Italy row spotlights Berlusconi control of TV 

Source: ReutersItaly's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi during the taping of the television program Porta a Porta

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's control of Italian television came under fresh scrutiny after the prime-time line-up of both state and private networks was changed to give him the spotlight.

Berlusconi is due to appear on a show about the consignment of some 100 temporary homes to victims of the earthquake that devastated central Italy in April.

A talk show on which Berlusconi is due to appear, "Porta a Porta" usually airs late at night on state broadcaster RAI channel 1 but has been moved up to give it a bigger audience.

RAI executives then pulled the plug on "Ballaro", a rival talk show whose guests are often critical of Berlusconi, while Matrix, a talk show on a private network owned by the Berlusconi family, was also postponed.

Giuseppe Giulietti, an opposition parliamentarian, denounced the changes as proof that virtually all Italian broadcasters were forced to "genuflect before the sole master".

The Ballaro episode was to have also discussed the earthquake reconstruction and Matrix, ironically, was to have discussed freedom of information in Italy.

Italy's leading newspaper, Corriere della Sera, said both RAI and Mediaset executives had acted like "amateurs" falling all over themselves to please their ultimate boss, Berlusconi.

The opposition was outraged. Dario Franceschni, leader of the largest opposition party, said the programme would be transformed "into a media show in favour of the prime minister" at the expense of the earthquake victims.

The 72-year-old Berlusconi made a fortune from commercial television, which he launched in Italy in the 1970s, breaking the monopoly state broadcaster RAI had since its founding.

His Mediaset empire owns Italy's three largest private networks and as prime minister he has considerable influence over RAI, most of whose top executives are political appointees.

Conflict of interest

Berlusconi denies charges of conflict of interest and says he has no say about Mediaset or RAI programmes. But critics say others are exercising his influence for him and the most recent episode is a prime example of his indirect control.

Berlusconi has a antagonistic relationship with journalists, sometimes openly attacking those ask tough questions.

Last month, Berlusconi said it was "unacceptable" for RAI to criticise the government.

The prime minister is launching legal actions against media in Italy and abroad, including Britain, France and Spain, for libel in their coverage of his private life, playing up his parties with escorts and a friendship with a teenager.

Italian journalists are holding a national demonstration on Sunday to protest against what they say is Berlusconi's attempts to control the media and intimidate reporters.

Berlusconi's grip on television in Italy was the subject of "Videocracy", a new documentary screened at the Venice film festival just last week looking at how his media empire has shaped information and culture in Italy over 30 years.

Both RAI and Mediaset have refused to air advertisements promoting it.