Televisione tra Stato e Mercato : la frattura comunicativa degli anni Settanta

The article describes the Italian broadcasting system from 1974 to 1984: a decade of great change, characterized by the end of the public broadcasting monopoly, the growth of local, private broadcasting, and – at the end of the decade – by the formation of a public-private duopoly. The Constitutional Court and the absence of political decisions and engagement played a central role in the rapidity and breadth of private TV station development. This article focuses on the role of strong, super-market growth in the commercial distribution system, its impact on the information required by consumers to make their choices, and the necessity of increase advertising communication channels. These three factors are used to explain the considerable increase of commercial influences on the Italian broadcast system.