digicast

  • Dove Travel & Trends Tv
  • Lei
  • Yacht & Sail

Discovery Networks Europe

  • Animal Planet
  • Discovery Channel
  • Discovery Channel +1
  • Discovery Science
  • Discovery Travel e Living

Walt Disney Television Italia

  • Disney Channel
  • Disney Channel +1
  • Disney XD
  • Disney XD +1
  • Playhouse Disney
  • Playhouse Disney +1
  • Toon Disney
  • Toon Disney +1

Elemedia

  • My Deejay
  • Onda Latina

ESPN

  • ESPN America
  • ESPN Classic Sport

Eurosport Italia

FOX International Channels Italy

  • Cult
  • Fox/Fox HD
  • Fox +1
  • Fox +2
  • Fox Crime/Fox Crime HD
  • Fox Crime +1
  • Fox Crime +2
  • Fox Life/Fox Life HD
  • Fox Life +1
  • Fox Life +2
  • Fox Retro
  • FX
  • History Channel
  • History Channel +1
  • Nat Geo Adventure
  • National Geographic Channel
  • National Geographic Channel +1
  • NatGeo Music
  • NatGeo Wild

Giglio Group

  • Music Box
  • Live!

Mediaset

  • Mediaset Plus

MTV-Viacom

  • Comedy Central
  • Comedy +1
  • MTV Classic
  • MTV Dance
  • MTV Hits
  • MTV Rocks
  • Nickelodeon
  • Nickelodeon +1
  • Nick Jr

NBC Universal Global Networks Italia

  • Hallmark

News Corporation

  • Babel Tv
  • Fox News Channel
  • Sky news

Rock Tv

  • Hip Hop Tv
  • Rock Tv

Sitcom

  • Alice
  • Arturo
  • Leonardo
  • Marcopolo

Switchover Media

  • GXT
  • GXT +1

Turner Broadcasting System

Others

  • Classica
  • CNN International
  • Cooltoon
  • Current
  • E! Entertainment
  • Easy baby
  • Gambero Rosso Channel
  • Inter Channel
  • Juventus Channel
  • La3
  • Lady Channel
  • Man-ga
  • Match music
  • Milan Channel
  • MGM Channel
  • Moto Tv
  • Roma Channel
  • Snaisat
  • Video Italia
  • Voce
  • Wedding Tv
  • Primocanale Liguria: Liguria-based regional station focused on news.
  • Italia 7 Toscana: Tuscany-based regional station.
  • Videolina Sat: Sardinia-based regional station.
  • TG Norba 24: Puglia-based regional 24hour news and information station.

Most viewed channels

The Auditel measures television ratings in Italy. The two most watched channels are still Rai 1 and Canale 5 which together share 40% of the audience. Following these in terms of ratings are Rai 2 and Mediaset's Italia 1 with 18% of total share and finally a third group of stations made up of Rai 3 and Rete 4 which together reach 15% of tv ratings. Apart from the seventh ex analogue television La7 with a market share of 3-4%. All the six Rai and Mediaset generalist channels had a slightly lower daily audience in 2010 compared with previous years, while News Corporation's pay tv platform called Sky Italia (with its channels like Fox, Fox Crime, Sky Cinema and Sky Sport), nationwide channel La7 owned by Telecom Italia Media and several new free-to-air digital stations (like Boing, Rai 4, IRIS, La5, Real Time, K2, Rai Premium, La7D, Cielo) are increasing in ratings day by day. The channels with a viewing share of >= 1.0% according to Auditel's measurements in September 2010 are:[17]

Position Channel Launch date Owner 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
1 Rai 1 1954 RAI 22.86 22.99 22.33 21.80 20.63 19.86
2 Canale 5 1980 Mediaset 21.82 20.96 20.67 20.33 20.50 18.78
3 Rai 2 1961 RAI 11.29 11.27 10.38 10.60 8.90 9.02
4 Italia 1 1982 Mediaset 11.48 11.09 11.18 10.83 10.68 9.22
5 Rai 3 1979 RAI 9.11 9.31 9.06 9.07 8.46 7.75
6 Rete 4 1982 Mediaset 8.63 8.22 8.68 8.28 7.47 6.79
7 La7 2001 Telecom Italia Media 2.71 3.02 2.97 3.08 2.90 3.67
8 Boing 2005 Mediaset (51%), TBSE (49%) <1.00 <1.00 <1.00 <1.00 <1.00 1.27

See also

References

  1. ^ "Country profile: Italy". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
  2. ^ Pidd, Helen (209-01-01). "Web worldwide: UK housewives love it, Chinese use it most, Danes are least keen". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-03-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Our new digital friend? We now trust online news as we trust TV and newspapers". TNS US. 2008-12-15. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
  4. ^ "SWITCH OFF FOR 2012". 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
  5. ^ "EU wants Italy to clarify frequency distribution rules". Broadband TV News. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
  6. ^ "Digitale Terrestre Parte in Sardegna lo switch-off" (in Italian). NonSoloCinema. 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
  7. ^ "RAI and Mediaset plan Italian freesat Broadband TV News". Broadband TV News. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
  8. ^ "Legge 103/75 Nuove norme in materia di diffusione radiofonica e televisiva" (in Italian). Agcom. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
  9. ^ "Revenues fall at Sky Italia". Broadband TV News. 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
  10. ^ via Fastweb, Telecom Italia and Wind Optic fiber and ADSL lines.
  11. ^ "Nagra renews Mediaset Premium". Broadband TV News. 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  12. ^ Only some channels and services offered via Telecom Italia and Fastweb Optic fiber and ADSL lines.
  13. ^ DVB-T2 standard only.
  14. ^ . Broadband TV News. 2009-03-04 http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=14965. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ^ "Fastweb makes first ever profit". Broadband TV News. 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  16. ^ few videos aired in 16:9 anamorphic widescreen
  17. ^ "Sintesi Mensile 1A Emittenti Nazionali" (PDF). Auditel. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
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