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May 3, 2025

TGcom24: Italy’s 24/7 News Powerhouse, Explained

TGcom24 isn’t just another news brand—it’s Mediaset’s full-throttle answer to real-time information in a world that doesn’t slow down. If you follow Italian media, or care about how digital news and TV collide, this one’s worth knowing.


What is TGcom24?

TGcom24 is a 24-hour Italian news channel owned by Mediaset (now under the MFE – MediaForEurope umbrella). It launched in 2011, replacing the earlier TGcom news website. Think of it as Italy’s hybrid of CNN and a news-heavy version of BBC iPlayer: always on, fully digital, and unapologetically fast.

It's broadcast nationwide via digital terrestrial channel 51 and on Sky Italia (channel 509). But that’s just one part of the ecosystem. The TGcom24 website and mobile app churn out headlines around the clock, often with real-time video, push alerts, and exclusive segments.


From TGcom to TGcom24: Why the Switch?

TGcom launched back in 2001, a time when news websites were still finding their rhythm. It focused on breaking news, politics, sports, and entertainment—pretty standard. But as the media landscape changed, Mediaset needed more than a website. They needed a full-time, multimedia news machine.

In 2011, they retired TGcom and launched TGcom24. This wasn’t just a facelift—it was a strategic shift. Italy was in political chaos (Berlusconi’s fourth government was collapsing), and Mediaset wanted to own the 24/7 news cycle. TGcom24 went live just weeks before the official Berlusconi resignation. Smart timing.


Mediaset’s Master Plan

TGcom24 isn't a standalone project. It’s part of a broader Mediaset strategy to dominate Italy’s private news sector. That includes:

  • Studio Aperto (news for Italia 1)

  • TG4 (news for Rete 4)

  • TG5 (the flagship news show)

  • Sport Mediaset

  • Videonews (talk shows, interviews, specials)

In 2019, Mediaset merged editorial teams from these programs into NewsMediaset, then again rebranded and absorbed it under the TGcom24 umbrella by 2021. Today, TGcom24 is the core editorial identity behind almost everything news-related at Mediaset.

What that means in practice: Whether you're watching the morning bulletin on Italia 1 or checking the website at midnight, it's probably coming from the same editorial brain.


What TGcom24 Actually Covers

No fluff. TGcom24 hits the big beats—cronaca (breaking domestic news), politica, esteri (world affairs), economia, and sport—but with a distinct Mediaset voice. That voice? Direct, punchy, fast-moving, sometimes controversial.

The site has categories for:

  • People – think celebrity gossip with a local spin.

  • Spettacolo – TV and movie news, especially focused on Mediaset's own shows.

  • Tecnologia – apps, gadgets, and digital culture (with a very Italian lens).

  • Viaggi – curated travel news, often tied to domestic tourism and lifestyle.

  • Meteo e Salute – weather and health updates with practical info and alerts.

You’ll also find live streaming, rolling tickers, and short video reports that are designed for both TV and mobile users.


The App: News On The Go

The TGcom24 app, available on Android and iOS, is light, free, and aggressively updated. It mirrors the website’s content—breaking news, push notifications, quick-access video—but optimized for mobile speed.

Notable features:

  • Real-time push alerts on major national or global events

  • Live streaming of the TGcom24 broadcast

  • Saved stories for offline reading

  • Video-first design, perfect for Italian commuters glued to phones

It averages over 21,000 reviews on Google Play with a 3.3-star rating. Not perfect, but effective for what it does.


Political Leanings and Editorial Style

TGcom24 is often seen as center-right—not surprising given Mediaset’s historical ties to Silvio Berlusconi, former Prime Minister and Mediaset founder. Coverage tends to favor conservative-leaning analysis, though it doesn’t always toe the party line.

If you’re used to the more state-neutral tone of RAI or the cosmopolitan edge of Sky TG24, TGcom24 will feel more populist, more urgent, sometimes more sensationalist. Not unlike how Fox News compares to PBS in the U.S.


Real-Time Coverage That Actually Means Real-Time

When Italy floods, TGcom24 has cameras there before the rain stops. When Parliament collapses (which happens a lot), the site runs minute-by-minute updates, live votes, and on-the-ground commentary. This isn’t “updated every few hours” coverage—it’s live ticker, push alert, multiple-updates-per-minute energy.

For example: During the COVID-19 pandemic, TGcom24 ran a constantly updating dashboard with infection rates, lockdown updates, and government decisions long before many competitors caught up.


Audience Reach and Influence

TGcom24’s reach isn’t just national. It’s available across Europe via satellite and streaming. There’s even a Canadian version, licensed to TLN Media Group, airing TGcom24 content to Italian-speaking audiences in North America.

It ranks consistently high in Italian Alexa traffic charts, often in the top 20 sites for daily visitors, according to SimilarWeb data. In Italy’s fragmented media space, that’s a big deal.


Competitors? Not Many at This Speed

  • Rai News 24 is public, slower, and more formal.

  • Sky TG24 is sleek, but behind a paywall for most users.

  • Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica dominate print and digital, but lack video-first coverage.

TGcom24 fills that niche between traditional journalism and ultra-digital, ultra-fast broadcasting. It’s immediate. It’s everywhere. And it knows how to monetize urgency.


FAQ

Is TGcom24 free to watch?
Yes. It’s available free-to-air on digital terrestrial and online at tgcom24.mediaset.it.

Does TGcom24 have an app?
Yes, for both Android and iOS. It offers live streaming, breaking alerts, and mobile-optimized stories.

Is TGcom24 politically biased?
It leans center-right, consistent with Mediaset’s historical ownership ties, but still covers a wide political spectrum.

Can I watch TGcom24 outside Italy?
Yes, via streaming. In Canada, a licensed version is also available on cable.

Is TGcom24 the same as TGcom?
No. TGcom was the original website (2001–2011). TGcom24 replaced it and added a full TV channel.


Final Take

TGcom24 isn’t subtle—but that’s the point. It’s Italy’s rapid-response news engine, wired for speed, built on legacy media power, and designed for a culture that thrives on immediacy. Whether it’s politics, celebrity scandals, or breaking economic shifts, TGcom24 makes sure you see it first—and loud.