The government of Premier
Matteo Renzi is working on measures involving RAI public
broadcaster's licence fees as part of its 2015 budget measures,
Junior Economy Minister Enrico Morando said Thursday.
The measures could be a new source of revenue for local
stations to offset money the government intends to cut from the
broadcaster's budget, Morando told the House budget committee.
"Local TV stations are in a situation where they have had
to lay off a large number of employees," said Morando.
"(The government) intends to address the problem if
possible," he added.
On Wednesday, the board of directors of RAI voted to appeal
a government decision to cut its budget by 150 million euros.
USIGRAI journalists' union supported the move, saying the
cuts would compromise RAI's "autonomy and independence".
"As per European Union norms, the public broadcasting
budget cannot depend year by year on whatever government happens
to be in power," USIGRAI said.
Renzi in June announced that RAI must give up 150 million
euros as part of the government's spending review cost-cutting
measures.
According to Morando, the government has made "a formal
commitment to intervene" on behalf of local broadcasters in the
2015 budget.
The State broadcaster is financed through both government
contributions and taxes paid by viewers.
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