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June 24,2007-July 1,2007 |
RAI International’s new director visits Toronto
Piero Badaloni defines guidelines for future programming
By Luigi De Biase
Originally Published: 2007-06-10
RAI International’s new director Piero Badaloni had an eye on the wallet, the other on the line-up for the coming TV season, while preparing for this week’s visit to North America. His tour includes two stops in Canada, on June 8 in Toronto and the following day in Montreal.
Badaloni was referring most importantly to a meeting with the Prime Minister’s Office that will earn RAI International €70 million (the text is currently on the desk of Claudio Cappon, RAI general director; approval might come within the week). Italians living in North America, on the other hand, are more interested in programming. Many did not like the decision to reduce Porta a Porta — Bruno Vespa’s news analysis program — from three to one night per week. In New Jersey, disgruntled viewers even formed a committee to ‘save’ RAI International.
“This controversy amazes me,” said Badaloni. “Actually, the decision was taken in January, when my editorial plan was approved.”
Maybe Bruno Vespa just found out.
“Well, you said it. RAI International must be the synthesis of the three RAI networks; I simply applied the concept of the plurality of information, alternating Porta a Porta with the other news analysis programs, i.e. Giovanni Floris’ Ballarò and Michele Santoro’s Anno Zero.”
Some viewers took this decision as the first step in a progressive reduction of Vespa’s presence in RAI.
“From this standpoint, people are free to take it as they please. My decision was approved in January. I am not aware of any particular strategy; the choices other network directors make are absolutely independent from mine. However, people should remember that nobody in RAI is untouchable. Not Vespa, not me.”
What do you expect from your visit to the Italian community in North America?
“I just returned from Africa, and after Canada and the U.S. I will travel to Australia and then to South America. I expect to gather important indications for constructing our line-up for the 2007-2008 season. I hope to have an exchange free from political prejudice, and I’m referring in particular to initiatives taken by a few small, but highly politicized groups. I’d like people to consider that each of us would have an ideal line-up, which would be unique and different from anybody else’s. We have to accept our differences and co-exist with them. I want to reach a synthesis through pluralism.”
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