Sanremo Festival, Agcom: "A spot on Instagram and hidden advertising, sanctions are on the way"
The episode of Rosa Chemical and Fedez has been archived, that of Blanco is still under the magnifying glass
The curtain on the Ariston stage fell more than a month ago. Yet the 2023 edition of the Sanremo Festival continues to cause discussion. So much so that public television - which broadcast the musical event live - could find itself in "trouble" , forced to pay heavy fines that are close to 250,000 euros . So what in recent weeks were just rumors could now become reality.
The Communications Authority has in fact decided to initiate the sanctioning procedure against Rai for the hypotheses of hidden advertising , found in more than twelve cases, and for the (unregulated) use of Instagram, in particular by Amadeus and Clare Ferragni . On the other hand, the episode involving Rosa Chemical and Fedez is archived by the majority, unlike the one that saw Blanco as the protagonist on which any violations of the law will occur.
For each of the twelve cases of hidden advertising (for example for Costa Cruises or Suzuki ), not reported to spectators despite being governed by sponsorship contracts , fines ranging from 10,000 to 250,000 euros are envisaged. Public television will be able to present its counter-deductions, but - explain sources familiar with the practice - it will be difficult for Viale Mazzini to challenge the violation. The case of the promotion of Instagram is different, which could have also caused tax damage for Rai, due to the absence of a remuneration provided for by a contract. Public television could dispute that it was not actually advertising, while the Authority could decide to sanction it both for the specific push given to the Amadeus profile which, opened on stage thanks to the help of Chiara Ferragni, has now won over a million followers, both for the outright promotion of the platform.
Rai Pubblicità , led by Gian Paolo Tagliavia , will answer for Viale Mazzini on these aspects. However, the Agcom proceeding could be one of the latest problems in the management of CEO Carlo Fuortes , who will see Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni again after the presentation of the budget at the end of April to define her future. According to increasingly insistent rumors, his place will be taken by the director of Radio Rai Roberto Sergio , supported by the general director Giampaolo Rossi , until the end of his mandate next year.
(Unioneonline/vf)
