RADIO IN ITALY

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 22, 16 December 1927, Page 11

RADIO IN ITALY

METHOD OF TAXATION. In Italy there is a Government tax of about 1s. 3d. on the sale of a crystal set, about 7s. 6d. on a valve set, 5s. on a loudspeaker and Is. 8d. on each valye. The official subscribers to the broadcasting service number about 30,000, but the owners of sets in Italy who are listening-in to the programmes are probably more than double than number. This building of unlicensed sets has proved to be an important factor in keeping up the demand for radio parts which still form the bulk of the business-about 75 per cent. according to the estimate of one radio wholesaler. Where sets are purchased, those not requiring aerials are popular because they do not advertise their presence to the Government collector. The license fee is about 2s. per month. Broadcasting is conducted by a private company which receives a percentage of the taxes on radio collected by the Italian Government,