Italy’s communications regulator, Agcom, has opened a public consultation on proposed revisions to its guidelines concerning the prominence of general interest audiovisual and radio services (servizi di interesse generale, or SIG). The move has drawn the attention of Aeranti-Corallo, the national association representing local broadcasters, which has confirmed its participation in the process.
The consultation follows Resolution No. 110/25/CONS, adopted on April 30 and published on May 13, 2025. It updates the earlier framework outlined in Resolution No. 390/24/CONS.
According to Agcom, the revised guidelines would:
- Redefine the scope of qualifying SIG services;
- Retain existing rules regarding applicable devices and responsible parties, with some clarifications and exclusions;
- Introduce new implementation methods to ensure SIG content is easily accessible across supported devices.
One of the main proposals is to update the definition of a general interest service. In addition to the current requirement of being a registered news outlet, broadcasters would need to meet two further criteria, namely, no more than 40 percent of airtime between 7 a.m. and midnight may be allocated to teleshopping, and programming in the previous calendar year must include at least two daily news bulletins.
All three requirements must be met to qualify as a SIG.
Which devices?
Agcom also proposes clarifying the types of devices covered by the rules. With the updated SIG list, devices capable of receiving AM and FM radio signals would now be included. However, the regulator suggests removing smartphones, tablets, personal computers, game consoles and similar devices from the scope, as they are not primarily intended for media consumption.
For in-car systems that support DAB+, AM or FM radio, Agcom recommends a single, clearly visible access point for radio services. This could be provided via an icon on the main screen and, optionally, a voice command. A mechanical button may also be offered as an alternative or additional option.
The consultation confirms that the rules would apply to:
- Manufacturers of devices capable of receiving audiovisual and radio signals, such as internet-connected TVs, terrestrial and satellite set-top boxes, media streaming devices and in-car systems;
- Providers of audiovisual and radio media services, who must notify Agcom which of their services fall under the SIG definition.
Aeranti-Corallo has stated that it will contribute to the consultation and submit a position paper supporting the prominence of local broadcasters.
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