Italian private broadcaster Mediaset will launch two new digital terrestrial channels later this year, to be called 20 (Venti) and Focus.
The frist launch will take place in April, when 20 takes to the air. The new channel will take the place of Rete Capri, which the Berlusconi-owned group acquired last year. The name of the channel reflects the position on the DTT multiplex.
Programming of the new channel will consist mainly of TV series and movies, from the Universal and Warner catalogues including old favourites such as Battlestar Galactica, The Mentalist and Doctor House and aiming to attract both male and female audiences. however, 20 will mainlyy run series and movies that were earlier seen on Mediaset’s flagship channels Canale 5 and Italia 1.
In July, a second new free-to-air channel will launch, the factual channel Focus. The channel is currently part of the Discovery multiplex, thanks to an agreement with Mondadori, who owns the Focus brand. The licence agreement between the two has not been renewed, and now Mediaset is taking over the franchise.
At the moment, Mediaset has 11 free-to-air DTT channels that together reach a 58% of the Italian population every week, equal to 34 million Italians. The television offer also includes the premium pay platform channels that are managed by Digitalia 08.
