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TG1 Mistakes Bill Gates for Steve Jobs During World Cup Opening

The clip went viral on social media and exposed gaps in Rai's real-time identification checks.

Overview

  • TG1 misnamed attendees during its World Cup opening broadcast, saying “Steve Jobs” while footage showed Bill Gates in the stands during the June 11 ceremony at Estadio Azteca.
  • The on-air line listing celebrities was widely quoted by outlets and one report attributed the commentary to journalist Felicita Pistilli.
  • The video snippet quickly spread online and prompted a torrent of ironic and critical reactions that amplified the error beyond traditional coverage.
  • The gaffe follows Rai's earlier apology for cutting Shakira's performance during the same opening show, and outlets say there has been no separate on-air correction or apology from TG1 about the misidentification.
  • The episode highlights how fast live-event broadcasts can produce basic factual mistakes and suggests viewers and advertisers may press Rai for tighter on-air verification and clearer corrections going forward.