By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

ROME, Italy – A media watchdog organization, headed by wealthy financier George Soros, filed to begin a legal action with the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of a Italian television station challenging the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s control over the Italian media .

The Open Society Justice Initiative’s action claims that the Berlusconi government violated standards established by the European Union’s Parliament when it withdrew television frequency rights from Centro Europa 7 and give control over that frequency to Rete 4.  Rete 4 is a media outlet owned by Mediaset, a parent media company controlled by Berlusconi.  The Initiative claims that one of the purposes of Berlusconi’s actions against Europea 7 has been to limit the public’s ability to gain access to information on important policy matters.

A spokesman for Europea 7 is also claiming that the transfer of the frequency, which had been controlled by Europea since 1999, was unlawful.

Prior to rising to the position of Prime Minister, Berlusconi headed a media company that now controls the three largest private television stations in the nation.  In addition to this significant segment of the private market, the Prime Minister’s supporters also have control over the state television outlets.  In all, approximately ninety percent of Italy’s television market is controlled by Berlusconi.

The Italian government’s transfer of the frequency to one of Berlusconi’s television station has once again raised concerns of the possible conflicts of interest between a head of state and that individual’s overwhelming control of that state’s media.

James A. Goldston, of the Open Society Justice Initiative, has noted that “this case highlights the failure of successive Italian governments to deal with the twin problems of concentrated control and conflict of interest in broadcasting.”  Goldston went on to comment that “the Italian situation is unacceptable for a democracy.”

European Union courts have condemned Berlusconi’s media control in the past.  In 2004 the European Parliament criticized the growing conflicting interests between the Italian government and the country’s supposedly independent media.

For more information, please see:

C21Media – Berlusconi TV influence ‘undemocratic’ – 12 March 2010

BUSINESSWEEK – Berlusconi’s Control of Italian TV Is Criticizes by Soros Group – 11 March 2010

ITNEWS – Legality of Berlusconi’s Television Monopoly Challenged – 11 March 2010

REUTERS – Group takes Berlusconi to rights court on TV control – 11 March 2010