MILAN -- Italian media tycoon-turned-politico Silvio Berlusconi dominated the airwaves in his first six months as prime minister, according to a study released Tuesday by the Observatory of Pavia, an independent media-monitoring group.
Pubcaster RAI devoted 388 minutes to Berlusconi in news programs on its three national channels, compared with 155 minutes for opposition leader Francesco Rutelli between June 11 and Jan. 10. On all RAI pro-grams, Berlusconi logged 811 minutes vs. 406 for Rutelli.
Straddling public, private TV
As head of the Italian government, Berlusconi has control of RAI, while retaining ownership of Italy's largest broadcaster, Mediaset.
Another report released Tuesday by RAI prexy Roberto Zaccaria said Berlusconi had been on Mediaset's three channels 675 minutes in roughly the same period, while Rutelli appeared just 39 minutes.
Opposition politico Giuseppe Giulietti said the figures "were particularly outrageous" and called for a serious debate over the use of television by politicians.
Despite international questions about conflict of business and political interests in Western countries, Berlusconi has never offered to divest himself of his companies to resolve the potential conflicts.
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