By Bethany Bell

A group of Italians in Bologna are challenging what they see as the "excessive power" of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in the media by starting up a pirate neighbourhood television station.

Orfeo TV has a broadcasting range of just a few hundred square metres, but Giancarlo "Ambrogio" Vitali, one of the founders, is hoping the idea will spread to other cities and communities across Italy.

"It's a David and Goliath situation," Mr Vitali said.

"But it is important because it is unacceptable in a democracy for the prime minister to have so much influence over the media."

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Mr Berlusconi controls the nation's largest private broadcaster, Mediaset, which operates three national TV channels.

His government now controls the state broadcaster RAI, which has three public TV channels.

Critics say this gives him effective control of 90% of the Italian TV market.

The government has presented a conflict of interest bill to parliament which it says addresses the concerns, but the opposition says the legislation is little more than a fig leaf.

'Freedom'

Orfeo TV, which is named after the street where Mr Vitali lives, makes use of unused frequencies in Bologna. Mr Vitali said so far they have not been challenged by the authorities.

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"We are using the cracks in the system - we want to defend our right to freedom of speech."

Mr Vitali said Orfeo TV, which cost less than 1000 euros to set up, gives viewers more variety.

"The six main channels all look the same. Italians are fed up with mindless game shows - we offer something different. We focus on both local and international subjects."

The team of volunteer reporters and video camera operators take to the streets to tackle issues affecting some of the 5000 people who are able to receive the station.

Mr Vitali said in recent weeks the station has covered a row over proposals by the local authorities to build a car park on the site of the district's 15th century Orfeo garden.

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It also runs discussions on national and international issues - representing a range of political opinions.

Orfeo TV broadcasts for around three hours in the evening - but the programming is unpredictable.

Mr Vitali estimates the station has around 2000 viewers and he said he has received many e-mails from around the country expressing interest in the idea.

"This could be the beginning of a whole network of neighbourhood TV stations - we hope the idea will spread like a virus through Italy.'"