On 3 January, the Italian public broadcaster RAI unveiled its two DVB-T multiplexes, which will carry eight TV channels produced by RAI, two run by third-party content providers, and four radio channels.
RAI general director, Flavio Cattaneo, announced that RAI’s digital offer will include simulcasts of its three analogue terrestrial TV networks RaiUno, RaiDue, RaiTre, its satellite services RaiSport, RaiNews 24 and RaiEducational, plus new community channel RaiUtile and new culture/arts channel RaiDoc. Negotiations are currently going on with third-party content providers, including Sat2000 and Euronews.
Italy’s Communications Ministry estimates that 60,000 digital boxes have already been sold, in addition to the 2,000 households in Turin, Rome and Palermo that RAI has equipped with digital boxes to test interactive and multimedia applications. RAI’s digital multiplexes currently cover 50 per cent of the population although coverage will expand to 76 per cent by the end of the year. Receivers currently on the market cost 200-300 euro, but prices are expected to fall as they become more widespread.