Aliens in Emilia-Romagna: TeleSanterno from Local Roots to National Entertainment

Abstract

The article reconstructs the historical trajectory of TeleSanterno, a private television channel located in the rich broadcasting context of the Emilia-Romagna region. After detailing some methodological challenges involved in researching a “minor” case history without proper audiovisual and documental archives, and with ageing, nostalgic expert informants, the traces collected of audiovisual sources, oral accounts, and print materials are triangulated to highlight the evolution of the local network from its pirate start to its consolidation, and later its failure. Founded in 1974 as a small experimental and amateur local broadcaster, TeleSanterno was rapidly acquired by entrepreneur Domenico Berti, who included it into his large portfolio of industrial assets. With strong ambition and many creative and economic investments, the channel combined a strong connection with the local territories and the willingness to provide entertainment shows able to compete, at least partially, with national outlets and the other more ambitious private networks. The broadcast of a fake UFO landing on the hills of Imola, in 1979, contributed to promote the channel and made it known across all the region, and beyond, opening a phase of increased visibility, thanks to original productions and the involvement of already popular personalities, as Daniele Piombi, Walter Chiari and Ilona Staller (Cicciolina). This strong effort was not adequately compensated by revenues, resulting in the bankruptcy. TeleSanterno shows well the constant tension between local grounding and national imageries, the great expectations and the concrete day-to-day work to build its programming and identity.