Canale 5

Canale 5 is an Italian free-to-air television network of Mediaset. It was the first private television network to have a national coverage in Italy in 1980 founded by Silvio Berlusconi. On 4 December 2012, Mediaset launched Canale 5 HD, a simulcast of Canale 5 in high-definition. Since January 2013, Canale 5 has been directed by Giancarlo Scheri. In 1978, Telemilano, a local Milan-based broadcaster became Canale 5 two years later and began broadcasting nationally. Canale 5 was subsequently joined by Italia 1 (in 1982) and Rete 4 (in 1984), becaming the prevously company named Fininvest, actually Mediaset.