Italian TV Hosts De Martino and Scotti Call for Shorter Access Prime‑Time

Stefano De Martino of Rai 1’s “Affari Tuoi” and Gerry Scotti of Canale 5’s “La Ruota della Fortuna” staged a joint appearance at the 18th Premio Biagio Agnes in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna. The two rivals embraced, exchanged symbolic gifts and used the platform to appeal publicly to network executives, urging that the access‑prime‑time slot end at 21:30 instead of the later times that have become common. Both highlighted how the extended duration pushes subsequent programmes, such as films and variety shows, beyond 22:00 and harms audience flow.

The appeal was echoed by veteran journalist Bruno Vespa, who suggested an even earlier cutoff at 21:15. De Martino, recently confirmed to host the 2027 Sanremo Festival, and Scotti, a mainstay of Mediaset’s primetime line‑up, emphasized their shared respect despite competing for the same audience share. Their light‑hearted skit underscored a broader debate in Italian broadcasting about schedule length and viewer fatigue.