Broadcasting, the Free Market and the Public Interest: Is the Italian Path to Pluralism Viable?

The television and the mass media in general have a vital function in the creation of the democratic process, similar to that of institutions. The basic argument of this article is that television is not a simple market commodity and general competition laws cannot protect adequately the public interest of citizens in broadcasting. In Italy, in particular, the television sector has always suffered for lack of pluralism, a highly concentrated market, strong influence of political forces over public broadcasting. For these reasons the Italian experience represents an interesting case, as it allows one to observe the effects of a transition from a broadcasting framework entirely based on specific public regulation (monopoly) to a system hinged on general competition laws and technological development After looking at the evolution of broadcasting in Italy, the author will try to suggest some remedies for the Italian television sector.