Italy: Gazzetta TV will cease DTT broadcasting and could move exclusively to Internet and mobile

Gazzetta TV, which launched on 26/02/2015, will cease broadcasting via DTT in Italy, announced the RCS MediaGroup, owner of the Italian free-TV channel, on 21/12/2015. The exact date that the channel will stop broadcasting has not yet been disclosed.

"We are doing the accounts. I honestly do not see a sustainable future with this model. We are working on an exit strategy. The best we can do to enhance the experience is to transfer this channel onto Internet and mobile," said Laura Cioli, CEO of RCS MediaGroup, at the presentation of the 2016-2018 strategic plan of the company, on 21/12/2015.

Since its launch in February 2015, Gazzetta TV has cost RCS MediaGroup €10m, and has only generated between €5m and €6m in revenue, according to trans-alpine media outlets. While the channel had an average audience share of 0.7% in 2015, this figure has dropped to only 0.18%, according to the Italian institute of audience measurement Auditel.

• In reaction to the announcement of RCS MediaGroup, journalists of the print and web editions of the Gazzetta dello Sport, and those of Gazzetta TV, went…