Rai 1

Rai 1 is the primary television station of RAI, the national public service broadcaster, and the most watched television channel in Italy. It was born as Rai Tv from 1954 to 1961, called Programma Nazionale from 1961 to 1976, after called Rete 1 from 1976 to 1982, then called Rai Uno from 1982 to 2010, and finally called Rai 1 since May 18, 2010. Since its inception the channel was under the predominant political influence of the Christian Democracy Catholic political party. It is a generalist channel, mainly focused on shows, movies and public service; its direct competitor is Mediaset's Canale 5. It could be considered as the Italian equivalent of the BBC One channel in the United Kingdom. Rai 1 (and the other RAI related networks in general) also carries advertising while BBC One does not. Furthermore BBC One news programming represents and covers all political opinions and priorities while, in practice, the news programmes presented by channels Rai 1, 2 and 3 represent respectively the views and priorities of the Political right, centre and left.

Whereas the British Government and the BBC are separate by law, and the British Government is forbidden from interfering in BBC output, the Italian Government is by law allowed to, and does, make Political appointments to Rai's board of directors. It has a history of interference in programming and programme content. In most Western Democracies outside Italy this is regarded as anti-democratic and is known as censorship. Rai (and therefore Rai 1) is State run (under the control of the State), while the BBC although paid for by tax payers / license fee is entirely free from State and Political interference and can more accurately be described as a public service.