Press dispute in Italy: Berlusconi rails, Murdoch sends mass emails
Berlusconi takes a shot at the Italian press. The heads of Italy's biggest newspapers, including Corriere della Sera and La Stampa, should "change their jobs", said the Prime Minister, according to Italian media.
Berlusconi takes a shot at the Italian press. The heads of Italy's largest newspapers, including Corriere della Sera and La Stampa, should "change their jobs", said the Prime Minister according to Italian media. The background to these comments is the dispute over the government's plan to make pay-TV more expensive. An economic stimulus package passed last week provides, among other things, for an increase in VAT for pay-TV from 10 to 20 percent.
This had triggered protests, as it primarily affects Berlusconi's biggest competitor in the private TV sector: Rupert Murdoch and his satellite broadcaster Sky. The VAT increase would cost Sky Italia 210 million euros in the coming year.
The pay-TV station has launched an advertising campaign against this measure and asked its subscribers to write protest emails to the Prime Minister's Office. With the "mail bombing", Sky Italia wants to force the government to reverse its controversial decision. The tax increase does not affect the rich, but millions of families who subscribe to Sky primarily to watch football matches.
Berlusconi once again came under fire for his dual role as head of government and owner of the country's largest private media group.
This had triggered protests, as it primarily affects Berlusconi's biggest competitor in the private TV sector: Rupert Murdoch and his satellite broadcaster Sky. The VAT increase would cost Sky Italia 210 million euros in the coming year.
The pay-TV station has launched an advertising campaign against this measure and asked its subscribers to write protest emails to the Prime Minister's Office. With the "mail bombing", Sky Italia wants to force the government to reverse its controversial decision. The tax increase does not affect the rich, but millions of families who subscribe to Sky primarily to watch football matches.
Berlusconi once again came under fire for his dual role as head of government and owner of the country's largest private media group.
