Rai, “the board of directors admits the overtaking of Mediaset. First time in 30 years of duopoly”. But CEO Roberto Sergio calls Fiorello and denies: “Fake news”

“Audiences don’t count, they’re not that important“, repeat the television broadcasters who dream of enhancing the approval rating. But it is on the numbers, on the infinity of readings that they provide, that controversy and tensions are created. “The Rai board of directors admits the overtaking of Mediaset. Viale Mazzini’s 2023 budget document certifies the defeat in ratings for the entire day. It is the first time in 30 years of duopoly. TeleMeloni’s flops weigh heavily,” he says Republic.

The year in which the faithful of Giorgia Meloni, the public broadcaster lost its leadership not in prime time but throughout the day. “This is certified, without any further possibility of misunderstanding, by the 2023 budget document approved yesterday by the Board of Directors. Where it is written verbatim, and it could not be otherwise, that from January 1st to December 31st state television ‘recorded a 37% share throughout the day’. The seal on overtaking, given that in the same 12 months the Cologno group instead flew to 37.7%”, reiterates the newspaper directed by Maurizio Molinari.

Last year they said goodbye to Viale Mazzini, with different backgrounds and narratives, Fabio Fazio, Lucia Annunziata, Massimo Gramellini and Bianca Berlinguer. An escape of the stars which this year added the sensational farewell of Amadeus and the stop of Fiorelloafter the last episode of “Long live Rai2” the Sicilian showman will take a break. The faces and programs desired by the new governance did not guarantee adequate results.

“The Rai Board of Directors admits the overtaking of Mediaset, for the first time in thirty years of duopoly. It’s nice because this way there will be a new incentive to do better. In place of the Rai horse in Piazza Mazzini there is the former Gabibbo. Yesterday Roberto Sergio exclaimed ‘Italy… one!’”, the comment of Rosario Fiorello. On his cell phone for a few minutes the message from Rai CEO Roberto Sergio: “Wait, I got a message, not a bullshit, but almost, from Roberto Sergio: you’ve read fake news, it’s the best financial statement in recent years and we are always a leader in ratings. He also put the pointing finger emoji, the director denies it!“, the manager’s informal correction.

Which was followed a few hours later by a Rai note: “In the face of unfounded news that speaks of ‘overtaking’ by Mediaset in ratings, Rai reiterates what has already been repeated several times: the generalist networks Rai – Rai 1, Rai 2 , Rai 3 – they firmly maintain their lead over the three generalist networks of their main competitor. In particular, from the comparison on an equal basis between the three generalist networks plus the all news channel in the year 2023 (Source Auditel) it emerges that Rai is the leader both throughout the day with a share of 31 percent and an average of 2 million 527 thousand spectators (against 26.8 and 2 million 184 thousand of the main competitor), and in prime time with a share of 32 percent and 6 million 12 thousand spectators (against 26.7 and 5 million 8 thousand of the competition)”.

“Rai’s primacy – says CEO Roberto Sergio – is unequivocally certified by the numbers. And it is incorrect, by including the thematic networks in the calculation of the overall audience, to compare qualitatively and quantitatively different listening perimeters, as is clearly evident from the type of programming proposed by Rai which – also thanks to some very specialized channels – fully fulfills its public service function”.