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Rai 2 is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by the state-owned public broadcaster RAI - Radiotelevisione italiana. The company's second channel, it is positioned as a generalist network aimed at a younger audience, with a schedule of reality shows, entertainment, TV series, docufiction, cartoons, sport and the TG2 news bulletins. Its traditional competitor is Mediaset's Italia 1.

The Second Channel Is Born

After three months of experimental broadcasts from 1 August 1961, the channel began regular transmissions on 4 November 1961 under the name Secondo Programma. The inaugural broadcast was presented by Aba Cercato and dedicated to the First World War, with Giuseppe Dessi's miniseries La trincea; the first director was Angelo Romano. Conceived from the start as the alternative to the Programma Nazionale, it had smaller budgets and served as a nursery for new entertainment talent, who would be "promoted" to the first channel once established. From its first day it aired the Telegiornale del Secondo Programma, the bulletin that became today's TG2, and in 1962 Enzo Biagi debuted there with RT - Rotocalco Televisivo, the first Italian topical magazine programme.

A Cradle of New Formats

The channel introduced formats that became part of Italian television history: from 1965 the international game Jeux Sans Frontieres, from 1967 the summer music event Festivalbar, in 1969 Renzo Arbore's Speciale per voi, one of the first programmes aimed at young viewers, and in 1970 Mike Bongiorno's iconic quiz Rischiatutto, later moved to the first channel for its finals. In December 1976 the channel aired Ondalibera, the satirical show remembered as Televacca, which marked Roberto Benigni's television debut and was suspended after only four episodes despite its success.

From Rete 2 to Today's Youth Focus

With the RAI reform of 1975 the channel became Rete 2, taking its current name Rai 2 in 1982. In the 1980s it was known for its political affinity with the Italian Socialist Party. In recent years its identity has shifted decisively towards a young audience, mixing reality formats, entertainment, international and Italian series, infotainment, cartoons and sport, with TG2 remaining its information flagship throughout the day.

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