Television - Fine for Rai Broadcaster for covert advertising with Travolta
Italian publicly-owned television broadcaster Rai has been ordered to pay a fine of 206,000 Euros by the national media regulatory authority for covert advertising during John Travolta's appearance at the Sanremo Festival. The regulatory body justified this decision with a "grave breach" during prime-time television during this year's Sanremo Festival.
Travolta's roller skates, 70-year-old ("Saturday Night Fever", "Grease", "Pulp Fiction"), were particularly noticeable in the scenes.
The Sanremo Festival, named after the eponymous city on the Mediterranean, is one of the biggest ratings drawers in Italian television. Prominent foreign stars often appear on the show. This year, Travolta stood out for many due to his attempt at the "Duck Dance" during the Disco era of the 70s.
- Despite the controversy surrounding the covert advertising, John Travolta's performance at the Sanremo Festival garnered widespread attention in the Media across the United States of America.
- John Travolta's appearance at the Sanremo Festival was not just limited to Italian Radio-Television, as clips of his "Duck Dance" went viral on various Music platforms and Radio stations around the world.
- The Stealth Marketing strategy used by Italian Radio-Television during John Travolta's performance at the Sanremo Festival also raised concerns in Hollywood, where such practices are often met with strict regulations.
- The Sanremo Song Festival, a highly anticipated event in Italy and a major event on the European entertainment calendar, brought together a diverse range of people from the Music industry.
- Besides his iconic roles in films like "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease", John Travolta's love for Music was evident in his lively performance at the Sanremo Festival.
- The fine imposed on Italian publicly-owned television broadcaster Rai serves as a reminder to other broadcasters around the world about the importance of adhering to Media regulations and avoiding covert advertising practices.
- Despite the controversy, John Travolta's appearance at the Sanremo Festival added another memorable chapter to his long-standing career in Entertainment, spanning across Movies and Music.
