7 Gold Telecity
7 Gold Telecity is an Italian regional television broadcaster and 7 Gold affiliate serving northern Italy.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
7 Gold Telecity is the later network identity of Telecity, a historic private television broadcaster founded in December 1976 in Castelletto d'Orba in the Province of Alessandria, Piedmont. The station originated under the name TeleRadioCity through the activities of Radio City and the initiative of Giorgio Tacchino. Its earliest broadcasts targeted lower Piedmont and were produced from entertainment venues, notably the La Rotonda dance hall in Castelletto d'Orba. Telecity was among the early Italian private broadcasters to transmit in color, and it developed a schedule combining films, imported television series, cartoons, music, sports, games, local news, variety programs and live entertainment. The broadcaster expanded rapidly across northern Italy. A Ligurian operation was established in Genoa in 1978, followed by a Lombardy operation based near Milan in 1979. During the early 1980s, the Piedmont, Liguria and Lombardy activities increasingly coordinated their programming and operated as a broader regional television structure. The channel used several UHF frequencies over time, reflecting the fragmented and evolving nature of Italian private broadcasting. Its programming mixed locally produced shows with syndicated national content and became associated with presenters, entertainers and journalists who later achieved wider recognition. Telecity joined the Euro TV circuit in 1984 but left it in 1987, alongside related stations, to participate in the creation of Italia 7. Through that arrangement, Telecity carried nationally distributed entertainment, films, series, sports and imported animation while retaining regional information windows. The Italia 7 period gave the broadcaster access to programs such as Colpo Grosso, American series and animated productions that were distributed through the wider relay network. A production center in Assago near Milan was inaugurated in 1988, while editorial offices were maintained or developed in locations including Genoa, Turin, Alessandria and Castelletto d'Orba. After Italia 7 ended, Giorgio Tacchino joined Giorgio Galante of Telepadova and Luigi Ferretti of Sestarete in establishing the Italia 7 Gold syndication in 1999. The circuit was renamed 7 Gold in 2003. Telecity became one of its principal regional partners, combining circuit programming with local news and public-affairs output for Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy and the Aosta Valley. The network schedule included films, series, anime, sports and studio entertainment, while local windows carried programs such as regional newscasts, Aria pulita, Filo diretto, Tg Salute and football-focused programming. The broadcaster also developed substantial sports production capabilities, particularly through the Assago facilities. Programs such as Diretta Stadio and other football analysis formats became important 7 Gold offerings. Telecity briefly extended its distribution to satellite platforms in 2010, including Hotbird, Tivùsat and Sky Italia, but abandoned its satellite frequency in January 2012 and returned to a primarily digital-terrestrial footprint. Like many Italian local television groups, Telecity faced prolonged financial pressure during the 2010s. In 2017 it announced approximately seventy redundancies affecting journalists, technical staff, operators and administrative employees. The restructuring led to the closure of the Turin and Genoa offices and reductions at Castelletto d'Orba, Milan and Alessandria. Despite the contraction, the broadcaster continued regional information services and remained connected with the 7 Gold circuit. In 2024, Telecity became part of the new Netweek television circuit, marking another change in its distribution and organizational environment.
History
Telecity began broadcasting in December 1976 from Castelletto d'Orba as TeleRadioCity, an initiative associated with Radio City and Giorgio Tacchino. Its first facilities were located at the La Rotonda dance hall, and its initial service area covered lower Piedmont. The station quickly became a significant example of the emerging Italian private television sector. It adopted color broadcasting in 1977 and expanded its reach into Piedmont, Liguria and parts of Lombardy through a changing set of UHF frequencies. Its early schedule was eclectic and strongly local in character. Telecity transmitted films, television series, cartoons, music, sports, games, children’s programs, news and live ballroom entertainment. Dino Crocco became one of its best-known faces through numerous evening and daytime programs. The station also provided a platform for performers, presenters and broadcasters who moved between radio, local television and national entertainment. A Ligurian branch was organized in 1978, initially operating from Genoa, and a Lombardy operation followed in 1979 with facilities in Assago. During the early 1980s, the three regional activities coordinated their schedules and presented a broader Telecity service, while retaining regional variations. In 1984 the broadcaster joined the Euro TV circuit. In 1986 it created a second network, Telestar, and in 1987 it left Euro TV to participate in the creation of Italia 7. This change brought a larger supply of nationally distributed content, including films, American series, sporting programs, imported animation and entertainment formats. Telecity opened a production center in Assago in 1988. Over the following years, editorial structures were developed in Milan, Genoa, Turin, Alessandria and Castelletto d'Orba. The station combined local news and public-affairs programming with circuit content, creating a hybrid business model typical of Italian regional broadcasters. In 1999, after the end of Italia 7, Giorgio Tacchino worked with Giorgio Galante of Telepadova and Luigi Ferretti of Sestarete to establish the Italia 7 Gold syndication. The organization was renamed 7 Gold in 2003. Telecity became one of the principal regional participants, sharing national programming while reserving portions of the schedule for local news, information, entertainment and sports. The expanded Assago operation included several studios and digital control rooms and supported programs such as Diretta Stadio and other football analysis productions. During the 2010s, Telecity continued its regional service while migrating to digital terrestrial broadcasting. It briefly added satellite distribution in 2010 but discontinued that service in 2012. The broadcaster’s local output included regional TG7 editions, Aria pulita, Filo diretto, Tg Salute and football programming such as Goal&Goal. A prolonged financial crisis affecting local television led to substantial restructuring in 2017, including approximately seventy announced redundancies, the closure of the Turin and Genoa offices and reductions at other locations. The remaining operation continued to provide regional information from a smaller set of centers. In 2024, Telecity entered the new Netweek television circuit.
- 2024
Integration into the Netweek circuit
[1]Telecity becomes part of the new Netweek television circuit.
- 2017
Restructuring of regional operations
[1]The broadcaster announces major workforce reductions and consolidates several editorial offices.
- 2010
Digital transition and satellite availability
[1]Telecity programming moves into digital terrestrial distribution and is also made available through satellite television.
- 2003
The circuit becomes 7 Gold
[1]Italia 7 Gold adopts the shorter 7 Gold name.
- 1999
Creation of Italia 7 Gold
[1]Telecity becomes a founding participant in the Italia 7 Gold syndication.
- 1987
Participation in Italia 7
[1]Telecity leaves Euro TV and joins the Italia 7 relay network.
- 1984
Entry into the Euro TV circuit
[1]Telecity joins the Euro TV television circuit.
- 1979
Telecity Lombardia is established
[1]A Lombardy operation begins in Assago near Milan.
- 1978
Telecity Liguria is established
[1]A Ligurian operation is created in Genoa as an independent regional structure connected with Telecity.
- 1977
Color broadcasting and regional expansion
[1]The station adopts color transmission and expands coverage across Piedmont, Liguria and parts of Lombardy.
Products and positioning
A northern Italian regional broadcaster combining locally produced news, public-affairs and entertainment programming with nationally syndicated 7 Gold content.
Television news
Regional TG7 news
Regional news editions serving the broadcaster’s northern Italian coverage areas, with reporting produced from Piedmont, Liguria and Lombardy editorial operations.
Sports television
Diretta Stadio
A 7 Gold football analysis and match-focused format associated with the Assago production center. It became one of the circuit’s recognizable sports offerings and used commentators, former players and sports journalists.
Current affairs
Aria pulita
A press-review and current-affairs program with studio guests, alongside regional adaptations addressing local political and social issues.
Public affairs
Filo diretto
A live viewer-participation program allowing audiences to raise everyday social, urban and community problems with the local editorial teams.
Sports television
Goal&Goal
A Ligurian football news program focused particularly on Genoa and Sampdoria.
Brand decisions
2017
Consolidate regional operationsStrategyBackground
Telecity was affected by the financial crisis facing many Italian local television broadcasters.
Action taken
The company announced around seventy redundancies and closed the Turin and Genoa offices while reducing staffing at other locations.
Aftermath
Regional information production continued from a smaller group of sites, particularly Castelletto d'Orba, Milan and Alessandria.
Announced redundancies. Approximately 70 positions announced for elimination (2017)
2010
Add satellite distributionStrategyBackground
Telecity sought distribution beyond its terrestrial regional footprint during the transition to digital television.
Action taken
The channel was made available on Hotbird and listed through Tivùsat and Sky Italia.
Aftermath
Satellite transmission ended in January 2012, leaving digital terrestrial television as the principal distribution route.
1999
Create the Italia 7 Gold syndicationStrategyBackground
The end of Italia 7 created the need for a new cooperative distribution structure among regional broadcasters.
Action taken
Giorgio Tacchino and publishers from Telepadova and Sestarete established Italia 7 Gold.
Aftermath
The organization expanded its affiliate base and was renamed 7 Gold in 2003, with Telecity serving as a principal regional participant.
1987
Leave Euro TV and join Italia 7StrategyBackground
Telecity operated in a competitive and fragmented private television market and sought access to a broader nationally distributed schedule.
Action taken
The broadcaster left Euro TV and joined the Italia 7 relay network with related regional stations.
Aftermath
Telecity carried a larger range of national entertainment, sports, film, series and imported animation programming while retaining local windows.
Sources1 sources
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