La supervisory commission on Rai gave the green light on Wednesday for the nomination of Marcello Foa as president of public television. There were 27 votes in favour, three against, one blank and one blank ballot. 32 members of the bicameral out of 40 voted, thus allowing the procedure to reach the two-thirds quorum required by law to make the appointment of the president effective.
“I've never played in a party – said Marcello Foa, heard in the Supervisory Commission – or took membership cards, or sought political support to make a career. I have always been consistent with myself, trying to do my job humbly based on the teachings of the masters, from Montanelli to Cervi. The mandate I received from the government is not political, but professional, it appeals to my professional path, and I intend to honor it in the name of the values of journalism".
Decisive for the appointment of Foa the yes of Forza Italia, who changed his mind compared to the first vote. In recent days Matteo Salvini and Silvio Berlusconi - leaders of FI but also owner of Mediaset - have reached a far-reaching agreement that starts from the state TV, passes through the guarantees on advertising contracts with the Biscione and reaches the electoral alliance for the next Europeans.
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But in the world of telecommunications there is another piece of news destined to mark the history of the sector. After lost the battle with Comcast, the Australian tycoon Rupert Murdoch, who in the past has repeatedly sought agreements with Berlusconi, he definitively left the capital of Sky, selling for 11,9 billion pounds also the share of 39% owned by 21 Century Fox. The share buyer is the same Comcast, which has already bid £30bn to win the race for Sky.
Murdoch's decision is obviously supported by Disney which in July reached an agreement for buy Fox's entertainment assets for $71 billion, including the share in Sky. The sale will therefore allow Disney to pocket over 11 billion pounds which will be used to reduce the debt exposure, significantly increased precisely to complete the acquisition of Fox assets.
