Teleroma 56

Teleroma 56 is an Italian regional television broadcaster based in Rome. Founded in 1972 by psychiatrist Guglielmo Arcieri under the name Teleromacavo, it was one of the first television stations to broadcast from Monte Cavo on UHF channel 56, from which it derives its name. The station quickly distinguished itself through its journalistic vocation, sports coverage, and close ties to the Radical Party. Over the decades, it has been a launching ground for notable sports journalists and has produced a variety of programmes focused on Rome and Lazio football clubs. After a period of crisis and bankruptcy in 1998, it was taken over by Edoardo Caltagirone and has since regained journalistic and sports production quality. Today, Teleroma 56 continues to broadcast, offering news, sports talk shows, and interactive programmes via SMS, voice messages, photos, and videos through its WhatsApp number.

Teleroma 56 was founded in 1972 by psychiatrist Guglielmo Arcieri under the name Teleromacavo, at a time when over-the-air broadcasting was not yet permitted in Italy, so cable was used to connect televisions. It was one of the first to broadcast a signal from Monte Cavo on UHF channel 56, which gave the station its name. It quickly distinguished itself through three characteristics: its journalistic vocation, sports, and closeness to the Radical Party. In 1976, architect Bruno Zevi, a historian and critic of architecture who in the 1980s became honorary president of the Radical Party, became a partner alongside Professor Arcieri and his son Francesco. The station became a reference point for sports fans thanks to live commentary of Sunday matches of Roma and Lazio on the programme 'In campo con Roma e Lazio' by Lamberto Giorgi, with commentary by established radio commentators such as Gianni Cerqueti, Fabio Caressa, and Simone Braconcini, as well as Sunday sports programmes 'Meeting' by Giulio Galasso and 'Goal di Notte' by Michele Plastino. Noted sports journalist Sandro Piccinini collaborated as a correspondent from stadiums. All these sports programmes were directed by Luigi Del Mastro. Another strength was information always attentive to the city, with a strong vocation for investigations. Politics was a backbone of TR56's schedules. During the golden years of the Radical Party's historic battles, the long live broadcasts of Marco Pannella were unforgettable, as he gagged himself, shouted, incited, discussed with viewers by phone, or appeared emaciated and exhausted during frequent hunger or thirst strikes; alongside him were Giovanni Negri and a young Francesco Rutelli. In 1980, to protest censorship measures that prohibited even possession of a poster of the film, Teleroma 56 broadcast a copy illegally brought from France of Bernardo Bertolucci's 'Last Tango in Paris', then banned in Italy. Carlo Romeo was news director for many years. From the outset, the direction of all programming was handled by Luigi Del Mastro. Starting in 1979, he also created all the sets and theme songs, and coordinated the technical team for years; among them, Valentino Tocco, who after being his first operator, replaced him as director, and Marcello Rapezzi, now a top operator for major productions (Rai and Mediaset). The Achilles' heel of TR56's programming was entertainment, which was scarce and marginal. To access films and high-level productions, Teleroma 56 joined various circuits, from Tivuitalia (1989 to 1991) to Odeon TV, which remained on the Roman TV screens from about 1992 to 1999, when the Milanese network, due to financial difficulties faced by the Roman station, preferred to move first to Telecapitol, then to Rete Oro, and currently to Telereporter Roma, a TV created by Gruppo Profit. The station also had a younger sister, Canale 66, on which programmes like the weekly UIL column, directed by Luigi Del Mastro, and the 'Archivio Radicale' column were replicated, showing rallies, meetings, and gatherings related to the Radical Party's activities and battles, creating an absolutely original television format. Canale 66 was briefly associated with Pan Tv in 1988; after the bankruptcy of the Pavia-based network, it lost a frequency it held in Florence, which passed first to Tele 90 and after that network's bankruptcy to a series of local TVs. Canale 66 then linked for a long time to the Junior Tv circuit, which allowed it to gain notable success among young viewers. Canale 66 (along with Telelazio, which also repeated the circuit) was the first station to broadcast the Dragon Ball series in Rome. After ending the collaboration with the Lombard network after 5 years of success, Canale 66 began repeating another prestigious network, Cinquestelle, which had left GBR then in strong crisis. After about two years, Canale 66 was incorporated by the Milanese group Telecampione, creating Telecampione 3. The TR56 group also included a mainly commercial station of teleshopping only, T.A.I. canale 68, which lasted a short time towards the end of the 1980s. The frequency was sold to Tele 90, following all its troubles until the disappearance of the Florentine network in 1992. After a period of crisis that saw the loss of many flagship programmes (including bankruptcy in 1998), the station was initially self-managed through Cooperativa 56 and then taken over by Edoardo Caltagirone, already owner of T9 TV, and has regained journalistic and sports production quality at a high level, driven by the journalistic direction of Stefano Piccheri and the editorial contribution coordinated by Luca Pietrafesa, succeeded by Francesco Albanese. Since 2017, the Director of TG56 is Marco Fabriani. With the switch-off of the analogue signal and the transition to digital terrestrial, the station, like many other local broadcasters, suffered a strong drop in ratings due to the automatic positioning of the channel far from the first positions.

• 2017

  Marco Fabriani becomes Director of TG56.

• 1998

  Bankruptcy; station initially self-managed through Cooperativa 56.

• 1992

  Joins Odeon TV circuit (until about 1999).

• 1989

  Joins Tivuitalia circuit (until 1991).

• 1988

  Canale 66 briefly associated with Pan Tv.

• 1980

  Broadcasts banned film 'Last Tango in Paris' in protest against censorship.

• 1979

  Luigi Del Mastro begins directing all programming and creating sets and theme songs.

• 1976

  Architect Bruno Zevi becomes a partner alongside Arcieri and his son Francesco.

• 1972

  Founded by Guglielmo Arcieri as Teleromacavo, broadcasting via cable from Monte Cavo on UHF channel 56.

A historic Roman regional broadcaster with a strong focus on local news, sports, and political engagement.

• Programmi 56

  Live programme aired Monday to Friday at 19:30, curated by the journalistic editorial team.

• In Campo con Roma e Lazio

  Sports programme covering all championship match days, hosted by Lamberto Giorgi.

• TG56

  News programme, directed by Marco Fabriani since 2017.

• Meeting

  Sunday sports programme by Giulio Galasso.

• Goal di Notte

  Sports programme by Michele Plastino.

1. 1Teleroma 56 official websiteteleroma56.tv
2. 2Teleroma 56 - Wikipediait.wikipedia.org
3. 3Teleroma 56 - Wikidatawikidata.org