Rai 2 is one of the three main television channels broadcast by Italian public television company RAI alongside Rai 1 and Rai 3. Rai 2 first started broadcasting on 4 November 1961. In the eighties it was known for its political affiliation to the Italian Socialist Party; in recent years it has shifted its focus toward talk shows, reality television and infotainment.
The channel is scheduled to start HDTV broadcasting by the end of September 2013. The HD Channel It has arrived by September 2016
A few programmes include:
TG2 (Newscast)Desperate HousewivesNCISNCIS: Los AngelesLas VegasJAGLaw & OrderEREurovision Song Contest (finals until 2015)PopularLife on MarsCastleNumb3rsQuelli che... il CalcioFelicityStarsky and HutchPrimevalPast LifeOnce Upon a TimeDigimon (2000-2013, now moved to Super!)The PowerPuff GirlsKid PaddleAshita no NadjaPretty CureTeletubbiesMonster AllergyWunschpunschWinx ClubChaotic (Caiotici)NASCAR Racers (Gare Nascar)Inazuma ElevenYo-Kai Watch (Le Avventure di Yo-Kai Watch)Tokyo Mew MewSpaced Out (Gli Astromartin)RobotboyTomScan2GoWheel SquadRandom/Cartoon Flakes (2005-2014, 2016-present)Go-CartUntil 1975 regular broadcasting was monochrome, with very few exceptions. Since late 1975, then called Rete 2 began airing some new shows in colour, then beginning semi-regular colour broadcasting during the autumn season (a few hours a week). Rai 1 followed its "sister network" a few months later. Eventually, regular broadcasting in colour began on 1 February 1977.
Rischiatutto, one-hour-long Italian version of Jeopardy!, hosted by Mike Bongiorno, aired on Thursday night, from 5 February 1970, at 9:15 PM (in 1972 season at 9:30 PM). About 20 million viewers watched every episode of the show, the first one aired on Rai 2 to enter in the list of the Ten Most Watched Programs on Italian TV during the year. The final two seasons (1973 and 1974) were aired on Rai 1.Ondalibera (known popularly as Televacca, Cow TV), was a one-hour-long comedy and satirical show hosted by a very young Roberto Benigni in his television debut. In the show, the Tuscan peasant Mario Cioni (Benigni) hosts a program aired in the fictional local channel Televacca, which has its headquarters in a stable full of hay and animals. Using a sometimes vulgar and desecrating speech, with a heavy Tuscan accent, Benigni improvised monologues and satirized the TV medium and the society. Co-hosts were the boor Monna (Carlo Monni) and his "daughter" Donatella, a Daisy Mae Yokum stylish young woman. Considered one of the most controversial programs in Italian TV history, censored and interrupted after only four episodes despite being relatively successful, the program debuted on 19 December 1976, airing on Sunday nights at 8:45 PM.
