The document analyses the characteristics of the local radio and television sector (its organisation, turnover, employees, etc.) and provides a cross-section of it, through an overview of the balance sheets and other parameters.

The results are provided for the whole of Italy, as well as for the following geographical areas:
NORTH: Piedmont, Valle D’Aosta, Liguria, Lombardy, Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna.
CENTRE: Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Lazio.
SOUTH (South and Islands): Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia.

The document has been completed in September 2024.

Summary of key data

It is estimated that, currently, there are 1,156 local radio stations in Italy, of which approximately 70 per cent are commercial and the others (314, for 364 different programmes) are ‘community-based’.

The report identifies 428 local television broadcasters, of which 254 are commercial, mainly managed by joint-stock and LLC companies, and 174 are no profit entities.

Employment

The local radio sector employs approximately 2,082 people, while the local television sector employs approximately 3,442; the local radio/TV broadcasting sector therefore provides employment to over five thousand people.

Personnel costs amount to €39.4 million for the radio sector and €114.8 million for the television sector.

Local broadcasters employ 2,235 journalists, a significant number, which places the sector in second place, in Italy, after the daily press.

The economy

Joint-stock and LLC companies manage the majority of commercial radio broadcasters, with 350 registered companies, and television broadcasters, with 254 registered companies.

The 92 cooperative companies manage 60 commercial radio broadcasters and 32 community ones, while in the television sector there are 27 cooperative companies, of which 20 manage commercial broadcasters and seven community ones.

Community no profit entities manage 314 local radio broadcasters and 174 local television companies, offering programming focused on cultural, ethnic, political or religious issues.