Italy

1
Italy

• From Radio Audizioni Italia (1946) to Silvio
  Berlusconis Mediaset

2
1975

• Television in Italy consisted of 3 national
  PUBLIC stations, which were partitioned to the
  major political parties (lottizzazione)

3
RAI Uno

• Dominated by the Christian Democrats

4
RAI Due

• Dominated by the Socialists

5
RAI Tre

• Dominated by the Communist Party (now the
  Democratic Party of the Left)

6
1976-1984

• RAI had a monopoly of national broadcasting, but
  LOCAL broadcasting was permitted
  
• In the early 1980s Silvio Berlusconi brought up
  local stations throughout Italy and provided a
  common schedule

7
1984

• Berlusconi owned three linkages that IN FACT
  amounted to 3 national channels
  
• CANALE 5
• RETE 4
• ITALIA 1

8
Broadcasting Act of 1990

• Placed a limit on the number of networks that
  could be privately owned at 3, legitimizing
  Berlusconis ownership of 3 national channels

9
1994

• Forza Italia (a totally new political party) was
  formed by Berlusconi 3 months before the national
  election
  
• Forza Italia won and Berlusconi became prime
  minister
  
• His government collapsed in 8 months

10
2001 to the Present

• Berlusconis party won the national election in
  May, 2001 and he became Prime Minister again

11
Controversies

• What can happen when the political power of, for
  example, George Bush is united with the media
  control of Rupert Murdoch with the wealth of Ross
  Perot or Steve Forbes in the same person?

12
Conflicts of Interest

• The media and the business empire

13
Corruption Charges

• The statute of limitations keeps running out
• Except for the SME case
• Laws are passed to give him immunity from
  prosecution while in office

14
Controversial Statements

• On Islamic Culture
• On Mussolini
• On available Nazi roles
• On the homeless following the April 2009
  earthquake

15
Free Press Issues

• Media control and censorship
• Resignations and firings
• Visit to U.S. in February 2006 (getting around
  campaign laws)
  
• Libel suits
• Against The Economist
• not fit to govern Italy
• Against David Lane
• Berlusconis Shadow
• Against Alexander Stille
• The Sack of Rome

16
April 2006

• Berlusconis party loses the election
• But he refuses to step down
• Romano Prodi becomes prime minister againNew
  Legislation Proposed
  
• Conflict of interest law
• New media law
• 45 ceiling on advertising for any one
  broadcaster
  
• RAI and Mediaset must transfer one of their
  analog channels to digital, making 2 channels
  free for new investors
  

17
Murdoch Steps Up to InvestBerlusconi in the News
Again
18
Prodi Resigns
19
Prodi Given Chance to Form New Government

• It wasnt love or even any real faith that they
  could stick together long. Rather, it seems, a
  singular frightening thought pushed nine
  bickering parties to agree . . . To come together
  again that Silvio Berlusconi might soon lead
  Italy again. NYT, 2/24/07

20
Italian Elections April 2008

• Berlusconi becomes Prime Minister for the third
  time