LaC TV

LaC TV is a regional television channel based in Vibo Valentia, Calabria, Italy. Its roots lie in a family-led local broadcasting experiment associated with Giovanni and Franco Iannuzzi. That earlier activity included Canale 22, which operated in the Rosarno area from 1983 until July 1987 after an even earlier Tele 2000 experiment. The Iannuzzi family subsequently identified Vibo Valentia as an important location for a new broadcaster, partly because it was the only major population centre in Calabria at the time without its own television station. The resulting channel was launched in November 1987 under the name Rete Kalabria. During its early decades, Rete Kalabria developed as a locally oriented station combining regional news, current affairs, entertainment, sport and acquired programming. Some content was produced internally, while other material came from national and international production companies. The channel also participated in the Amica 9–Telestar affiliation arrangement during the 1990s. In 1992, the operating company retekalabria srl was incorporated, giving the broadcaster a formal corporate structure. The station’s programming historically included daily news editions and a range of locally recognizable formats. These included the music program Una canzone per te, the political-information program Agora, the interview format Personaggi allo specchio, the talk show Prego, si accomodi and the sports segment Krono sport. Its weekly Il settimanale reviewed the main news of the week and was produced with assistance from a sign-language interpreter for deaf viewers, reflecting the channel’s regional public-service orientation. A major change came in October 2013, when the broadcaster was acquired by Publiemme Group, an Italian company active in advertising, publishing and communications. Under the new ownership and the direction associated with publisher Domenico Maduli, Rete Kalabria underwent a brand and technology redevelopment. On 20 October 2014, it adopted the LaC name. The channel also moved to widescreen transmission and began high-definition broadcasting on 15 November 2014, described in the available reference material as the first regional television station in Calabria to broadcast in that standard. In the same year, the group introduced LaC News24 as a digital news portal, extending the brand beyond linear television. On 22 May 2017, the channel adopted the name LaC TV. Its present offer is described as light entertainment programming built around films, news, weather bulletins and sports. The channel broadcasts terrestrially in Calabria, including on LCN 19 according to the referenced description, while related group services have also expanded onto satellite and digital platforms. LaC TV’s digital development continued with the launch of LaC Play in January 2021. Initially designed for smart televisions using HbbTV, the service was later made available through a website and mobile applications. It enables viewers to replay the channel’s programs, restart currently broadcast programs and access interactive features. The service also provides live access to LaC TV and associated group channels, including LaC News24 and the satellite-oriented LaC Sat service, later referred to as LaC Network from February 2025. Taken together, LaC TV operates as the principal regional television brand within a broader media and communications group, combining local news and entertainment with online catch-up and connected-TV distribution.

LaC TV developed from local television activity undertaken by Giovanni and Franco Iannuzzi in Calabria. An earlier experiment, associated with Tele 2000, preceded the operation of Canale 22 in Rosarno from 1983 to July 1987. The family later decided to establish a more ambitious broadcaster in Vibo Valentia, a significant Calabrian population centre that lacked a television station. Equipment was acquired during the summer of 1987, and the new station began operating in November of that year as Rete Kalabria. Rete Kalabria’s initial identity was that of a locally rooted regional broadcaster. It transmitted news and entertainment, combining internally produced programs with material acquired from external production companies. During the 1990s it was affiliated with the Amica 9–Telestar network arrangement. The operating company retekalabria srl was incorporated in 1992. Over time, the schedule included daily news, political information, music, interviews, talk shows, films and sports. Notable historical programs included Una canzone per te, Agora, Personaggi allo specchio, Prego, si accomodi and Krono sport. The weekly Il settimanale summarized the principal news of the week and incorporated sign-language interpretation for deaf viewers. The principal ownership transition occurred in October 2013, when Publiemme Group acquired the broadcaster. Publiemme operated across advertising, publishing and communications, and its publisher Domenico Maduli became associated with the channel’s subsequent repositioning. On 20 October 2014, Rete Kalabria was renamed LaC. The rebrand was accompanied by a shift to widescreen transmission. From 15 November 2014, the station also broadcast in high definition, an upgrade characterized in the reference material as a regional first for Calabria. The same broader relaunch produced LaC News24, an online news portal that expanded the group’s editorial presence. On 22 May 2017, the channel adopted its current LaC TV name. Its core identity remained regional, with Calabria as its principal coverage and distribution territory. The channel’s described programming mix consists of light entertainment, films, news, weather bulletins and sports. It has also been distributed through digital terrestrial television, with the referenced material identifying LCN 19 for the channel. LaC TV subsequently pursued platform diversification. In January 2021, it launched LaC Play, initially as an HbbTV service for smart televisions. The platform later became available through a website and mobile applications. Its functions include viewing previously broadcast programs, restarting programs already on air and accessing interactive services. LaC Play also provides live access to LaC TV and related channels. The group’s LaC Sat service began broadcasting on 25 November 2021 through Tivùsat and Sky Italia, while later platform and branding changes connected the service with the broader LaC Network identity. LaC TV therefore represents the regional linear-television component of an expanding Calabria-based media group, supported by news publishing, satellite distribution and digital on-demand access.

• 2021

  LaC Play launches

  [1]LaC TVen.wikipedia.org

  The group launched its on-demand and interactive service for connected television viewers.

• 2017

  The channel becomes LaC TV

  [1]LaC TVen.wikipedia.org

  The broadcaster changed its name from LaC to LaC TV on 22 May.

• 2014

  Rete Kalabria becomes LaC

  [1]LaC TVen.wikipedia.org

  The broadcaster adopted the LaC identity, introduced widescreen broadcasting and launched the LaC News24 web portal.

• 2014

  HD broadcasting begins

  [1]LaC TVen.wikipedia.org

  LaC started high-definition broadcasting on 15 November.

• 2013

  Publiemme Group takes over the broadcaster

  [1]LaC TVen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition initiated a new ownership and rebranding phase.

• 1992

  retekalabria srl is incorporated

  [1]LaC TVen.wikipedia.org

  The company associated with the station was formally incorporated as retekalabria srl.

• 1987

  Rete Kalabria is founded

  [1]LaC TVen.wikipedia.org

  Franco Iannuzzi founded the Vibo Valentia-based regional broadcaster, which began operating in November under the Rete Kalabria name.

• 1983

  Canale 22 begins local broadcasting activity

  [1]LaC TVen.wikipedia.org

  The Iannuzzi family’s earlier local television operation, Canale 22, began broadcasting in Rosarno after earlier Tele 2000 experiments.

A Calabria-focused regional broadcaster combining local news and public-affairs coverage with accessible entertainment, films, weather and sports, supported by digital catch-up and interactive distribution.

• Regional television channel · 1987

  LaC TV

  The core linear television channel of the LaC group, based in Vibo Valentia and focused on Calabria. Its schedule combines local and regional news with weather information, films, sports and light entertainment. The channel evolved from Rete Kalabria, adopted the LaC identity in 2014 and became LaC TV in 2017.

• On-demand and interactive video platform · 2021

  LaC Play

  LaC Play is the group’s catch-up and connected-TV service. Launched initially for smart televisions using HbbTV, it was later extended to a website and mobile applications. It supports replay of network programs, a Restart function for programs already in progress and live viewing of LaC TV and related LaC channels.

• Digital news portal · 2014

  LaC News24

  LaC News24 is the group’s online news publication, launched during the 2014 rebranding period. It extends LaC’s regional editorial activity from linear broadcasting into web-based news and complements the television channel’s information programming.

• Satellite television channel · 2021

  LaC Sat

  LaC Sat was a related satellite channel that began broadcasting in November 2021 on Tivùsat and Sky Italia. The service was subsequently associated with the group’s broader LaC Network identity.

• 2021

  Launch of LaC PlayProduct launch

  Background

  Changing viewing habits and the spread of connected televisions created an opportunity to make the group’s programming available beyond scheduled broadcasts.

  Action taken

  The group introduced LaC Play with catch-up, Restart and interactive functions, initially through HbbTV and later through web and mobile applications.

  Aftermath

  LaC’s programming became available through a broader combination of linear, connected-TV, web and mobile distribution.

  Source

• 2014

  Rebranding from Rete Kalabria to LaCStrategy

  Background

  Following the Publiemme Group takeover, the broadcaster pursued a new identity and a more modern technical presentation.

  Action taken

  Rete Kalabria changed its name to LaC on 20 October, moved to widescreen transmission and launched the LaC News24 web portal.

  Aftermath

  The brand later adopted the LaC TV name and developed a wider cross-platform media presence.

  Source

• 2014

  Transition to high-definition broadcastingOther

  Background

  The rebranded broadcaster upgraded its transmission format during a period of technical modernization.

  Action taken

  LaC began HD broadcasting on 15 November 2014.

  Aftermath

  The upgrade strengthened the channel’s technical positioning within Calabria’s regional television market.

  Source

• 2013

  Acquisition by Publiemme GroupM&A

  Background

  Rete Kalabria was acquired by Publiemme Group in October 2013, bringing the regional broadcaster into a company active in advertising, publishing and communications.

  Action taken

  The new ownership initiated a broader brand, technology and platform development program.

  Aftermath

  The channel was renamed LaC in 2014 and later LaC TV, while the group expanded into digital news, on-demand video and satellite distribution.

  Source

1. 1LaC TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2LaC TV official websitelactv.it