DTT spectrum allocated to Italian majors

Italy’s communications regulatory authority has allocated the first major portion of the digital terrestrial TV spectrum to Italy's three leading terrestrial broadcasters RAI, Mediaset and Telecom Italia Media.

Agcom's board voted to allocate equal portions of the DTT transmission spectrum the three in an effort to boost the market and "to promote pluralism". The broadcasters will have access to 40 per cent of the DTT spectrum.

Telecom Italia Media chief executive Antonio Campo dall'Orto has admitted that the less rapid development of the DTT platform, caused by the government's decision to delay the switchover from analogue to digital from 2008 to 2012, has made the group re-think its DTT strategy.

Operating profitability was influenced by the impact of the depreciation of the new DTT network bought at end 2005 and the investments made on it in 2006, the company said.