Italy's digital switch may come early

Prime Minister's Mediaset co. preps TV service

By MICHAEL DAY

Signals from the Italian government that the country may switch from analog to digital TV before the 2012 deadline have delighted Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's commercial broadcast group, Mediaset.

An early switchover, as indicated by economic development minister Paolo Romani on Monday, is expected to boost Mediaset's Premium Gallery digital pay TV service, which has yet to break even.

"The change is definitely favorable," said Mediaset president Fedele Confalonieri. "The sooner the better."

He noted that France and Spain were already committed to a 2010 digital switchover.

Romani's comments are likely to reignite controversy in Italy over Berlusconi's conflict of interests.

Berlusconi has said such concerns have "no basis or substance."

He is embroiled in a spat with opposition MPs over imminent changes to Italian law that would postpone and may even derail lesser criminal cases -- including his own corruption trial.

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