Telemontecarlo
Encyclopedia
Tele Monte Carlo was the Italian language
television channel from the Principality of Monaco
.
, broadcasting in color
. Since the introduction of Mediaset
channels, TMC survived with some difficulties until 2001 when the last owner, the film producer Vittorio Cecchi Gori
, sold the network to SEAT Pagine Gialle
.
On March 12, 1982, RAI acquired the 10% of the network. Later on August 4, 1985 the Brazilian television network Rede Globo
acquired the remaining 90%. The programming changed and included more Brazilian programs like telenovela
s and other television series. The channel also broadcast the Rio Carnival
live. In general, the channel adopted the same station identification
and commercial bumper
s from Rede Globo.
In 1993, an Italian businessman, Raul Gardini acquired Telemontecarlo. At the same time, the channel became a member of Eurovision Network
where they were broadcast parts of 1992 Summer Olympics
, the 1992 America's Cup
and the UEFA Euro 1992 soccer championship.
In 1995, an Italian film producer called Vittorio Cecchi Gori
whom at that time already owner of Videomusic
, acquired TMC and created TMC2 to compete with RAI
and Mediaset
networks. However, its intentions were missed and viewers ratings were at all-time low because the channel lacked nationwide coverage in Italy.
In 1996, the channel also tried to acquire the television rights of Serie A
, competing against RAI
. On March 10, 2000 the channel broadcast the Italian premiere of Sex and the City
.
In 1999, the channel moved from its historical headquarters at Monte Carlo
to a new building in Rome
. However, in 2001 Vittorio Cecchi Gori
sold the network to SEAT Pagine Gialle
(part of Telecom Italia
holding). On June 24, the network changed the station name to La7
, closing Tele Monte Carlo.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
television channel from the Principality of Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
.
History
Telemontecarlo was founded in 1974 in the Principality of Monaco. During that time, the channel was the only competitor of Italian public television network RAIRAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
, broadcasting in color
Color television
Color television is part of the history of television, the technology of television and practices associated with television's transmission of moving images in color video....
. Since the introduction of Mediaset
Mediaset
Mediaset S.p.A., known as Gruppo Mediaset in Italian, is an Italian-based media company which is the largest commercial broadcaster in the country...
channels, TMC survived with some difficulties until 2001 when the last owner, the film producer Vittorio Cecchi Gori
Vittorio Cecchi Gori
Vittorio Cecchi Gori is an Italian film producer and politician.Born in Florence, he is the son of Mario Cecchi Gori. He has produced numerous films, most notably Il Postino , which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.He was also senator from the Italian People's Party.He owned...
, sold the network to SEAT Pagine Gialle
Seat Pagine Gialle
SEAT Pagine Gialle is an Italian telephone directories and street maps publisher, active also in the online advertising sector. The UK subsidiary is Thomson Directories Ltd.-External links:***...
.
On March 12, 1982, RAI acquired the 10% of the network. Later on August 4, 1985 the Brazilian television network Rede Globo
Rede Globo
Rede Globo , or simply Globo, is a Brazilian television network, launched by media mogul Roberto Marinho on April 26, 1965. It is owned by media conglomerate Organizações Globo, being by far the largest of its holdings...
acquired the remaining 90%. The programming changed and included more Brazilian programs like telenovela
Telenovela
A telenovela is a limited-run serial dramatic programming popular in Latin American, Portuguese, and Spanish television programming. The word combines tele, short for televisión or televisão , and novela, a Spanish or Portuguese word for "novel"...
s and other television series. The channel also broadcast the Rio Carnival
Rio Carnival
The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a world famous festival held before Lent every year and considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on the streets. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723.-Samba schools:...
live. In general, the channel adopted the same station identification
Station identification
Station identification is the practice of radio or television stations or networks identifying themselves on air, typically by means of a call sign or brand name...
and commercial bumper
Commercial bumper
In broadcasting, a commercial bumper, ident bumper or break-bumper is a brief announcement, usually two to 15 seconds that can contain a voice over, placed between a pause in the program and its commercial break, and vice versa...
s from Rede Globo.
In 1993, an Italian businessman, Raul Gardini acquired Telemontecarlo. At the same time, the channel became a member of Eurovision Network
Eurovision Network
The Eurovision Network is part of the European Broadcasting Union, itself founded in 1950 as a system of international broadcasting cooperation...
where they were broadcast parts of 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, the 1992 America's Cup
1992 America's Cup
The 28th America's Cup was contested between the winner of the 1992 Citizen Cup defender selection series, America³, and the winner of the 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series, Il Moro di Venezia.-Races:-America³:-Il Moro di Venezia:...
and the UEFA Euro 1992 soccer championship.
In 1995, an Italian film producer called Vittorio Cecchi Gori
Vittorio Cecchi Gori
Vittorio Cecchi Gori is an Italian film producer and politician.Born in Florence, he is the son of Mario Cecchi Gori. He has produced numerous films, most notably Il Postino , which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.He was also senator from the Italian People's Party.He owned...
whom at that time already owner of Videomusic
Videomusic
Videomusic was an Italian music channel and one of the first music channels in Europe. It was founded by Marialina Marcucci and Pier Luigi Stefani in early 1984. The channel used to be broadcast from a location called "Il Ciocco", near the Castelvecchio Pascoli, Frazione of Barga in the province...
, acquired TMC and created TMC2 to compete with RAI
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
and Mediaset
Mediaset
Mediaset S.p.A., known as Gruppo Mediaset in Italian, is an Italian-based media company which is the largest commercial broadcaster in the country...
networks. However, its intentions were missed and viewers ratings were at all-time low because the channel lacked nationwide coverage in Italy.
In 1996, the channel also tried to acquire the television rights of Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
, competing against RAI
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
. On March 10, 2000 the channel broadcast the Italian premiere of Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
.
In 1999, the channel moved from its historical headquarters at Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
to a new building in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. However, in 2001 Vittorio Cecchi Gori
Vittorio Cecchi Gori
Vittorio Cecchi Gori is an Italian film producer and politician.Born in Florence, he is the son of Mario Cecchi Gori. He has produced numerous films, most notably Il Postino , which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.He was also senator from the Italian People's Party.He owned...
sold the network to SEAT Pagine Gialle
Seat Pagine Gialle
SEAT Pagine Gialle is an Italian telephone directories and street maps publisher, active also in the online advertising sector. The UK subsidiary is Thomson Directories Ltd.-External links:***...
(part of Telecom Italia
Telecom Italia
Telecom Italia is the largest Italian telecommunications company, also active in the media and manufacturing industries. Now a private concern listed on the Borsa Italiana, it was founded in 1994 by the merger of several state-owned telecommunications companies, the most important of which was...
holding). On June 24, the network changed the station name to La7
La7
La7 is an Italian television channel owned by Telecom Italia Media and operated by Telecom Italia.-History:In 2001, Lorenzo Pellicioli and Roberto Colaninno, of Telecom Italia announced they had acquired Telemontecarlo, in order to create a strong competitor against the six other national channels...
, closing Tele Monte Carlo.