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SAT-ITALY 19.12.1997




SAT-ITALY - EDITION 47/97 - December 19th 1997 -
Italian Satellite and Media news edited by Branislav Pekic

I want to take the opportunity to wish all subscribers to the SAT-ITALY
mailing list a very merry Christmas. The program highlights section this
week is a bit bigger than usual due to the holiday programming on the
Italian TV channels. 
- Auguri per Natale a  tutti gli abbonati di lingua italiana alla mailing
list SAT-ITALY.

MEDIASET PREPARES TO LAUNCH IN AMERICAS
As we announced several weeks ago, the private Italian TV holding company
Mediaset has started expanding into the Americas. According to a press
release, Mediaset is getting ready to launch a TV channel in Argentina
called Ciao TV. The new channel is set to start broadcasting on March 31st
and will also be transmitted via satellite to Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile.
Nearly Mediaset will supply 90% of the programs aired, with only 10% of the
programming produced locally. 
It has also been announced that during the first half of 1998, Mediaset
will launch a separate channel aimed at viewers in the U.S.A. The
unofficial name of the new channel is Italian American Broadcasting Company
and tests are currently under way on cable systems in the New York area.
Mediaset's new channel will be transmitted in digital mode via satellite
and will broadcast a selection of programs from its 3 TV channels (Canale
5, Italia 1 and Rete 4).
- Mediaset ha dato l'annuncio della nascita di Ciao TV in Argentina.
L'inzio delle trasmissioni sara' il 31 marzo, ed e' prevista una rapida
espansione verso Uruguay, Paraguay, Cile, grazie al satellite. I programmi
saranno per il 90% forniti da Mediaset e per il restante 10% prodotti nella
regione. Anche i telespettatori americani avranno il loro canale Mediaset.
Si chiamerà Italian American Broadcasting Company e già in corso un
servizio esperimentale via cavo nella città di New York. Il nuovo canale
trasmetterà via satellite in digitale una selezione degli migliori
programmi delle reti Mediaset (Canale 5, Italia 1 e Rete 4).


ITALIAN SATELLITE MARKET
According to a recent survey conducted by Demoskopea, in Italy there are
currently 950,000 households equipped with a direct-to-home (DTH) satellite
system or connected to a central antenna system for a block of flats (SMATV
system). This means that penetration figures for satellite TV amounts to 4,8%.
Official figures from Telepiù show that there are currently 160,000
subscribers to the digital bouquet D+, which means that Italy is Europe's
second market for digital TV, after France where there are already 600,000
subscribers to the three separate digital bouquets. On average, every day
there are 1,000 new subscribers for the digital service. Kagan World Media
estimates that by the year 2006, 22,5% of Italian households (around
5,140,000 families) will subscribe to the new digital satellite and cable
channels.
- Secondo una ricerca della Demoskopea, in Italia ci sono gia 950,000
abitazioni dotate di antenne paraboliche individuali e di sistemi di
ricezioni collettivi. Sono circa 160,000 gli abbonati al bouquet digitale
Telepiù D+. Grazie a questa cifra, Italia è il secondo mercato per la TV
digitale in Europa dopo la Francia (circa 600,000 abbonnati). Ogni giorni
in Italia ci sono circa 1,000 nuovi abbonnamenti alla TV digitale. Secondo
Kagan World Media, entro il 2006, 5,140,000 famiglie avranno accesso alla
TV digitale via satellite o via cavo.


SATELLITE TV FOR ROME AIRPORTS
A new information service intended primarily for passengers at Rome's two
major airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino recently made its debut. Both
airports have in fact become production sets for Marco Polo, a thematic
satellite channel dedicated to travel and tourism which forms part of
Telepiù's D+ package transmitted via the 13 degrees East orbital position.
In cooperation with the company in charge of running the above mentioned
airports, Marco Polo is producing a daily program called "Reportage" with
travel news, tips and other facts essential for tourists. The program also
gives a behind the scenes look at events; day to day activities that takes
place at the airports.
- E' partito un nuovo servizio di informazione per chi viaggia in aereo. Il
canale tematico Marcopolo, in collaborazione con la società Aeroporti di
Roma, ha cominciato a realizzare servizi all'interno del programma
"Reportage". Ogni giorno si apre la finestra sugli avvenimenti, le
curiosità e le attività degli aeroporti.


ADVERTISING REVENUES UP FOR RAI
At a press conference held last week, it has been announced that RAI's
profits from TV and radio advertising in 1997 have increased by 12%
compared to figures from 1996. Reacting to recent accusations made by
principal rivals Mediaset that RAI is not fulfilling it's role as a public
broadcaster, Giancarlo Leone, a RAI spokesman presented figures which he
said denied those allegations. According to him, movies, TV series and
entertainment programs make up only 36,9% of RAI TV schedules, while that
type of programming makes up 63,9% of the whole schedule on the Mediaset TV
channels (Canale 5, Italia 1 and Rete 4). Leone added that RAI gives high
priority to news, current affairs programs, culture, sport, children's
programs, which is not the case with Mediaset.
Recent audience figures show that RAI Tre and Mediaset channels have
reported a drop in audience during the primetime slot while RAI Due
viewership is on the increase. In the daytime hours, audience figures have
increased for RAI Due and Canale 5 and decreased for Italia 1 and RAI Tre. 
 - La Sipra, concessionaria di pubblicità Rai, ha realizzato nel '97 un
fatturato superiore del 12% al '96, tra tv e radio. Giancarlo Leone,
responsabile del coordinamento dell'offerta Rai, sottolinea la diversità
nella composizione dei palinsesti e nelle modalità di produzione dei
programmi: ĞL'offerta di spettacolo (film, fiction, intrattenimento) -
sottolinea - è pari al 36,9% delle ore di trasmissioni offerte dalla Rai
rispetto al 63,9% delle ore Mediaset.
Quanto ai dati Auditel, emerge che nel prime time perdono RAI Tre e tutte
le reti Mediaset, ed aumenta RAI Due, mentre nel day time crescono RAI Due
e Canale 5, sono in flessione Italia 1 e RAI Tre. 


CLASSIC MUSIC CHANNEL LAUNCHES
A specialized channel, which shows only classical music, has started
broadcasting as part of Telepiù's digital package D+ as of December 4th.
Classica broadcasts 16 hours a day all types of classical music genres,
from lyric and symphonies to dances. Subscribers also receive 6 audio
channels, which transmit chamber music, operas, symphonies, sacral music
and other classical genres.
- E' operativo il nuovo canale tematico Classica che trasmette 16 ore al
giorno musica classica, dalla lirica alla danza. Gli abbonati hanno a
disposizione anche 6 canali audio. Il canale Classica fa parte del bouquet
digitale Telepiù D+.  


FREE PPV SERVICE FOR LAZIO FANS
Sergio Cragnotti, the president of one of Italy's leading football teams,
Lazio, recently announced that all holders of season tickets for his teams
home matches will receive a free subscription to watch on pay-per-view
Lazio's away tie matches. Fans will get a free subscription to the
Telepiùcalcio service which shows all of Lazio's games live, but they will
have to pay out of their own pocket the cost of the satellite dish and
digital receiver. The digital box can be leased at a price of around 84 DM
or bought for around 1,250 DM. The offer is valid until December 31st.
- Fino al 31 dicembre, i tiffosi della Lazio con abbonamento, avranno la
possibilità di ritirare in omaggio, presso i rivenditori autorizzati, un
abbonamento al servizio pay-per-view Telepiùcalcio per seguire in diretta
TV le partite della squadra biancoceleste. L'abbonamento è gratis ma i
tifosi dovranno pagare l'acquisto della antenna parabolica e del ricevitore
digitale. Quest'ultimo si potrà noleggiare (costo 84,000 lire) oppure
acquistare (prezzo 1,250,000 lire).



PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS ON RAI TV CHANNELS FOR WEEK DECEMBER 21-27
(All times Central European)

MOVIES
21.XII
RAI UNO, 20:45h - Perdiamoci di vista (Italy-1993), starring: Carlo
Verdone, Asia Argento
RAI DUE, 20:50h - Gremlins (USA-1984), starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates
RAI DUE, 00:20h - Il giardino dei ciliegi (Italy-1993), starring; Susan
Strasberg, Barbara de Rossi
22.XII
RAI UNO, 20:50h - Hocus Pocus (USA-1993), starring: Bette Midler, Sarah
Jessica Parker
RAI DUE, 00:35h - Profeta del male (USA-1995), starring: Brian Dennehy,
William Devane
23.XII
RAI UNO, 20:50h - The return of Jafar (USA-1995), animated feature film,
Walt Disney
RAI DUE, 20:50h - Il nostro piccolo angelo (Italy-1997), starring: Jochen
Horst, Chiara Caselli
RAI UNO, 22:00h - The prince and the pauper (USA-1991), animated feature
film, Walt Disney
RAI DUE, 22:45h - A nightmare before Christmas (USA-1993), animated feature
film, director: Tim Burton 
24.XII
RAI DUE, 20:50h - The secret garden (USA-1993), starring: Kate Maberly,
Heydon Prowse
RAI UNO, 21:15h - The sword in the stone (USA-1963), animated feature film,
Walt Disney
RAI DUE, 22:40h - Ho un segreto con papa (Italy-1995), starring: Elena
Sofia Ricci, Treat Williams
RAI TRE, 23:40h - The gold rush (USA-1925), starring: Charlie Chaplin
RAI DUE, 00:20h - Ladri di cinema (Italy-1994), starring: Jorima Chatton,
Piero Natoli
25.XII
RAI DUE, 20:50h - Mary Poppins (USA-1965), starring; Julie Andrews, Dick
van Dyke
RAI DUE, 00:10h - The George McKenna story (USA-1986), starring: Denzel
Washington, Lynn Whitfield
RAI TRE, 00:35h - The scarlet letter (Germany-1972), starring: Senta
Berger, Lou Castel
26.XII
RAI TRE, 20:00h - The big country (USA-1958), starring: Gregory Peck, Burt
Ives
RAI UNO, 20:40h - The adventures of Huck Finn (USA-1993), starring; Eliajah
Wood, Robbie Coltrane
RAI UNO, 22:45h - City lights (USA-1931), starring: Charlie Chaplin
RAI TRE, 23:15h - The purple rose of Cairo (USA-1985), starring: Mia
Farrow, Jeff Daniels
RAI DUE, 00:15h - K2 (USA-1992), starring; Michael Biehn, Matt Craven
27.XII
RAI DUE, 20:50h - The search for Grace (USA-1995), starring: Lisa Hartman,
Ken Wahl
RAI DUE, 22:35h - The nutcracker suite (USA-1993), starring; Jessica Lynn
Cohen, Macaulay Culkin
RAI UNO, 00:35h - Regalo di Natale (Italy-1986), starring: Carlo della
Piane, Diego Abatantuono
RAI DUE, 00:55h - Sfilata per due (USA-1995), starring: Rick Springfield,
Andrea Roth

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

SPORT 
21.XII
RAI TRE, 09:25h - Alpine skiing: World cup, special slalom (women), I run
from Veysonnaz
RAI TRE, 10:25h - Alpine skiing: World cup, giant slalom (men), I run 
RAI TRE, 12:25h - Alpine skiing: World cup, special slalom (women), II run
from Veysonnaz
RAI DUE, 13:25h - Alpine skiing: World cup, giant slalom (men), II run 
RAI DUE, 19:00h - Basketball: Italian league
22.XII
RAI TRE, 09:55h - Alpine skiing: World cup, special slalom (men), from
Madonna di Campidoglio, I run
RAI TRE, 12:55h - Alpine skiing: World cup, special slalom (men), from
Madonna di Campidoglio, II run
27.XII
RAI TRE, 09:55h - Alpine skiing: World cup, special slalom (women), from
Lienz, I run
RAI TRE, 12:15h - Alpine skiing: World cup, special slalom (women), from
Lienz, II run
RAI TRE, 15:15h - Volleyball: Italian league, Alpitour Traco Cuneo-Lube
Banca Marche

MUSIC
22.XII
RAI UNO, 22:40h - Concert for the 50th anniversary of the Italian Constitution
Taking part: Orchestra of Italian chamber music, conducted by Salvatore
Accardo
23.XII
RAI TRE, 22:55h - Concert "Una notte in Toscana", - Andrea Bocelli
24.XII
RAI UNO, 22:40h - Christmas concert from the Basilica San Francesco d'Assisi
Taking part: RAI Symphony orchestra, conducted by Roberto Abbado, soprano
Eva Mei
25.XII
RAI UNO, 12:30h - Christmas concert from the Scala in Milan
Taking part: Scala orchestra, conducted by Riccardo Muti, soprano Anna
Caterina Antonacci
RAI TRE, 22:55h - Concert "Merry Christmas from Vienna"
Taking part: Placido Domingo, Riccardo Cocciante, Helmut Lotti, Sarah
Brightman
26.XII
RAI DUE, 09:50h - Concert of the Orchestra and chorus of La Fenice (Venice)
The concert commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of the composer
Alfredo Caselle 
RAI UNO, 12:35h - Christmas concert from the Basilica San Francesco
d'Assisi - Part II 


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