Rai 1 is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by state-owned public broadcaster RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana. It is the company's flagship television channel and is known for broadcasting mainstream and generalist programming, usually aimed towards families, including TG1 news bulletins, prime time drama, cinema and entertainment, and major breaking news, sports and special events. It was launched on 3 January 1954 as the first regular television service in Italy. It was the only one until 4 November 1961, when RAI launched a second channel. The channel was initially referred to as "Programma Nazionale". It received other names, such as "Rete 1" and "Raiuno" until it adopted its current name "Rai 1". It has the highest viewership in Italy and regularly competes with Mediaset's Canale 5. In the United Kingdom, it is available in free-to-air satellite broadcast from Hot Bird 13B.

Early history

"La Rai − Radiotelevisione Italiana inizia oggi il suo regolare servizio di trasmissioni televisive. Rai – Italian Radiotelevision starts its regular television broadcasting service today." The first set of programming for Rai 1 was almost completely educational with no advertising, except for the popular Carosello. Early shows were meant to teach a common language to a country torn apart by World War II. Shows like Non è mai troppo tardi... were simply shot in a classroom setting and meant to help with reconstruction. While televisions were not widely available nor affordable, those who could spend the money on them became community leaders and often invited the neighbourhood to visit. Bars and cafés turned from places where men would meet to argue or play cards into miniature cinemas where arguments over what show to watch would break out. Women and children were also more accepted inside the bars due to the lack of men post-war and their need to enter working society. Churches also bought televisions are a means of drawing people to spend time as part of those communities.

High-definition feed

The channel launched an HDTV 1080i simulcast in September 2013, available nationwide on subscription-television providers and on DTT (channel 1). Previously, HD programmes used to be aired on Rai HD.

Broadcast in outside Italy

In Slovenia, France (except Monaco), Greece, Austria, Lebanon, Hungary, Switzerland, Croatia, San Marino and Vatican City. The channel is also available to watch on satellite via Hellas Sat 4.

Logos

Directors of Rai 1

From June 2022, as part of a management reorganization of Rai, network management has been abolished in favour of gender ones.

Current programmes

Events

Shows in prime time

Game Shows

Day Time Entertainment

Disclosure and Culture

News and Information

Editing

Entertainment

Documentaries and Culture

TV Series

Sports

Kids

Past Programmes

Events

Documentaries

Films

Early programmes

Until the autumn 1976/77 season, regular broadcasting was in monochrome (black and white), with very few exceptions (shown in bold). Regular colour broadcasting began during the winter 1976/77 season.