Italian publisher L’Espresso, industrial group De Benedetti and rock star Vasco Rossi are contemplating the launch of new thematic digital TV channels for the Italian TV market.

The administrative council of publishing giant L’Espresso recently approved the establishment of a new company, Ele TV, which will be responsible for the launch of thematic satellite TV channels. The masthead publishing unit will produce programming in line with the group’s publications and its radio stations Radio Deejay, Radio Capital and Italia Radio. The channels will also be carried over the Internet thanks to a deal with L’Espresso’s Internet subsidiary Kataweb. According to a report in the weekly Panorama, L’Espresso is also involved in a joint venture with the De Benedetti industrial group with the goal of launching a music channel based around Italy’s most listened to private radio station, Radio Deejay.

Another new entry in the TV business is Italian rock star Vasco Rossi, who is planning to launch a music channel, together with TV producer Rino Maenza and the director general of TV production house Giunti Multimedia Albino Bertoletti. The new channel, which will be a free-to-air service, will not only broadcast music videos, but also sports and entertainment programming.