History

Milestones

1948

Foundation of the competition

1949

First actual competition

1953

For the first time Prizes are awarded according to different categories (music, drama, documentaries)

1957

The competition is extended to television

1958

UNESCO offers the "Prize of the Rights of Man" to a radio documentary

1962

Institution of a seventh category for stereophonic radio programmes

1966

UNESCO offers a prize called "Special Prize for the XX Anniversary of UNESCO" to a TV documentary

1968

For the first time also colour TV programmes are submitted; a "Special Prize for the XX Anniversary of the Prix Italia" is awarded to a TV documentary

1971

The special prize for stereophony is abolished, from now on radio programmes may be submitted indifferently in monaural or stereophonic recording in consequence of the diffusion of this technique

1972

Institution of a yearly review of TV programmes (gala evenings and experimental programmes); institution of a yearly meeting on mass communication problems

1973

From its XXV Anniversary the competition is held under the patronage of the President of the Italian Republic

1973

Institution of a Central Archive of the Prix Italia containing the recordings of all radio and TV programmes submitted; a "Special Prix Italia for the 50th Anniversary of Radio" is awarded

1978

XXX Anniversary of the competition

1983

XXXV Anniversary of the competition; the credited press awards two interdisciplinary prizes to a radio programme and to a TV programme, called "International Critics Prize"

1984

The credited press awards an interdisciplinary Prize for a television programme, the "International Critics Prize"

1986

RAI offers a Special Srize for a television prize on ecology; the Italian Prime Ministers Office offers a special prize for a television programme drawn from a published book

1987

The "Special Srize for a programme on Ecology" has been awarded both in radio and in television

1988

A "Special Interdisciplinary Prize" for radio and for TV has been awarded to celebrate the XL Anniversary of the foundation of the competition

1990

The new Special Prize "Presidents Prize" has been awarded to the Director General of RAI for having contributed to the maintenance of quality in broadcasting

1991

The "Presidents Prize" has been awarded to BBC World Radio Service and to CNN Cable News; a Prize for credits and "Title/sequences" has been awarded while the prize for programmes on ecology has been abolished

1992

A prize for title sequences has been awarded also this year

1995

Institution of an annual research on television quality

1996

The Prix Italia strengthens its ties with the European organizations (Commission - Parliament); succesful second edition of the viewing of programmes of East European countries

1997

4th International Forum on Radio and Television programming

1998

establishment of the first "Special Web Prizes" V worldwide Forum on Radio and Television programming "The creative vigour of broadcasters in the new digital sphere"

1999

The awarding of the "Euro Prize", is a special prize destined to the best Radio and Television campaigns in order to make the public aware of the new currency. In this edition, five International workshops take place which are all linked to different broadcasting topics.Second edition of the "Special Web Prize"

2000

Institution of the permanent category for Web/Multimedia. The Special Prize Web Internet-TV and Multimedia is awarded. The Web Day, and 5 International workshops regarding various broadcasting themes take place.

2001

Two important special prizes are awarded: the Granarolo Special Prize, dedicated to the theme “Communication for Life” and the Cardine Special Prize, for television programmes regarding economical themes. The NATPE Day (National Association of Television Programme Executives) and 3 International workshops on communication take place.

2002

Second edition of the Granarolo Special Prize. The UNDA Prize changes name to Signis. The second Napte Day takes place. The Radio Day is celebrated, and 6 workshops associated to broadcasting themes are organized.

2003

During the Prix Italia the Informal Council of Ministers to Culture and Audiovisual of the European Union in the semester of the Italian Presidency takes place. The Prix Italia Quality Market is tested. Important novelty of this edition is that the entire computerization of audio-video-on-demand service starts. Third edition of the Granarolo Special Prize. The Diversity Day, for the European Year for people with Disabilities, and two International workshops are organized.

2004

The President of the Italian Republic assigns a Silver Cup, as Special Prize to the programme that best treats children’s and social problems. Fourth edition of the Granarolo Special Prize. An International conference on ”Media and Terrorism” and two more regarding the world of Civil Rights and Childhood on the “Net”.

2005

For the second edition, a Prize of a Silver Cup is assigned by the President of the Italian Republic, that best treats the realities of Youth. Fifth edition of the Granarolo Special Prize. A conference on “Cinema and TV” in collaboration with the Centre of Experimental Cinematography takes place.

2006

In the third edition, a Silver Cup for the programme that bests illustrates the realities of Youth is proffered by the President of the Italian Republic. Sixth edition of the Granarolo, Special Prize, “Communication for Life”. In this edition 4 International workshops on the theme of the future of broadcasting, and International Festivals are organized.

2007

For the fourth edition running, the President of the Italian Republic assigns a Silver Cup, as Special Prize, for the television work most attentive to the theme on the protection and promotion for the weak and underprivileged. In occasion of the “European Year for Fundamental Rights and Equal Opportunities” the Italian Minister for Rights and Equal Opportunities, proposes the institution of a “Special Prize” to assign to the work that best has faced the thematic of Equal Opportunities. The Special Prize “Communication for Life” is also assigned. Five International workshops on the future and quality of the media, and on the means and use of communication as peace-building are organized.

2008

The 60th anniversary of the Prix Italia. The President of the Italian Republic assigned a Silver Cup as Special Prize to the television work that was best attentive to the theme regarding the lives and the cultural realities of women worldwide. The Special Prize “Creativity in High Definition (HD) was established and was dedicated to the television programmes produced in HD. The awarding of the Special Prize “Communication for Life” also took place.
Five International workshops, both on the quality and future of media and internet, and on the reality of the television production in Asia and on the radio in Africa was organized.
For the very first time the Prix Italia hosted a joint meeting of all the main International Associations pertaining to the Mediterranean area. Under the Presidentship of the ’EBU/UER, the leading authorities of the ASBU, ABU, CIRCOM, CMCA, COPEAM, URTI participated.

2009

For the very first time all the meetings of the Prix Italia can be followed live, in streaming and from all over the world! The International workshops continue to be in the media library of the site: The topics: copyrights; relationship between music and television; 100 radio reporters compare and interact great themes of journalism; digital terrestrial; is it possible to build a Public European Television?; how to develop the world's best site; advertising, crisis and transformation. A new digital terrestrial channel dedicated entirely to the Prix Italia has been set up in the Torino area. The events of the Prix are told in two languages through the blog with interviews to the protagonists who participated in Torino. The novelty of the 61st edition was that an African broadcaster from the Ivory Coast won and was awarded the Special Prize "Programmes that effect Social changes". The actress, Isabelle Adjani, star of "Skirt Day" who was assigned the Prix Italia prize in 2009 in the TV Drama section, recieved her fifth Cèsar in 2010 for the same film.

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