Mfe opens cooperation with Ppf on Prosiebensat. Berlusconi: 'Forward on the European project'

Not relaunching and talking to Ppf at the conclusion of the Opa is another scenario that seems, however, to clash with the desire, reiterated by Mediaset's number one, to 'be autonomous' in the pan-European project. Even without mentioning them, the bogeyman of another possible Vivendi case with a partnership that did not take off and ended up in the courts hovers firmly over the matter.

"It will not be an upward auction anyway. We would not compete with a party like Ppf on this'. And this is no small statement. Here, in fact, is the reasoning behind the possible disengagement, but only by properly valuing the share and shifting the focus to other opportunities in Europe. 'We are looking ahead, we are confident and we continue to believe in our project, investing to grow abroad,' stressed the CEO, reiterating that 'the will is to go ahead with the construction of this industrial project to create a European broadcaster'. However, 'we cannot say at any cost and against everything,' Berlusconi pointed out, explaining that this 'depends on how things go. Should we find ourselves in a situation where we are not comfortable working, we are open to everything, even to a disengagement, but our path is the opposite one'.

These are all scenarios that will face the test of facts between the end of July (on 31 July Prosiebensat's accounts are due to be released, in addition to the extraordinary Mfe meeting to give the go-ahead for a further capital increase in order to beef up the offer) and the month of August. The deadline for bids expires on 13 August. Until the day before, a raise will be possible, which, in this case, would lengthen the deadline by 14 days and for which, at least according to the forecasts of Cfo Marco Giordani, speaking on the sidelines with journalists, 'do not expect follies'. It is difficult - indeed almost impossible, one would say - for Mfe to move sooner. At the conclusion of the Opa then the reasoning with Ppf could be opened.

Although a strong theme, it was not only finance that was discussed during the evening presentation of Mediaset's programming for the coming season. Which arrived with positive advertising data: +2.1% advertising sales in the first half of the year (all media, not just TV) in Italy. And while in Italy, advertising sales are advancing (+8% for radio), the minus sign is peeping out in Spain, for a positive total.

There is also time to talk politics. With the door closed, even more firmly than in the past, with respect to a descent into the field because 'I love this company'. Even if Pier Silvio Berlusconi does not spare a footnote: 'My father entered politics at the age of 58. I am 56'. But it seems more colour than anything else, even if the judgements are clear-cut on some central political issues for the moment. Giorgia Meloni? 'She is the best Prime Minister in Europe. She is acting, well, as prime minister therefore aiming at the general interest, not at her political side'.

As for Ius Scholae, the position collides in fact with that of Forza Italia leader Antonio Tajani: 'I also agree with the principle. But honestly it is not the priority'. A judgement that does not, as said, go in the same direction as a party. Which is old, he is asked? "Honestly, yes. Certainly there is a political centre, 'which is a prairie and in which Forza Italia is preponderant'. Matteo Renzi would also aspire to cover that space, it is pointed out to him. 'I have great esteem for him, but he has lost political credibility'.

As for the television offer, finally, there will be news on Channel 5, with a view to the 'evolution of the channel'. Gianluigi Nuzzi will go to Pomeriggio 5 in place of Myrta Merlino "who remains in the Mediaset team available if a suitable programme comes to mind for us or her", says the adman. Bianca Berlinguer will land in the second evening, as will Federico Rampini with 'Risiko', while Tommaso Labate, journalist of the Corriere della Sera, will have his own political programme in prime time: 'Realpolitik'. On the flagship network there is also the historic change concerning Striscia la Notizia. It will start in November.

Information - which since last season has emerged on the television scene as the real winner of television offerings in general, not just Mediaset's - will also increase on Italia 1 with Costanza Calabrese grappling with the crime-themed docu-fiction in prime time with 'Blackout' and on Rete 4 Nicola Porro arrives after the 7 p.m. news with 'Dieci minuti'. Gauntlet to Bruno Vespa's "Five minutes"? "If you want," Pier Silvio Berlusconi replies, smiling, "you can also think about changing the name. But I don't think there are any problems of that kind'. As for public television, the blow came in the form of the prime time access programme: 'Affari tuoi does great ratings, I take my hat off to you. But I ask myself: is it right for RAI, public TV, to send a game at that time that does not reward the contestants for any skill? In this sense I read it as a game of chance'.