Italy on trial: the 12-minute ad limit was exceeded, Rai has invited the National TV Viewers' Union to present the National TV Viewers' Strike 2008 on the Rai Utile channel. In the meantime, no reply has come yet from the City Council regarding the request for a patronage.

First rally, on December 19th, for the National TV Viewers' strike. The National TV Viewers' Union brings to Minister for Communications Paolo Gentiloni a Christmas present and a card saying: Help us get back the time we’ve been wasting in front of the TV, and allow everybody to have a television-free day.

Saturday, 11th March 2006
National TV Viewers’ Strike
5th Edition

The 2006 edition asks politicians to abstain from appearing on TV for one day and to reflect. Last called in December, this historic protest will coincide with an intense period of election campaign in which television is caught in the middle of heated debates and spoils to be shared. This coincidence makes the promoters’ call to the country even more effective and involves first of all the main political personalities.

Stop with TV duels, word subterfuges, freak performances, care for appearance and look that compensate for a lack of contents and insult the voters’ intelligence. Away from the TV for one day, politicians can give themselves a break to reflect, go through a process of self-criticism, analyse and read. Politicians, take to the streets and to the places where people meet, work, and study and get in touch with the real world! Meet those who will never be able to see and hear through television the many voices striking a discordant note.

This is the appeal esterni sent out to all the political parties’ and coalitions’ members and headquarters, while waiting to know what politicians promise to do - or what they will have done -during their abstention day.

Citizens, let’s join the strike, make TV appearances of “disobedient” politicians useless and spend our time away from the TV to enjoy moments of celebration, gathering and discoveries*. The other media will be able to focus their attention on important themes that really interest viewers rather than swamp them with day-after TV commentaries.

On Saturday, 11th March, Italy will switch off television and experiences a day of live performance far from "the box": audience will switch from television to real “programmes” in the piazzas and meeting places of the city. Real time updates on participation to the strike available on the web site www.sciopero.tv

esterni, whose initiatives are conceived to boost meeting and social gathering opportunities, calls the 2006 edition of the Viewers’ Strike, an event first launched 11 years ago as a social experiment with the aim of restoring the cultural and unifying value of time and place, taken away from real life by television.

The national protest goes against the blunting dulling and isolation caused by TV and its abuse; against the widespread mentality that accepts its power without opposing any response; and against no TV broadcast or personality in particular. It is not a protest against TV programming and program quality, nor a political one, even if it will probably add to the numerous disputes regarding the Italian television.

All this is done to reaffirm the independence of the individual and to show that TV viewers – as we are too often classified – do have decisional power and critical capacity.

*during the week-end (10-11-12 March) discounts and reductions will be granted to all those who turn up in art, culture and amusement places all over Italy carrying their remote controls.

Press release