Rai 4

Rai 4 is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by Rai, Italy's state-owned public broadcasting group. It was created as a complementary service within the Rai portfolio rather than as a generalist replacement for the group's flagship channels. The channel launched on 14 July 2008 at 21:00 Central European Summer Time, opening with the film Elephant after an on-air countdown. Its initial identity was built around cult and contemporary television series, feature films and entertainment programming with a stronger appeal to younger viewers than the traditional Rai generalist networks. In its early period, Rai 4 also used material associated with Rai 2, including additional broadcasts of L'Isola dei Famosi and X Factor. This helped the new channel establish a relationship with existing Rai programming while giving selected shows an alternative outlet. The channel's management was initially associated with RaiSat, the Rai company responsible for a package of branded channels distributed through Sky Italia. When RaiSat was closed in April 2010, responsibility for Rai 4 moved directly to Rai, bringing the channel more firmly into the broadcaster's own operating structure. Rai 4 developed a recognizable profile through imported live-action series, genre television, films and Japanese animation. Its programming has included titles such as Breaking Bad, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, Misfits, Heroes, Elementary, Hawaii Five-0 and Once Upon a Time. From 2009, it also introduced regular strands for Japanese animated series. The anime offering included works such as Code Geass, Steins;Gate, Sword Art Online, Psycho-Pass, Soul Eater, Toradora!, Attack on Titan and Fairy Tail. A 2015 agreement involving Dynit supported a further expansion of this area, including an afternoon block and the channel's direct purchase and dubbing of Fairy Tail. The channel has also carried selected public-service and major-event programming. Since 2012, it has transmitted short news bulletins prepared by Rai News24. From 2014, it became the Rai outlet for both semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2016, it aired the opening concert of the UEFA European Championship and 27 football matches for which Rai held the rights, accompanied by satirical commentary under the Rai dire branding. These broadcasts broadened Rai 4's profile beyond imported fiction while preserving its informal and youth-oriented presentation style. Distribution and branding evolved over time. Rai 4 became available on Sky Italia at channel position 104 in September 2015, and an HD version was introduced on Tivùsat and Sky in January 2016, followed by digital-terrestrial HD distribution in September of the same year. The channel adopted Rai's updated visual identity in September 2016, changing its principal colour from magenta to purple. It left the Sky Italia platform on 13 September 2018 after the distribution agreement was not renewed. For its tenth anniversary in July 2018, Rai 4 used special on-air identities, the slogan “Ten years into the future” and the hashtag #Rai4diecianni. Rai 4 remains part of Rai's multi-channel television offering and is also available through RaiPlay's live-streaming service. Its precise schedule changes over time, but its broad proposition continues to combine acquired films and series, genre programming, animation, selected event coverage and entertainment aimed at viewers seeking an alternative to Rai's mainstream channels.

Rai 4 was developed as a new thematic channel within Rai's television portfolio and launched on 14 July 2008. Its first broadcast began at 21:00 CEST after a countdown and consisted of the film Elephant. Unlike Rai's principal generalist channels, the new service was designed to appeal especially to younger viewers through films, cult television, imported series and entertainment. Early scheduling also made use of additional broadcasts of Rai 2 programs such as L'Isola dei Famosi and X Factor. The channel was initially expected to be managed by RaiSat, which operated Rai-branded thematic services distributed through Sky Italia. RaiSat's closure in April 2010 changed the organizational arrangement, and Rai 4 subsequently came under Rai's direct management. Carlo Freccero led the channel from its launch until August 2013. Luigi Gubitosi then served during an interim period, while a later reorganization placed the channel within Rai Gold. From February 2016, management of the Rai Gold channels was entrusted to Angelo Teodoli. Rai 4's programming identity expanded during its first decade. It became known for acquired live-action series and genre fiction, including Breaking Bad, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, Misfits, Heroes, Elementary and other international titles. It also cultivated an anime audience. Japanese animation entered the schedule in 2009, initially through evening and weekend strands. The channel later broadcast a broad selection of series, including Code Geass, Gurren Lagann, Steins;Gate, Sword Art Online, Psycho-Pass, Toradora!, Attack on Titan and Fairy Tail. In December 2015, Rai 4 introduced an additional afternoon anime slot through an arrangement associated with Dynit. Fairy Tail was notable because Rai 4 purchased and dubbed it directly, although the experiment was later discontinued and its broadcast ended in 2016. The service also acquired a broader public-service role. Short news bulletins supplied by Rai News24 were added in 2012. From 2014, Rai 4 carried both Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals. In 2016, it broadcast the opening concert of the European Football Championship and 27 matches covered by Rai's rights package, using the Rai dire Europeans label and commentary by the Gialappa's Band. Related football coverage continued with Italian friendlies and World Cup qualifying matches under the Rai dire Nazionale title. Distribution developed alongside the content strategy. Rai 4 became available on Sky Italia at position 104 in September 2015. An HD version was introduced on Tivùsat and Sky in January 2016 and on digital terrestrial television in September. The channel adopted Rai's revised group-wide logo and identity in September 2016, with its colour changing from magenta to purple. It marked its tenth anniversary in July 2018 with special idents, a viewer birthday-message contest, the slogan “Ten years into the future” and the #Rai4diecianni hashtag. In September 2018, Rai 4 left Sky Italia after the carriage agreement was not renewed. It continues as part of Rai's channel offering and is distributed online through RaiPlay.

• 2018

  Tenth anniversary and Sky exit

  [1]Rai 4en.wikipedia.org

  The channel celebrated ten years on air and later left Sky Italia after its carriage agreement ended.

• 2016

  HD and refreshed visual identity

  [1]Rai 4en.wikipedia.org

  HD distribution expanded, and Rai 4 adopted Rai's updated logo system and purple branding.

• 2015

  Sky Italia carriage begins

  [1]Rai 4en.wikipedia.org

  Rai 4 became available on Sky Italia at channel position 104.

• 2014

  Eurovision semi-finals added

  [1]Rai 4en.wikipedia.org

  Rai 4 became the broadcaster's home for both Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals.

• 2012

  News and original-audio services added

  [1]Rai 4en.wikipedia.org

  Rai News24 bulletins and a secondary audio track became available for selected programs.

• 2010

  Direct transfer to Rai

  [1]Rai 4en.wikipedia.org

  After RaiSat closed, Rai assumed direct responsibility for the channel.

• 2009

  Japanese animation enters the schedule

  [1]Rai 4en.wikipedia.org

  The channel introduced recurring strands for imported Japanese animated series.

• 2008

  Launch of Rai 4

  [1]Rai 4en.wikipedia.org

  Rai 4 began free-to-air broadcasting on 14 July with Elephant as its opening film.

A youth-oriented Rai channel combining genre fiction, films, international series, animation and selected entertainment or live-event programming.

• Free-to-air television channel · 2008

  Rai 4 television service

  The core Rai 4 service is an Italian free-to-air channel centered on films, acquired live-action series, genre fiction, entertainment and selected public-service or sports events. Its programming is positioned as a more youthful and alternative complement to Rai's generalist networks.

• High-definition television service · 2016

  Rai 4 HD

  The high-definition version of Rai 4 was introduced through Tivùsat and Sky in January 2016 and subsequently expanded to digital terrestrial distribution. It provides the channel's schedule in an HD presentation where the relevant platform supports it.

• Digital live streaming

  Rai 4 on RaiPlay

  RaiPlay provides an online live stream of Rai 4, extending access beyond terrestrial television and satellite distribution. The official RaiPlay service is the channel's principal web-facing live-viewing destination.

• 2018Rai 4 tenth-anniversary identity

  Italy

  From 8 to 14 July 2018, Rai 4 marked its tenth anniversary with special channel idents, a viewer contest for birthday messages, the slogan “Ten years into the future” and the hashtag #Rai4diecianni.

  Outcome. The anniversary programming reinforced the channel's distinct identity and commemorated its first decade on air.

  Source

• 2018

  End of Sky Italia carriageStrategy

  Background

  Rai 4 had been available on Sky Italia since 2015 under a carriage arrangement.

  Action taken

  The channel left Sky Italia on 13 September after the agreement was not renewed.

  Aftermath

  Rai 4 continued through Rai's other distribution channels, including terrestrial, satellite and online services.

  Source

• 2016

  HD rollout and visual rebrandGeneration change

  Background

  Rai was updating the technical distribution and visual identity of its television channels.

  Action taken

  Rai 4 expanded HD availability and adopted the group's revised logo system, changing its channel colour from magenta to purple.

  Aftermath

  The channel gained improved technical distribution and a closer visual relationship with Rai's other networks.

  Source

• 2015

  Expansion of anime programmingProduct launch

  Background

  Rai 4 had already built an audience for imported Japanese animation through evening and weekend scheduling.

  Action taken

  The channel introduced a new afternoon anime strand and worked with Dynit on programming that included Sword Art Online, Steins;Gate and Fairy Tail.

  Aftermath

  The anime focus became one of Rai 4's most distinctive programming areas, although the dedicated Japanese-animation strategy was later discontinued.

  Source

• 2013

  Integration into Rai GoldStrategy

  Background

  Rai reorganized the management of several thematic and entertainment-oriented channels.

  Action taken

  The Rai board decided to place Rai 4 under the Rai Gold structure.

  Aftermath

  Rai 4 operated within the group structure alongside other channels managed through Rai Gold.

  Source

• 2010

  Move management from RaiSat to RaiStrategy

  Background

  RaiSat, which had initially been associated with the channel's management, was closed in April 2010.

  Action taken

  Rai took direct operational responsibility for Rai 4.

  Aftermath

  The channel became more directly integrated into Rai's own television organization.

  Source

1. 1Rai 4en.wikipedia.org
2. 2RaiPlay Rai 4 live streamraiplay.it