++ [ originally posted by Qaterminator ] ++
Berlusconi slams RAI Wednesday
The son of Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has slammed the decision by Italian State broadcaster RAI to spend £40m a season on Champions’ League coverage.
Pier Silvio Berlusconi is Vice-president of the RAI’s television rival Mediaset, the commercial TV broadcaster owned by Milan patron and Italy Prime Minister Silvio.
And the junior Berlusconi hit out at his rivals, accusing them of damaging the future of televised football.
Pier Silvo told la Repubblica: “The public television broadcaster should not make such foolish deals. Doing so also damages us.
“Mediaset currently pay £20.7m a season, and offered £24.1m a season - and that was pushing the deal to the very edge of its economics limits.
“RAI have remained in the Ice Age, television wise. Canale 5 (a Mediaset channel) will still remain Italy’s premier TV channel.''