Many newspapers started web versions in the mid-90s; today all Italian newspapers have digital versions. Nevertheless, only the websites of La Repubblica and La Gazzetta dello sport were among the most-visited websites in 2009.
So far newspaper publishers have failed to grasp the opportunities opened by ICT. The digital versions of most newspapers often look like mere 'transpositions' of their paper versions and lack real value in terms of content, services offered and aesthetics. This is a as a missed opportunity in a country where traditional newspapers are bought by little more than half of the population, and where circulation of dailies among young people – who are heavy Internet users – is lower than in other European countries.