Mediaset to launch FTA Italian movie channel

Mediaset will be launching a new free-to-air TV channel specialising in classic Italian films next month, reports local website Digital Day, citing the latest price schedule published by the broadcaster’s ad sales unit Publitalia 80. The new channel, dubbed Cine 34, will go live on 20 January to mark what would have been the 100th birthday of legendary film director Federico Fellini. That day will be devoted in full to Fellini’s movies, with every subsequent day of the week dedicated to different film genres.

Mondays will feature classics from Italy’s “masters of cinema”, Tuesday will be devoted to romantic comedies, Wednesdays to action films, Thursdays to comedies, Fridays to ‘gialli’ (Italian thrillers), while Westerns and cult movies will be shown at weekends.

Cine 34 will replace Mediaset Extra on channel position 34 and is also expected to debut shortly on satellite TV platform TivuSat, added the report.

The channel is set to launch on January 20, 2020.