Between September and November 2025, the programming of Italian public broadcasters Rai1 and Rai2 has been consistently delayed, often by over ten minutes, during prime time. When excluding brief previews, the actual start of the shows has been delayed by more than twenty minutes. This issue has drawn the attention of the telecommunications regulator AgCom, which highlights that such delays create discomfort for viewers of public service broadcasting, though they are not a result of disorganization within the state-run networks.

The delays are primarily due to the significant amount of advertising that Rai focuses on particularly during the 8:30 PM to 9 PM timeslot, especially on Rai1. While it is true that legal advertising limits are not being exceeded, AgCom has observed that there are certain peaks of advertising that, when considered individually, exceed the 12% hourly limit that is suggested. The regulator’s scrutiny indicates a growing concern about how much advertising is being packed into a short period, potentially at the cost of the viewer experience.

This situation raises important questions about the balance between advertising revenue and viewer satisfaction in public broadcasting. The heavy reliance on commercial-style ad practices could undermine the integrity of public service broadcasting, making it seem more like commercial networks. As the regulator continues to monitor the situation, the implications for public perception and potential policy changes regarding advertising practices on state-run stations remain to be seen.