At least this is what an article on Italian news website La Repubblica states today, complete with a headline that alludes to the fact that eliminating Sky is ‘secret’ Italian government policy. The article claims that cutting Murdoch’s right to show the main three Italian state TV channels would be something of a blow to Sky in Italy.
Legislation created under the Prodi government specifically gave other broadcasters the option to transmit Italian state TV programming to ensure that Italian citizens would always have access to public television channels. This is because in some areas of Italy television reception is not so good, which means that satellite based systems are virtually obligatory.
That Sky helped out Rai may be about to change, and something about this affair smells a little iffy, which is most probably why the moves afoot have been kept rather secret. Until today, that is.
Sky Distributed Rai
Rupert Murdoch’s Sky Italy took up the option provided by the Prodi government legislation, and tacked the three public Rai channels onto his pay tv offering. Now though, Sky’s contract is just about up for renewal, and it looks as though efforts are being made to ensure that Sky will no longer be able to provide this service, which, by all accounts, generated an income of something like 57 million Euros per year for Italy’s state broadcaster.
Great, you might think. This means that Italy’s state broadcaster will save 57 million Euros. Well, no, not exactly.
You see, somebody who just happens:
- to have family ties to Sky’s arch rival Mediaset,
- to know that his family company, Mediaset, has recently set up an alliance with Rai (a new channel called Tivusat),
- to be somewhat displeased with overseas press coverage of his recent shenanigans, including extensive mentions in Murdoch owned media,
and,
- is the Prime Minister of Italy,
will probably ensure that the 57 million that was paid by Murdoch’s Sky to Italy’s Rai, will be redirected into Mediaset coffers. That not so mysterious somebody is, of course, none other than Silvio Berlusconi.
A case of using political power for personal ends? No, perish the thought.
It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall in Rupert Murdoch’s office at the moment, would it not?
Source:
La Repubblica online, 5 August 2009 – in Italian: Il piano segreto del governo “Tutta la Rai via da Murdoch” – The government’s secret plan “All of Rai to be kept away from Murdoch”
John Gieson says
I have just come back from Rome – my first trip to Italy. I was very excited to go as I had heard great things about the food and culture. Sadly, I was massively disappointed. I have never been swindled so many times in my life. Even the Vatican charges disabled people an extra 2 euro to go up an elevator to the Vatican dome. The Italian food was a total joke. My 12 euro spaghetti with meat sauce had less meat in it than a 99 p Mcdonalds hamburger. I actually did a test when I got back to the UK and a Tesco Italian frozen meal tastes better than ‘the real thing’. If Italy has good food, they must be hiding it somewhere. I found the whole of Rome to be a giant con, they seem like an exceptionally lazy and corrupt people. Just like the Italian designer clothes, all style and no substance. The experience has sadly tainted my view of Italians.
Alex_Roe says
Sorry to hear about your negative experience of Rome. If you ever do consider coming back to Italy, then head for somewhere off the beaten tourist track – like La Marche or Abruzzo, for example.
Italian food is very good, but, as in many other countries, you have to know where to go to get the best cooking. Complaints about lacklustre food in Rome are commonplace – Italians don’t think foreigners know what good food is, so some, though by no means all, will serve up whatever they can get away with. Such places would not last 2 seconds in any real Italian town.
Did not know about the Vatican’s disabled persons surcharge – a bit of a no-no, I would say.
What you and I see as laziness and corruption are not regarded as such by many Italians. The culture is different here.
I think you will ever return to Italy, stop off in Milan, and I’ll introduce you to some wonderful Italians, and I know quite a few.
Let’s hope that Rome cleans up its act, and that we hear that something is being done.
Best regards,
Alex
Alex_Roe says
Hi DM,
Yes, it may look like an abuse of power, but that’s how Italy works. Not so much abuse as being ‘furbo’ https://italychronicles.com/interesting-italian-word-furbo/
One other thing you need to understand is that Italy’s State TV channel is very much run by the state. This means that what is reported by Rai is, er, determined, by Italy’s government. Nothing like the BBC, for example.
Italy’s journalists have tried to tackle the freedom of the press issue in Italy, but its a sticky subject. Bruno Vespa is part of that sticky subject, except he’s oily!
Thanks for commenting.
Best regards,
Alex
DM says
If it is how you have described this is a disgusting abuse of power.
That said Rai is not a responsible public broadcaster so perhaps the news won’t really be missed. Skys own Italian news service is much better.
On the topic the head of news at Rai should be strung up for treason for not broadcasting to the Italian public factual uncensored news of public interest.
The journalists and news director should be held accountable for their cowardess and failure in their choosen profession. Bruno Vespa should be the first one to be called out for years of failure.