RAI to air Italian cup final in 3D, and relaunch TV offer
May 5, 2010
From Branislav Pekic in Rome
Italian public broadcaster RAI has teamed up with The Space Cinema Circuit and Infront Italy for the first 3D transmission of a sports event in Italy.
On May 5th, RAI will be broadcasting the Italian Cup Final, played between Roma and Inter, in 3D. The signal will be encrypted and will only be received in 8 cinemas belonging to the Space Cinema Network in Rome, Milan and Parma. The satellite transmission will be ensured by the Atlantic Bird 3 satellite (5 degrees West).
RAI is also preparing for a relaunch its TV offer and to redesign its logos on May 18th, the date of the partial ASO in Lombardy, Eastern Piedmont, Parma and Piacenza.
Besides Rai 1, Rai 2, Rai 3, Rai 4, Rai News, Rai Storia, Rai Sport 1, the line-up will also include Rai Movie (previously RaiSat Cinema), Rai Yoyo (previously RaiSat Yoyo, for pre-school children), Rai Gulp (for boys), Rai Sport 2 and Rai HD (launching during the World Cup) and Rai 5 (cultural channel, including documentaries, features and magazines). After the World Cup, the Rai HD channel will air sports, movies and TV series in High Definition.
RAI Deputy Director, Giancarlo Leone, does not exclude the possibility of RAI launching a pay-TV offer, but adds that such a decision must be made and included in the new business plan to be approved by the Board of Directors.