News Corp. to Launch Free-TV Channel in Italy

November 9, 2009 World Screen

MILAN: News Corporation is to launch a new digital terrestrial channel in Italy, Cielo, on December 1.

Cielo, which is Italian for Sky, will reach 12 million homes on Italy’s digital broadcasting platform. News Corporation Stations Europe—a unit of News Corp. that operates free TV in Bulgaria, Serbia and Turkey—will operate Cielo, and will program the station with content such as Italian dramas and reality shows. Hollywood movies and U.S. dramas will also be in the lineup.

Gary Davey, the current COO of News Corporation Stations Europe, will be the general manager of Cielo. "Cielo will enrich the offering available on digital terrestrial in Italy, increasing competition in a sector currently dominated by Mediaset and RAI," Davey said.