VB33

VB33, short for Video Bolzano 33, is an Italian regional television channel based in Bolzano, South Tyrol. The station was established in 1981 as a cooperative and developed as a general-interest broadcaster for the province of Bolzano. Its historical names included VideoBolzano Canale 33 and Video 33, while the VB33 name became the principal brand associated with the channel. The station was acquired in 1986 by Valerio Rolando Boesso, a publisher and journalist who had co-founded the regional newspaper Alto Adige. Under Boesso's ownership, VB33 became part of a broader regional media strategy connected with the Italia 9 Network. Boesso later served as chairman of that network from 1998 until his death in 2008. His involvement linked the channel to the development of locally oriented television and publishing operations in northeastern Italy. Shortly before Boesso's death, VB33 was sold to the Bolzano-based investment fund Euregio Finance. The channel was subsequently operated under the corporate banner Rosengarten S.R.L. During this period, the owners expanded the local television portfolio by launching a German-language sister channel, Südtirol Digital Fernsehen, in 2009. The creation of SDF reflected the linguistic and cultural characteristics of South Tyrol, where German- and Italian-language media both serve significant audiences. VB33's geographical reach expanded beyond Bolzano in 2017 to include the neighboring province of Trento. This gave the channel a broader regional footprint while retaining its focus on local and general-interest programming. Its programming has included news and community-oriented content, as well as sports coverage. Hockey is particularly prominent in the station's schedule through Hockey33, a weekly talk program focused largely on the ICE Hockey League's Bolzano Foxes, and Hockey Night, which carries live ice hockey games. The channel also has a connection with nationally recognized Italian journalism through Lilli Gruber, who was among VB33's on-air personalities early in her career. In 2020, VB33 was sold to the Cremona-based media company Telecolor. The transaction placed the channel under a new media owner while preserving its identity as a regional broadcaster. VB33 is therefore best understood as a local television brand rather than a national commercial network: its value lies in territorial coverage, regional news and culture, multilingual media context, and live or discussion-based sports programming.

VB33 began operations in 1981 as a cooperative regional television channel in the province of Bolzano, in Italy's autonomous South Tyrol region. The station's name referred to Video Bolzano and its channel number, and it was also known at different points as VideoBolzano Canale 33 and Video 33. From the outset, its role was territorial rather than national: it provided locally relevant television for viewers in and around Bolzano and operated within a multilingual media environment shaped by the region's Italian- and German-speaking communities. In 1986, the station was purchased by Valerio Rolando Boesso, a journalist and publisher who had co-founded the regional newspaper Alto Adige. Boesso's ownership connected VB33 with a broader regional publishing and broadcasting enterprise. The channel later became part of the Italia 9 Network, a television grouping with which Boesso was associated as chairman from 1998. He remained in that role until his death in 2008. During the early phase of VB33's history, journalist Lilli Gruber was among the station's on-air personalities before pursuing a wider national and international media career. Near the end of Boesso's life, VB33 was sold to Euregio Finance, an investment fund based in Bolzano. The new ownership operated the channel through Rosengarten S.R.L. and pursued a degree of portfolio expansion. In 2009, it launched Südtirol Digital Fernsehen, a German-language sister channel. The new service complemented VB33's Italian-oriented identity and responded to the region's distinctive linguistic market. VB33 broadened its reception area in 2017, when its coverage expanded to the province of Trento. This move increased the channel's regional relevance beyond South Tyrol and gave it a presence across a wider part of the Trentino-Alto Adige area. Despite the expansion, the station continued to operate as a regional broadcaster rather than transforming into a national network. Sports became an identifiable component of VB33's programming. Hockey33 is a weekly talk show primarily dedicated to the Bolzano Foxes, the city's prominent ice hockey team competing in the ICE Hockey League. Hockey Night provides live ice hockey game broadcasts. These programs illustrate the channel's local-service model: combining general-interest television with coverage of sports and institutions that have strong regional followings. In 2020, VB33 was sold to Telecolor, a media company based in Cremona. The sale marked the latest documented ownership transition in the channel's history. VB33's development can consequently be divided into several stages: cooperative formation, expansion under Boesso and the Italia 9 connection, operation by Euregio Finance and Rosengarten S.R.L. with the launch of a German-language sister service, territorial expansion into Trentino, and ownership by Telecolor. Across these changes, the brand has remained associated with regional television, local identity, and programming designed for audiences in northeastern Italy.

• 2020

  Telecolor becomes owner

  [1]VB33en.wikipedia.org

  The Cremona-based media company Telecolor purchases VB33.

• 2017

  Coverage expands into Trentino

  [1]VB33en.wikipedia.org

  VB33 extends its reach to the province of Trento in addition to Bolzano.

• 2009

  German-language sister channel launches

  [1]VB33en.wikipedia.org

  Südtirol Digital Fernsehen is launched under the ownership operating VB33 through Rosengarten S.R.L.

• 1998

  Boesso becomes chairman of Italia 9 Network

  [1]VB33en.wikipedia.org

  Boesso assumes the chairmanship of the Italia 9 Network, with which VB33 was integrated.

• 1986

  Boesso acquires the channel

  [1]VB33en.wikipedia.org

  Publisher and journalist Valerio Rolando Boesso purchases VB33.

• 1981

  VB33 is founded as a cooperative

  [1]VB33en.wikipedia.org

  A cooperative establishes the regional television channel in the province of Bolzano.

A locally focused general-interest television channel serving the South Tyrol and Trentino areas, with a distinctive emphasis on regional coverage and ice hockey programming.

• Regional television channel · 1981

  VB33 regional television service

  VB33 is a general-interest regional television service centered on the province of Bolzano and later extended to the province of Trento. Its output is oriented toward local audiences and includes regional information, community-focused programming, and sports content. The channel's identity reflects the territorial and multilingual character of northeastern Italy.

• Sports talk show

  Hockey33

  Hockey33 is a weekly discussion program primarily devoted to the Bolzano Foxes and their participation in the ICE Hockey League. It gives VB33 a recurring local sports franchise and connects the station with one of Bolzano's most prominent sporting institutions.

• Live sports broadcasting

  Hockey Night

  Hockey Night is VB33's live ice hockey broadcast offering. The program extends the channel's sports role beyond studio discussion by carrying live games for regional viewers.

• 2020

  Sale to TelecolorM&A

  Background

  VB33 was operated by Euregio Finance under the Rosengarten S.R.L. corporate banner.

  Action taken

  The channel was sold to the Cremona-based media company Telecolor.

  Aftermath

  Telecolor became the documented owner of the regional television brand.

  Source

• 2017

  Expansion into TrentinoStrategy

  Background

  VB33 historically served the province of Bolzano.

  Action taken

  The channel expanded its coverage area to include the province of Trento.

  Aftermath

  VB33 gained a broader regional footprint across the Trentino-Alto Adige area.

  Source

• 2009

  Launch of Südtirol Digital FernsehenProduct launch

  Background

  Euregio Finance operated VB33 through Rosengarten S.R.L. in South Tyrol's multilingual media market.

  Action taken

  The owners launched Südtirol Digital Fernsehen as a German-language sister channel.

  Aftermath

  The ownership group expanded its regional television portfolio with a service aimed at German-speaking viewers.

  Source

• 1986

  Acquisition by Valerio Rolando BoessoM&A

  Background

  VB33 had operated as a cooperative regional broadcaster since 1981.

  Action taken

  Valerio Rolando Boesso purchased the channel and incorporated it into his broader regional media activities.

  Aftermath

  The station became linked to the Italia 9 Network and to Boesso's publishing and broadcasting interests.

  Source

1. 1VB33en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official VB33 websitevideo33.it