Turin: RAI puts up for sale the historic building on Via Verdi 31 —

What is happening to the building on Via Verdi 31

RAI has listed the historic building at Via Verdi 31 in Turin among properties to be sold. Home to the Teche RAI, the 1939 building is widely regarded as the birthplace of Italian television and holds an important audiovisual archive used by researchers, students and cultural professionals.

Reasons and financial figures

The disposal plan is intended to raise funds for urgent needs, including asbestos remediation at RAI's Rome headquarters on Via Mazzini. The Turin property has been estimated at about €12 million, but institutions and workers warn that the site’s cultural and historical value far outweighs its market price.

Concerns from staff and unions

Journalists' associations and employees have sounded the alarm over tight timelines and the prospect of vacating the building by the end of the year. Main concerns include:

• the risk of losing a nationally significant cultural and archival hub;
• further downsizing of the Production Centre and the Teche, already affected by staff reductions;
• a lack of secure, long-term relocation plans for archives and workspaces.

Political and institutional responses

Political representatives and unions have demanded transparent dialogue. Talks are underway between municipal and regional authorities and RAI executives to explore alternatives that could preserve an operational and cultural presence in Turin.

Alternative proposal: an audiovisual and film hub

Proposals from local politicians and cultural stakeholders include converting the site into a centre for audiovisual and film culture, linked to the National Museum of Cinema. The vision is an integrated hub for production, archives, training and innovation that would also enhance the Piero Angela Production Centre.

Implications for Turin

The potential sale is perceived as a threat to Turin’s role in broadcasting and to local production capacity. Observers point to a broader shift of productions to Milan, which may further weaken Turin’s media ecosystem.

Next steps

Negotiations continue. Temporary relocations have been mentioned for ground-floor premises between Via Verdi and Via Rossini, but final outcomes depend on talks involving the company, institutions and unions. Public council meetings at municipal or regional level may be convened to discuss the future of the site openly.

For readers interested in monuments and heritage, this is more than a real-estate decision: it concerns safeguarding a landmark of Italy’s audiovisual history and finding sustainable cultural uses for the site.