The Ente Italiano per le Audizioni Radiofoniche (EIAR) was the only public service broadcaster

Public broadcasting

Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...

 in Italy and the only one allowed to do so.

History

The company was established in 1927, after the partial takeover of the private radio broadcaster Unione Radiofonica Italiana (URI), which since 1924 was the sole authorized to establish radio transmitters and run radio broadcasts in the Italian territory. Between 1929 and 1939, the EIAR has done the first television broadcasting tests in Italy.