Sopranos Star James Gandolfini Dies in Rome
Sadly, James Gandolfini, 51, the mafia boss star of hit US television series The Sopranos died yesterday while on vacation in Rome. The cause of death is not yet clear, though Italy’s press is reporting that Gandolfini suffered a heart attack. Gandolfini was to have participated in the Taormina Film Fest in Sicily om June 22. Multiple […]
Italy’s Delta Force
Although not directly comparable to the legendary American special forces unit of the same name, Italy’s delta force did specialise in clandestine operations by all accounts. It did not battle international terrorists or despotic regimes, though. In actual fact it probably did the opposite. Some in Italy would argue that Italy’s delta force was employed […]
Bye Bye Vieni Via Con Me, Thanks Roberto Saviano and Fabio Fazio
Last night the final of four instalments of Vieni Via Con Me, an Italian television programme designed to shed some light on contemporary Italy, was shown.
Vieni Via Con Me, which was presented by anti-mafia activist and author Roberto Saviano and socially aware chat show host Fabio Fazio was watched by 8.7 million Italians lat night. In total not far short of 40 million Italian viewers tuned into this programme which risked being banned.
Vieni Via Con Me, Lega Nord and the mafia
Those not in the Living Museum might not have heard of a new Italian television programme called ‘Vieni Via Con Me’, – which is ‘Come Away With Me’ in English. However just about everyone in the whole of Italy has heard of this new show now. On Monday this week, some 10 million Italians tuned in to see this new programme which is an attempt to portray the high and low points of life and society in contemporary Italy.
When Digital Television is not Digital
For a long time I thought we were lucky enough to have the new fangled, all singing and dancing, much vaunted digital television. No silly little set top box for us, or so I thought.
Mike Bongiorno – the Quiz Show Host who United Italy
I’ve no idea how many people outside of Italy have heard the name Mike Bongiorno, or may even know that he recently passed away. I would not imagine either, that many would believe that a television personality is credited with uniting Italy.
Rai to rattle Sky?
Within Italy’s Berlusconi government Moves are apparently afoot to stop Murdoch’s Sky from broadcasting Italy’s public TV channels, RaiUno, RaiDue and RaiTre.
Murdoch’s Sky Italy versus The Berlusconi’s Mediaset
Once upon a time Murdoch and Berlusconi were ‘business buddies’, to quote the words used in an article which appeared in Time magazine back in February this year.
Italy’s Top TV Earners
There is a minor storm in a small teacup over the salaries paid to some of Italy’s public television personalities in these belt tightening times. ‘Public television’ in Italy refers to the partially state funded RAI channels, which receive income from an annual licence fee and lots and lots of commercial breaks.
