English Language Media in Tuscany

Radio

BBC World Service can be received on digital FM 90.2 and Satellite Hot Bird 2-13º East.

• For more information on receiving BBC World Service via satellite: Click here

The main BBC stations and other English-language radio can also be received via many satellite TV installations or over the Internet. Previously broadcast programmes can often be listened to again or downloaded.

Voice of America is also available on shortwave, with NewsNow. 

• For the region's frequency chart: Click here
• For a programme guide: Click here
• For webcasts of VOA programmes: Click here

Radio in Tuscany

The Italian Radio Relay Service (IRRS) was founded as a short wave radio station in 1987, with the intention of reaching the largest number of Europeans by radio. Currently, with the help of the Milan-based, non-profit organisation NEXUS-IBA, IRRS shortwave broadcasts programmes dealing with many different subjects in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Polish and Ukrainian.

• To read more about NEXUS-IBA: Click here

IRRS Shortwave can be found on the following frequencies:

• From Europe 7,120, 3,985 and 3,955 KHz (41 metre band) daily: Schedules

For more information, contact:

• NEXUS – International Broadcasting Association
  At: P.O. Box 10980, 20110 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 266 6971
  Fax: 02 706 38151
  e-mail
  Website

The following English-language radio stations broadcast in Tuscany:

• Italian Groove Radio broadcasts Italian, British and American music with announcements in English. Listen online with WinAmp Media Player.
• Rai International Radio broadcasts daily foreign language news bulletins on shortwave, Hotbird 6 and on the Internet
• To find out broadcast times for news bulletins in the language of choice: Click here
• American Forces Network (AFN) broadcasts radio programmes in English to the American Army Base, Camp Darby. The station is The Eagle Livorno and broadcasts mainly music with military-related information, including events at the base on 106.0 FM. An alternative service on 107.0 FM includes mainly talk shows and news items from American media, as well as classic-rock music sessions from 14:00-18:00. Coverage is in and around the base.
• The Eagle Livorno
  Camp Darby (Livorno-Pisa) Unit
  At: Via Aurelia Sud, 56121 Coltano (PI)
  Tel: 050 548 300
  Website

Radio on the Internet: English language stations online

Radio stations often stream their broadcasts on the Internet. In order to listen to their programmes it is necessary to have Realplayer or Windows Media Player, both of which can be downloaded.

• For a full list of online stations throughout the world, see Radio Locator
• To see a list of the many stations available, see Mike's Radio World, Live 365, Streema Online Radio Stations and Broadcast Live

• BBC Radio
• Voice of America's NewsNow
• CNN
• ABC News
• CBC Radio (Canada)
• RTE (Republic of Ireland)
• Yahoo music

Followers of fashion may listen to interviews in Italian and English on the FashionFM website

On the Monitor RadioTV website it is possible to listen to British, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish radio programmes

• For radio programmes broadcast from the Vatican: Click here

The monthly broadcasting magazine, MonitoR Radio TV, has articles on radio programmes, television, broadcasting technology, audio-video production, advertising agencies, producers and programmes distributors in both English and Italian.

Television

In order to watch English-language, free-to-air programmes (unscrambled) such as BBC World, CNBC Europe, CNN International, Euronews, MTV, Travel and Skynews, a satellite reception system capable of picking up the Astra-1 satellite cluster is necessary.

• For a list of free-to-air, Astra-1 digital channels available in Italy: Click here

More channels are available via a HotBird system available on the HotBird satellite cluster at 13.0º East.

• A list of HotBird channels can be found in the Eutelsat directory (PDF)

The free-to-air English-language TV channels included in HotBird are the following:

• BBC World  
• Bloomberg TV Europe
• CCTV9
• EBS – Europe by Satellite
• Euronews

ITV, BBC ONE and BBC TWO programmes are available with the Astra 2 system. These and all the other free-to-air channels can be received by any standard digital satellite receiver and large (90cm+) satellite dish.

• For a list of what's on TV across Europe: Click here

Internet television tuners

Holersoft is an Internet television tuner that allows users to see over 1,200 online TV stations from around the world. The television channels are streamed through the Internet connection, without need for a PC TV card. It is advisable to use a high-speed Internet connection. A free, trial version can be downloaded.

Sopcast is a free, streaming, direct broadcast system based on P2P which allows users to watch international TV programmes online.

Ahusoft provides international live television channels and online radio stations. A free, trial version (and the option to buy) are available on the Ahusoft website.

• For more Internet TV options: Click here

The Italian TV broadcasting company Rai, shows some satellite TV programmes in English, such as the Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, on Rai Sat Extra.

• To see a timetable: Click here

Magazines and Newspapers

• The Grapevine is a free monthly publication for the English-speaking community of Lucca. It can be found at local newsagents and may be also obtained by annual subscription.
• The Florentine is a free bi-weekly newspaper covering news, events, culture, politics, business, travel, food, sport and weather in and around the Florence area. Copies are distributed at the International School, bookshops, American universities, Internet cafes, health clubs, hotels and by hand at the major squares in the city.

Online media in English for Tuscany

• AGI (Agenzia Giornalistica Italiana): news site produced by the Italian Prime Minister's office.
• EIN News: Italian news in English
• The Barga News: online publication about life in and around the small town of Barga in the province of Lucca. It includes a daily update, a book exchange and a guide to what to do in the area
• The Magazine: periodical covering education and culture in Europe, with in-depth articles and reports on EU policies; available in five languages: English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. It is only available by subscription
• Trekking: an Italian magazine featuring information about accommodation, excursions, events, holidays and articles; online versions in English, German and Italian. To see the section on Tuscany: Click here
• Corriere della Sera: newspaper featuring articles about Italian life, politics, news and recipes, can be read in English online
• The Informer: online guide to living in Italy, understanding Italian bureaucracy and overcoming difficulties in dealing with laws, tax, social security and labour regulations.
• Tel: 02 935 81477
  Fax: 02 935 80280
  e-mail
  Website

International newspapers in Tuscany

Foreign newspapers are available at several newspaper stands around Tuscany, usually on the day following issue.

International News Links

AngloINFO delivers an extensive English-language news service, drawn from resources around the world.

• Visit the AngloINFO Newsroom

In addition international online news can be viewed via the following websites:

• BBC News
• CNN News

Also you can often read your favourite newspaper online:

UK

• The Belfast Telegraph
• The Daily Express
• The Daily/Sunday Telegraph
• The Financial Times
• The Guardian
• The Independent
• The Mirror
• The Sun
• The Scotsman
• The Times
• And many more, listed here

Ireland

• The Irish Independent
• The Irish News
• The Irish Times
• And many more, listed here

USA

• The Chicago Sun-Times
• The LA Times
• The New York Times
• The New York Post
• The San Francisco Chronicle
• The San Francisco Examiner
• The Seattle Times
• USA Today
• The Wall Street Journal
• The Washington Post
• And many more, listed here

Canada

• The Montreal Gazette
• The Toronto Star
• The Vancouver Sun
• The Globe and the Mail
• And many more, listed here

Australia

• The Sydney Morning Herald
• The Melbourne Age
• And many more, listed here

New Zealand

• The New Zealand Herald
• And many more, listed here

South Africa

• Business Day
• Die Burger (in Afrikaans)
• Independent Newspapers (The Star, The Cape, Argus etc)
• The Sunday Times
• The Weekly Mail and Guardian