RAI’s latest spot of bother

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As if competing with Silvio Berlusconi’s Mediaset empire isn’t enough to have on its plate, Italian state-broadcaster RAI is now facing a double whammy of a funding crisis.

RAI is facing the financial music because it has emerged that it will end this year some €73m in the red. And RAI is no BBC - able to ride the waves and insulated from the storms of an advertising downturn. Worse, RAI’s governing council director general Mauro Masi says RAI’s financial outlook – and losses - will escalate.

RAI is also suffering political dark looks from premier Berlusconi who is bitter over the broadcaster’s fresh revelations over the Prime Minister’s tacky relationships with call-girls. Last Thursday, RAI’s flagship political slot (“Annozero”) featured one of the ladies.

Berlusconi said if the programme was found to have overstepped its public service mandate then a fine of up to 3% of its revenues could follow.



Source:RapidTVNews