Rai 1

Rai 1
CountryItaly
HeadquartersRome, Italy
Programming
Language(s)Italian
Picture format1080i HDTV
Ownership
OwnerRAI
Sister channelsRai 2
Rai 3
Rai 4
Rai 5
Rai Gulp
Rai Movie
Rai News 24
Rai Premium
Rai Scuola
Rai Sport
Rai Storia
Rai Yoyo
Rai Ladinia
Rai Südtirol
Rai Italia
History
Launched3 January 1954; 70 years ago (1954-01-03)
Former namesProgramma Nazionale (1953–1975)
Rete 1 (1975–1983)
Raiuno (1983–2010)
Links
Websiterai.it/rai1
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital terrestrial televisionChannel 1 (HD)
Channel 501 (HbbTV)
Streaming media
RaiPlayLive streaming (only in Italy)

Rai 1 (Italian: [ˈrai ˈuːno]) 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.