Italian Media Bill scuttled by parliament

Italy’s controversial media bill has suffered a setback in Parliament.

The legislation, which critics say is designed to benefit Prime Minister Berlusconi’s business interests, is going through Parliament for a second time after the President demanded amendments to the original bill.

When the revised text went before the Lower House of Parliament this week coalition leaders sent it back to a special commission for further review.

Opponents of the bill fear it will concentrate monopolistic media power in Berlusconi’s media organisation, allowing Mediaset to expand out of television into publishing and radio.