San Marino RTV threatens farewell to Eurovision: 'Lack of transparency, now let's reflect'
Roberto Sergio, managing director of Titano television: "For us, a single channel on all platforms at 550". Meanwhile, with cost cutting and an increase in advertising, TV is back in the black and is aiming at Mieli, Ventura and Giacobbo
3' min read
3' min read
The Eurovision lights could go out for San Marino. Launching the warning is Roberto Sergio, general director of San Marino RTV - as well as Rai's general manager - who does not hide his annoyance and doubts when speaking to Il Sole 24 Ore. 'The situation did not appear clear to us at all. Little transparency in the televoting, in the votes of the juries, in the results. Under these conditions, we are seriously considering not participating in the next editions of the Eurovision Song Contest'.
The signal is strong and could blow up the participation of Europe's most famous micro-republic in one of the most popular music events. And to think that this year San Marino had presented itself in grand style, with the song 'Tutta l'Italia' signed by Gabri Ponte. But, apparently, the commitment ran up against an unclear climate, according to Sergio, general director of San Marino RTV since November 2024. In this capacity, he heads a broadcaster that is halfway between two worlds: half Italian (Rai has a 50% share) and half San Marino, with the president expressed by the Titan Parliament and a board of directors of 6 members divided in half. He has the task of guiding and keeping in balance a reality with peculiar contours that is now going through a climax.
For the first time in its history, in fact, the broadcaster has become reachable with a unique number on the remote control: 550. 'Until now we were scattered between 831 on digital terrestrial, 93 on tivùsat and 520 on Sky. Three different numbers, impossible to communicate. Now we have the same number, much more intuitive, for the three platforms'.
Looking at the glass half-empty, it goes without saying that a channel that far ahead in numbering cannot be reached by zapping. "It is clear, but if we think of the Sky platform, we are in the area of international TV stations that start at number 500. The 550 was the only one useful for all platforms,' explains Sergio, proudly underlining the broadcaster's 'mission': to give voice to a sovereign state; small but with a high cultural and institutional dignity. An identity that also passes through programming. "We have enhanced the morning press review, with much more international news. Because we must not forget that this is a sovereign country'.
It was not - and is not - an easy path, however. In 2023, San Marino RTV had closed its balance sheet with a red balance of 3 million, which was excessive for the broadcaster. 'It was on the brink of default,' Sergio confirms. But 2024 brought a turnaround: 'I decided to step in in April 2024 (Sergio was ad Rai, ed.) and then accept the challenge as Rtv's managing director in November and managed to close the year with a small surplus, at a constant staff perimeter. Fifty per cent of the deficit was recovered with savings and efficiencies, the other 50 per cent with shareholder interventions and new advertising revenue. We aim to raise almost 2 million by the end of 2025.
