Advanced Television

Italy: Number of TV channels declines

November 20, 2017

From Branislav Pekic in Rome

A total of 427 TV channels were available in Italy via the DTT and DTH (Sky Italia and TivùSat) platforms at the end of the third quarter of 2017.  This compares to 431 in Q1, according to data by Italian broadcaster’s association Confindustria Radio Televisioni (CRTV).

The data includes time-shifted versions, HD, 3D, PPV and so-called temporary channels. The channels are owned by 118 Italian and foreign media groups, of which 71 are based in Italy.

Of the total, 361 TV channels are produced in Italy, of which 125 are available on DTT while 290 are distributed via satellite/DTH (FTA and pay-TV). This figure includes 39 time-shifted channels and 35 PPV services.

The number of HD channels is 105 (29 per cent of the total) and there is one 3D channel.

There are a total of 128 FTA channels (95 are available on DTT and 70 on the TivùSat DTH platform), while 233 are pay-TV (204 distributed by Sky Italia, 30 by Mediaset Premium).

HD channels are mostly available on satellite (93), while there are 27 FTA HD channels (on DTT and TivùSat).

The leading channel producers are Sky Italia (114 channels), followed by Mediaset (42), RAI (26), Fox International Channels Italy (24), Discovery Italia (21), Viacom Media Italia (12) and Walt Disney Italia (11).

On DTT, Mediaset has the most channels (42), followed by RAI (19) and Discovery Italia (9).

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