Video Age International October 2016

52 October 2016 V I D E O A G E Cover Story: A Bigger RAI viewed on our TV channels not just in Europe, but also overseas. VA : At the national level, is there away to have talk shows without guests talking at the same time and hostswho interrupt or repeatwhat the guest just said? CDO : My immediate goal is to cut the length of talk shows in half, to 90 minutes. VA : RAI has talent and resources often repressed by Rome-centric politicians who are unabashed in interfering with the organization. In such a predicament, is there a way to create a RaiWorld in the style of BBC World that would group RAI’s international channels (Rai Italia), RAI’s sales (RaiCom), RAI’s co-productions and international festivals (Prix Italia)? That way RAI could compete on the sales level with similarly large media entities. CDO : Definitely. Starting with the children’s division, we’re grouping four different units (development, production, digital programming and sales) under one entity, Rai Kids. For RAI Italia, [which has changed names several times, including RAI International and RAI World], the new plan will be tackled after the convention with the Italian Government, which contributes 6.7 million euro per year for a three-year program. Prix Italia is indeed a window on the world for RAI and Italy. This year’s edition[on the islandof Lampedusa] 17 (and not 20) could be hired from outside the group. It’s interesting to note that other major Italian institutions, such as the Uffizi Museum in Florence (which recently hired German art historian Eike Schmidt as its new director), are now bringing in executives trained in non-Italian companies to run their operations. Another obstacle that Campo Dall’Orto faces is that politicians now seem to take pride in showing how much they like interfering in RAI’s day-to-day operations (in the past, they went out of their way to falsely present a RAI that was free of political intervention). These days, any excuse — be it lower ratings, choice of presenters or the on-air presence of opposing politicians — is a good reason to start a parliamentary inquiry. With this baggage in mind, VideoAge traveled to Rome, for a face-to-face interview with the 52- year old Campo Dall’Orto, who graduated from Venice’s Ca’ Foscari University with a degree in economics. While VideoAge was in Rome for the interview, Italian politicians (possibly as a show of force) organized a conference titled “For a Bigger RAI.” However, they failed to indicate a comparison (“bigger” than what, exactly?) and did not illustrate RAI in international terms, focusing instead on Rome-centric issues. Regardless, the aptly titled conference was integrated into the interview, since Campo Dall’Orto touched on a range of issues, including local production with international appeal, co- productions, worldwide content sales, RAI’s international channels, copyright protection, rights acquisitions and, of course, the creation of a “bigger” RAI, which could encompass production, co-production, content sales (RaiCom), channels (Rai Italia) and a festival (Prix Italia) under one umbrella, BBC World-style. Some domestic issues were touched on as well, such as making RAI’s talk shows more viewer-friendly by having moderators who do not keep interrupting, and guests who don’t all talk at the same time. What follows is a set of topics VideoAge discussed with Campo Dall’Orto. At times, the questions were longer than the answers: VideoAge : As RAI’s first director general (and first in a CEO position) from the private TV sector, what kind of legacy do you hope to leave? CDO : I hope to leave RAI better off with three main achievements: More international content, produced with less money and [I want RAI to be] a bettermedia company. VA : Some of RAI’s major productions, like Montalbano (which is also sold internationally by RaiCom), are available for free on YouTube. How are you planning to protect RAI’s content? CDO : We created a new division to deal with piracy and unauthorized online postings under the management of Gian Paolo Tagliavia, who is director of RAI Digital and president of RaiCom. VA : In the recent past, world sales of RAI programs have suffered for both lack of internationally suitable content and poor management. What are your future plans? CDO : To improve international sales. We have to invest in the type of content. VA : Is there a plan to acquire language rights instead of territorial rights for content? CDO : Yes. Now RAI will strive to buy language rights [instead of territorial rights] so that acquired content in the Italian language can be (Continued from Cover) The U.S. Connections Roberto Bagatti, formerly with Discovery Italia, is now deputy director of RAI’s Creative Department. Daria Bignardi, from the La7 TV Network and contributor to CondéNast Italia publications, is nowRAI-3 TVNetwork director. Antonio Campo Dall’Orto , formerly with Viacom, is now RAI CEO and Director General. Genseric Cantournet , a French national who was former president and now boardmember of the Italian chapter of U.S.- based ASIS International, is now chief security officer. Massimo Coppola , previous editor of Rolling Stone and formerly at MTV, is now editorial consultant for RAI Brand. Pino Corrias , a former journalist at Condé Nast’s Vanity Fair , is now RAI’s deputy editorial director. Antonella Di Lazzaro , formerly with MTV and Twitter, is now director of RAI Social Media. Paolo Galletti , formerly at Ernst & Young, is now director of RAI HR. Monica Maggioni , RAI chairwoman, was a U.S. news correspondent (2008-2009), and worked on and off in the U.S. from the year 2000. Recipient of the American Prize by the Italia-U.S. Foundation. Giovanni Parapini , formerly of Condé Nest Italia, is now RAI communications director. Gabriele Romagnoli , former editor of Condé Nast’s GQ , is now RAI Sport director. Guido Rossi , RAI chief of staff, was formerly with MTV. Cinzia Squadrone , marketing director, comes fromDiscovery Italia. Gian Paolo Tagliavia , president Rai Com and director of RaiDigital, comes fromMTV. Carlo Verdelli , former editor of Vanity Fair , is now RAI’s Editorial Director. (Continued on Page 54) Antonio Campo Dall’Orto in his Rome office “I hope to leave RAI better off with three main achievements: More international content produced with less money and [I want RAI to be] a better media company.” —AntonioCampoDall’Orto