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Mass media: broadcasting
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Mass media: broadcasting
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For a time in the early '80s, Italian TV seemed to go bonkers, not unlike its political system. A large number of unauthorised channels sprang up, many of which went down the route of inviting any women to appear on TV and strip. There seemed to be an endless supply of women willing to do so and, of course, an endless supply of viewers. The more tasteful end of these channels' programming included strip poker and imported American products and huge numbers of adverts. As a result, the state channels lost viewers rapidly. In other parts of Europe, there was a mild panic as politicians began to wonder if deregulation must necessarily mean going down the Italian route.
Since then, the 1991 Broadcasting Act has tidied things up somewhat. There are now limitations on cross-media ownership, which has limited Berlusconi's activities somewhat. Advertising is now limited. Adult movies may not be shown before 22.30. Nevertheless, Italian TV remains the least regulated of any European country, with three state channels, five commercial networks and over a thousand local stations.
The existing channels are:
RAI is the state-run service. Although founded on Reithian principles, the station actually has no notion of 'impartiality' in news coverage and each of the RAI channels is dominated by a political party and consequently presents current affairs from that party's standpoint. In 2001, Berusconi became Prime Minister. As he already owned three Mediaset channels, political patronage in RAI would give him indirect control of 95% of television output.
RAI channels 1 and 2 present pretty mainstream entertainment. The Communist-dominated RAI 3 is rather more 'intellectual' and has, surprisingly vastly increased its audience share over recent years.
There has been considerable growth in 'truth television' where personalities in the news are interviewed using lie detectors, live coverage from the law courts is broadcast and political scandals are featured heavily.
Types of broadcasting system
De Fleur's model of the taste-differentiated audience
Public Service broadcasting
Broadcasting in the EU
Broadcasting in France
Broadcasting in Germany
Broadcasting in Holland
Broadcasting in the UK
Regulation of the media in the UK
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