Deadline analyzes Silvio Berlusconi's monumental impact, numerous controversies and what comes next for the tycoon’s Succession-like media empire
, and the onlookers have swiftly turned to his legacy and the future of his prized media assets. Mediaset, with its powerful Italian and Spanish subsidiaries, is now part of MediaForEurope — a conglomerate with a stake of nearly 30% in German heavyweight ProSiebenSat.1 alongside having TV broadcasting, production, podcasting and publishing assets.
He began his commercial TV operation in 1973 by launching TeleMilano when only public network RAI was broadcasting across the country. There were no truly commercial networks at the time, but Berlusconi acquired more local stations and programed them to run the same schedule — effectively creating a national network. Advertisers flocked, and Berlusconi became the father of Italian commercial broadcasting.
Giuliano Papadia, CEO of London-based producer BlackBox MultiMedia, recalled how Berlusconi would send his private plane around the country delivering tapes for the following day’s broadcast. “He was one of the first to understand the international scalability of the content industry,” added Papadia, who worked for Mediaset at the beginning of his career.
“Berlusconi really went into politics to defend his media interests and establish Mediaset as the dominant operator in Italy,” said Enders’ Godard. “You would have to call that a success from a broadcasting and a lobbying point of view. Private broadcasting exploded in the 1970s without any legal framework, and he was brave in buying companies and being the best of the entrepreneurs. Then, when the state threatened to establish legal order, he managed to move into power and protect Mediaset.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Media Magnate and Former Prime Minister, Dies at 86Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire media-mogul-turned politician who defined a three-decade-long era in postwar Italy during which TV spin, tainting allegations of corruption and sex scandals were …
Read more »
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has died, local media reportsSilvio Berlusconi was the billionaire Italian media mogul who served as premier of four Italian governments over nine years.
Read more »
Former Italian prime minister and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi has diedItalian news agency: Former Italian Premier and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi has died at age 86.
Read more »
Silvio Berlusconi, Flamboyant Italian Media Tycoon and Former Prime Minister, Dies at 86He made headlines as controlling shareholder of media conglomerate Mediaset, but also with sex scandals and corruption allegations.
Read more »
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi dead at 86, Italian media reportsSilvio Berlusconi, the three-time Italian premier and former leader of the Forza Italia party had suffered with a series of medical ailments over the past several years.
Read more »