“The stalemate in Rai blocks production and schedules”. The j’accuse of the Audiovisual Producers Association

“The stalemate into which Rai has entered constitutes a real state of emergency which as such should be considered and resolved urgently“. The j’accuse comes from one of the most historic and experienced former Rai executives, Gian Carlo Leonenow at the helm of the Audiovisual Producers Association (Apa), which deals with the representation of companies that produce fiction and TV programs, to which over 40 companies belong.

According to Leone, who was a longtime CEO of Rai Cinema, “We don’t care if and who will lead Rai in the future. We are concerned that
for two months all entertainment, fiction, documentary and animation projects have been blocked pending a solution at the top which, evidently, does not exist”. The reference is to the freezing of appointments for the posts of CEO and president, in which the government has decided to retain (but only temporarily) Carlo Fuortes and Marinella Soldi. Waiting for the decisions that will have to redesign public TV with the new executive and the new majority. “This constitutes enormous damage for Rai itself and for the entire production world with obvious effects on the next programming schedules, in fact blocked, and on the entire production, creative and cultural chain”, underlines Leone.

Only yesterday was the new Rai budget approved, one of the preparatory steps for the replacement of top management. But for now both Fuortes and Soldi remain in place, giving the impression of a company, precisely, at a standstill, “”The situation requires urgent action by the Rai shareholder, the Mef, which of assembly for the approval of the 2022 budget will hopefully have to take a position on the matter”, adds Leone. The assembly will be held on April 27th.