SAT-ITALY 26.12.1997

from: owner-sat-italy@tags1.dn.net
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 12:11:20 +0100
SAT-ITALY - EDITION 48/97 - December 26th 1997 -
Italian Satellite and Media news edited by Branislav Pekic

A very Happy New Year to all subscribers of SAT-ITALY
- Buon Anno Nuovo a  tutti gli abbonati alla mailing list SAT-ITALY.


ITALIAN TV  BEFORE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE
The European Commission in Brussels has decided on December 18th to start
proceedings against Italy at the European Court of Justice because Italy
has continued to ignore EU warnings for not applying the EU broadcasting
norms. In an official communique, the EU said that the Italian government
has not fullfilled it's obligations in accordance with the Treaty of Rome
and the EU directive "Television without frontiers". These norms regard the
"promotion of European produced programs" in accordance with article 4,
"the promotion of independently produced programs" in accordance with
article 5, as well as precise rules for  broadcasting advertisements and TV
promotions. In fact, article 11 of the EU directive states that a movie can
be interrupted only every 45 minutes by advertising (more than once if the
film in total lasts more than 110 minutes).
The response of the Italian government has been one of admitting part of
the blame, but also promising that new legislation will be more
restrictive. The undersecretary at the Ministry of posts and
telecommunications, Vincenzo Vita said that the EU accusations in fact
regard the situation under the old Broadcasting bill from 1990, which is in
fact contrary in many aspects to EU legislation. He added that the
situation is set to change after the Broadcasting reform takes place.
- La Unione Europea ha denunciato l'Italia alla Corte di giustizia per il
mancato recepimento della direttiva "TV senza frontiere". Questo riguarda
la "promozione della diffusione di opere europee, opere di produttori
indipendenti e la disciplina degli spot pubblicitari". In materia di
interruzioni dei film, la EU accusa la normativa italiana di consentire un
numero di interruzioni maggiore di quello previsto dalle regole comunitarie
(puo' essere effettuata una sola interruzione per ogni periodo di
programmazione di 45 minuti). Il sottosegretario al Ministero delle poste e
telecommunicazioni, Vincenzo Vita ha detto che le accuse della EU
riguardano la vecchia legge Mammi, e per questo il governo sta cambiando la
legge che sarra più restritiva. 


FORMENTI BUYS SELECO 
The Italian company Formenti based in Lissone (near Milan) has bought the
electronics manufacturer Seleco from Pordenone which was declared bankrupt
back in April. The price payed for Seleco (and subsidiaries Brionvega and
Tamberg) amounts to around 26 million DM. Formenti also took over Seleco's
33% stake in the joint-venture company Seleco Italtel Multimedia which is
one of the leading producers of digital satellite receivers in Italy. The
CEO of Formenti, Giovanni Formenti announced his company plans to invest
more than 70 million DM in the new venture over a three year period.
- Il gruppo Formenti di Lissone (Milano) ha acquistato Seleco, l'azienda
pordenonese di televisori dichiarata fallita il aprile scorso. La Formenti
ha pagato 26,52 milliardi per i stabilimenti, le marche Brionvega, Tamberg
e Seleco e anche la partecipazione del 33% che l'azienda pordenonese
possedeva in Seleco Italtel Multimedia (uno dei principali produttori di
ricevitori satellitari digitali in Italia). 


CHANGE OF COURSE FOR TMC
The third largest Italian TV company, Cecchi Gori Group which controls the
TMC and TMC2 TV channels in currently undergoing a major facelift. In
September, Biagio Agnes, ex-RAI and Stet, was named as the new president of
the media group owned by the major Italian film producer Vittorio Cecchi
Gori. A few days ago, the TV holding company was renamed as Cecchi Gori
Group Media Holding.
The principal short-term goal is to resolve the financial problems of the
TV channels which reported losses of more than 50 million DM during 1996
(this year will also close with heavy losses). If these efforts succeed,
this will certainly have a major effect on the shareholding structure of
the TV group. In fact, 90% of the two TMC channels (Vittorio Cecchi Gori's
stake) is under pawn at Banco di Roma, while the remaining 10% is held by
public broadcaster RAI.
- Vittorio Cecchi Gori ha iniziato a mettere ordine nelle sue attività
televisive. A settembre è arrivato il nuovo presidente della Cecchi Gori
Group, Biagio Agnes, ex-direttore generale della Rai e ex-presidente della
Stet. L'obiettivo per il 1998 è riportare in pareggio i conti di
Telemontecarlo, che, dopo le perdite per oltre 50 miliardi nel 1996, anche
quest'anno chiuderà con un pesante passivo. L'eventuale risanamento della
tv potrebbe consentire di sbloccare anche la situazione azionaria. Infatti
il 90% di Tmc (la quota di Cecchi Gori) risulta in pegno alla Banca di
Roma, l'altro 10% è invece in portafoglio alla Rai. 


WEB TV ARRIVES IN ITALY
After making a succesfull debut in the U.S., Web TV is planning to conquer
Europe. Web TV is in fact a California based company which offers the
possibility of receiving Internet services via your normal TV set. The
set-top-box which links up to the television is produced under license by
Philips, Sony and Matsushita.
This innovative venture is also soon coming to Italy. Microsoft Italia has
already contacted the cable operator Stream and major Internet provider
Telecom Italia Net in view of setting up a joint venture in this field. At
the recent electronics fair Smau held in Milan, Stream demonstrated the
possibilities of surfing the Internet via the TV, by using a set top box
produced in France (NetBox made by NetGem). The Rome based electronics
manufacturer Exhibit will soon start sales of the first 2,000 set-top-box
(priced at less than 1,000 DM) which are made by Teknema. The navigation
browser is easy to use and can be programmed to work with any Internet
provider.
- La Web TV si prepara a conquistare l'Italia. Microsoft Italia, Stream,
TIN si preparanno a sviluppare insieme le infrastrutture e i contenuti di
questo nuovo servizio. In occasione della recente edizione di Smau, Stream
ha presentato i risultati di una prova basata sul set top box di produzione
francese NetBox.
Nei prossimi giorni, l'operatore romano Exhibit comincerà a vendere i primi
set-top box (costruiti in California da Teknema) proposti a meno di un
millione di lire.


NEWS IN BRIEF
- During 1997, the major Italian TV channels have reported an increase of
9% in advertising, with Mediaset earning 3,000 million DM and RAI 1,600
million DM. Television takes up 58,2% of the global advertising cake.
- A recent study conducted by merchant bank Goldman and Sachs has
recommended that the private TV holding company Mediaset "develop a new
target of viewers (age group 45-54 years).
- Stream, Telecom Italia and the Cselt institute in Torino are working
together on an experimental project called Endeavour for developing cable
modems which enable high-speed reception and transmission of data.


PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS ON RAI TV CHANNELS FOR WEEK DECEMBER 28-JANUARY 3
(All times Central European)
MOVIES
28.XII
RAI TRE, 20:25h - Dances with wolves (USA-1990), starring: Kevin Costner,
Mary McDonell
RAI UNO, 20:45h - Don Juan de Marco (USA-1995), starring: Marlon Brando,
Johnny Depp
RAI DUE, 00:05h - IP 5 (France-1991), starring: Yves Montand, Olivier Martinez
29.XII
RAI UNO, 20:40h - Ben Hur (USA-1959), starring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins
RAI DUE, 00:25h - Tutti i giorni e domenica (France-1995), starring:
Maurizio Nichetti, Thierry Lhermitte
30.XII
RAI TRE, 20:45h - Who framed Roger Rabbit? (USA-1988), starring: Bob
Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd
RAI DUE, 20:50h - Mad Dog and Glory (USA-1993), starring: Robert de Niro,
Bill Murray, Uma Thurman
RAI DUE, 22:50h - Il piccolo punk (USA-1993), animated feature film
RAI DUE, 00:40h - Beastmaster 2 (USA-1991), starring: Marc Singer, Kari Wuhrer
31.XII
RAI UNO, 21:00h - Robin Hood (USA-1973), animated feature film from the
Walt Disney studio
RAI DUE, 21:25h - L'anno prossimo..vado a letto alle dieci (Italy-1995),
starring: Angelo Orlando, Ricky Memphis
RAI TRE, 00:30h - Professione:reporter (Italy-1974), starring: Jack
Nicholson, Maria Schneider
RAI DUE, 01:00h - Agenzia Riccardo Finzi practicamente detective
(Italy-1979), starring: Renato Pozzetto
1.I.1998
RAI TRE, 20:45h - The Neverending story 3 (Germany/USA-1995), starring;
Jason James Richter, Melody Kay
RAI DUE, 20:50h - Fatherhood (USA-1993), starring: Patrick Swayze, Sabrina
Lloyd
2.I
RAI TRE, 20:25h - Harper (USA-1966), starring: Paul Newman, Lauren Bacall
RAI UNO, 20:40h - The Pagemaster (USA-1994), starring: Macaulay Culkin,
Christoper Lloyd
RAI UNO, 22:35h - Ivanhoe (USA-1952), starring: Robert Taylor, Elizabeth
Taylor
RAI TRE, 22:55h - Hannah and her sisters (USA-1986), starring: Mia Farrow,
Michael Caine
RAI DUE, 00:25h - Personal vendetta (USA-1994), starring: Mimi Lesssecs,
Timothy Bottoms
3.I
RAI TRE, 20:15h - Excalibur (USA/Ireland-1981), starring: Nigel Terry,
Nicol Williamson
RAI DUE, 20:50h - Midnight flight (USA-1996), starring: Robert Burke,
Leslie Malton
RAI UNO, 00:35h - Limelight (USA-1952), starring: Charlie Chaplin, Claire
Bloom
RAI DUE, 00:55h - Suppli (Italy-1994), starring; France Demoulin, Fulvio
Falzarano

Note:	All movies transmitted in the prime time slot are subtitled on RAI's
teletext pages 777 (Italian) and 778 (English)

SPORT
28.XII
RAI TRE, 09:55h - Alpine skiing: World cup, special slalom (women), 1st run
RAI TRE, 12:25h - Alpine skiing: World cup, special slalom (women), 2nd run
29.XII
RAI DUE, 18:45h - Alpine skiing: Centenary slalom, live from Sestriere
30.XII
RAI TRE, 16:10h - Basketball (women): Italian league, Famila Schio-Cariparma
RAI DUE, 18:45h - Alpine skiing: Centenary slalom, live from Sestriere
RAI UNO, 20:40h - Football: Inter-Auxerre (friendly)
31.XII
RAI TRE, 15:25h - Volleyball: European championship qualifiers, Italy-France
2.I.1998
RAI TRE, 15:40h - Athletics: 23 international San Silvestro race, from Bolzano
3.I
RAI TRE, 15:15h - Volleyball: Italian league

MUSIC
30.XII
RAI TRE, 22:55h - Caro amico Elvis - documentary on Elvis Presley
31.XII
RAI UNO, 22:30h - La notte degli angeli - New Year's eve special live from
Assisi. Taking part are:  Francesco de Gregori, Dario Fo, Lucio Dalla
RAI DUE, 23:05h - Speciale Capodanno - New Year's eve special live from
Naples 
1.I.1998
RAI UNO, 12:15h - New Year's day concert from Vienna
RAI TRE, 22:55h - 40 years of  rock n'roll, from Wembley stadium in London


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