Silvio Berlusconi


Mediaset makes Pier Silvio Berlusconi CEO

Italian broadcaster Mediaset has upped vice-president Pier Silvio Berlusconi to the role of CEO, replacing Guiliano Adreani, who remains president of advertising arm Publitalia. Berlusconi, the son of disgraced former prime minister and Mediaset founder Silvio, also retains his role as VP of the company. Adreani will continue to act as an adviser to Berlusconi, […]

Berlusconi’s Fininvest offloads chunk of Mediaset

Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset’s shares dropped sharply in value at the end of last week on news that Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest holding vehicle had sold a 7.79% stake in the operation, taking Fininvest’s interest down to 33.4%. Mediaset’s shares were trading this morning at around €3.86-3.88 (US$4.41-4.43) after suffering a further fall, taking the stock […]

Mediaset cries foul in tax fraud case

Italy’s Mediaset has said it is ‘shocked’ at the latest developments in the investigation into alleged wrongdoing relating to the acquisition of content. Italian prosecutors in the Mediatrade case – which has already seen the conviction of former prime minister and Mediaset owner Silvio Berlusconi for tax fraud relating to the acquisition of content at […]

Mediaset explores Euro consolidation plan

European pay TV giant Mediaset has begun exploring how if it is able to consolidate and develop its operations in Italy and Spain into a single entity. The boards of Mediaset in Italy and Telecinco owner Mediaset España have given permission for an evaluation into a consolidation plan. They are looking at launching a new […]

Mediaset angrily denies allegations of wrongdoing

Mediaset has issued a strongly worded statement stating that it had always acted fully within the law, in relation to its conduct around TV rights acquisitions. This was in response to the damming verdict of the Italian Supreme Court in rejecting an appeal against the conviction of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Mediaset reacted […]

European Court clarifies rules on Italian TV ad rates

In an case originally brought by Sky Italia, the European Court of Justice has said it is permissible for national legislators to set different advertising rules for pay TV and free-to-air services. The ECJ said it was permissible provided that the ad rules are “proportionate” and it has returned the matter to the Tribunale Administrativo […]

Italian media coin crashes, down €1.6bn

Combined revenues of Italy’s media companies, including broadcasters and online players, fell by €1.6 billion (US$2.1 billion) last year, the territory’s media regulator reports. The year-on-year decline in 2012 meant total media companies’ revenue was €15.7 billion, according to AgCom’s annual report. This comes as Italy wrestles with political and economic turmoil following a series […]

Mediaset suffers historic first loss

European media giant Mediaset suffered a net loss of €287.1 million (US$369 million) last year as effects of the economic recessions in Italy and Spain kicked in. The Silvio Berlusconi-owned company, which operates market leading channels such as Canale 5 in Italy and Telecinco in Spain, pointed to a combined advertising revenue drop in the […]

One bidder in exclusive talks for La7

Telecom Italia has said it is in exclusive negotiations with Italian media firm Cairo Communications over the sale of its free-to-air station La7. The telco has rejected an approach from luxury goods tycoon Diego Della Valle and a bid from Clessidra, the finance house that, with Mediaset, made a move for Endemol last year. Cairo […]

Italian entrepreneur makes move for La7 channel

Italian entrepreneur and Diego Della Valle has expressed a serious interest in  La7, the Italian free-to-air station owned by Telecom Italia. Della Valle, who has publicly expressed his opposition to media baron and politician Silvio Berlusconi, said he wanted to preserve the independence of La7 and his move for the channel should be considered a […]