Rai Gulp

Rai Gulp is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by RAI, Italy's state-owned public service broadcaster. The channel is part of RAI's children's and youth television offering and primarily targets viewers from approximately eight to fourteen years old. Its schedule combines animated series, live-action fiction, entertainment, and other programming intended for children and young teenagers, placing it between preschool-focused Rai Yoyo and the broader general-interest services of the RAI television portfolio. The channel began broadcasting on 1 June 2007, replacing the former Rai Doc and Rai Futura services. Its launch expanded RAI's digital terrestrial offering with a dedicated outlet for younger audiences beyond preschool age. Following the closure of RaiSat Smash Girls in 2009, some programmes previously associated with that service appeared on Rai Gulp's schedule. From 27 April 2010, the channel's programming was coordinated by Rai Ragazzi, the RAI structure responsible for children's and youth content. During autumn 2010, Rai Gulp refreshed its on-screen presentation and clarified its target audience around the eight-to-fourteen age range. The change was accompanied by new cartoons, live-action series, and other youth-oriented programmes. The channel subsequently became associated with both international and Italian children's properties, including Winx Club. New episodes of Winx Club were moved from Rai 2 to Rai Gulp in 2014, although from 2019 the channel carried repeats while new episodes were shown on sister channel Rai Yoyo. Rai Gulp has also undergone several technical and visual changes. Older programmes originally produced in a 4:3 aspect ratio began being presented in a pillar-boxed 16:9 format from December 2016. High-definition distribution on the Tivùsat satellite platform began in January 2017, and the channel adopted refreshed RAI graphics and branding in April of the same year. In April 2017, Luca Milano replaced Massimo Liofredi in responsibility for Rai Gulp and Rai Yoyo. Since July 2020, Rai Gulp has no longer maintained a standalone website for its programme information and online presence. Its programming and live stream are instead distributed through RaiPlay, RAI's digital platform. The standard-definition version on Tivùsat closed in December 2021, leaving the high-definition service available free-to-air on that platform. According to the cited reference material, RAI announced in July 2026 that Rai Gulp would be replaced by a new channel called Vibe in January 2027, with a stated focus on Generation Alpha and a stronger digital presence. Because that change is future-dated relative to earlier channel history, its implementation and effect on Rai Gulp's status should be verified against current RAI communications.

Rai Gulp was launched by RAI on 1 June 2007 as a free-to-air digital television channel for children and young people. It replaced Rai Doc and Rai Futura, two earlier RAI services that had closed shortly before the new channel began broadcasting. The launch gave RAI a dedicated service for children older than the preschool audience associated with Rai Yoyo and helped establish a broader youth-oriented digital television portfolio. In 2009, after RaiSat Smash Girls ceased broadcasting, some of that service's programmes appeared on Rai Gulp. The channel's organizational role became clearer from 27 April 2010, when its programming was coordinated by Rai Ragazzi, RAI's dedicated children's and youth structure. During autumn 2010, Rai Gulp revised its on-screen branding, promotional presentation, and continuity materials. It also refined its intended audience to children between eight and fourteen and added more cartoons, live-action series, and other entertainment formats. The channel's programming included both international and Italian youth properties. A notable example was Winx Club, an Italian-American animated series that had previously been broadcast on Rai 2. Rai Gulp began carrying new episodes on 31 July 2014. From 15 April 2019, however, Rai Gulp generally carried repeats while new episodes were assigned to the sister service Rai Yoyo. Rai Gulp also progressed through several technical distribution changes. From 13 December 2016, older programmes produced in the 4:3 format were displayed within a 16:9 pillar-boxed presentation, aligning the channel with the wider formatting approach used across RAI's digital terrestrial services. On 4 January 2017, Rai Gulp became available in high definition on Tivùsat. On 10 April 2017, it adopted a renewed logo and graphics package introduced alongside updates to other RAI channels. A leadership change followed on 14 April 2017, when Luca Milano replaced Massimo Liofredi as the executive responsible for Rai Gulp and Rai Yoyo. The channel's digital distribution became increasingly integrated with RaiPlay. From July 2020, Rai Gulp no longer operated a separate website; programme information and streaming access were provided through RAI's central platform. In December 2021, the standard-definition version on Tivùsat closed, while the high-definition version remained available free-to-air. The supplied reference material reports a further strategic change announced on 3 July 2026: Rai Gulp was expected to be replaced by Vibe in January 2027. The proposed successor was described as a service for Generation Alpha with a stronger digital orientation. As this is a future-dated transition in the cited material, the final status, timing, and scope of any replacement require confirmation from current RAI sources.

• 2026

  Proposed transition to Vibe

  [1]Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org

  The cited material reports a planned replacement by Vibe in January 2027, subject to verification.

• 2021

  Tivùsat SD service closes

  [1]Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org

  The standard-definition Tivùsat feed closed while the HD feed remained free-to-air.

• 2020

  Standalone website discontinued

  [1]Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org

  The channel's online content and streaming access were consolidated on RaiPlay.

• 2017

  HD distribution and brand renewal

  [1]Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org

  Rai Gulp became available in HD on Tivùsat and later adopted refreshed RAI branding and graphics.

• 2016

  Legacy 4:3 content presented in 16:9 format

  [1]Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org

  Older programming began being shown in a pillar-boxed widescreen presentation.

• 2014

  Winx Club new episodes arrive on Rai Gulp

  [1]Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org

  The channel began showing new episodes of Winx Club previously associated with Rai 2.

• 2011

  Emanuele Ruzza becomes continuity announcer

  [1]Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org

  Emanuele Ruzza became the channel's official continuity announcer.

• 2010

  Rai Ragazzi assumes programming coordination

  [1]Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org

  Rai Ragazzi began coordinating Rai Gulp's programming from 27 April.

• 2010

  Audience repositioning and graphics update

  [1]Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org

  The channel updated its on-screen identity and focused its target audience on children aged eight to fourteen.

• 2009

  Programming inherited from RaiSat Smash Girls

  [1]Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org

  Following the closure of RaiSat Smash Girls, some of its programmes entered Rai Gulp's schedule.

• 2007

  Launch of Rai Gulp

  [1]Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org

  Rai Gulp began broadcasting on 1 June as a replacement for Rai Doc and Rai Futura.

A public-service television brand for older children and young teenagers, combining animation, live-action fiction, and entertainment in a free-to-air and digital distribution model.

• Free-to-air children's television · 2007

  Rai Gulp linear television channel

  The core Rai Gulp service is a free-to-air television channel for children and young teenagers, generally focused on the eight-to-fourteen age group. Its schedule combines animated programmes, live-action series, entertainment, and other youth-oriented content within RAI's public-service broadcasting portfolio.

• Streaming and catch-up television · 2020

  Rai Gulp on RaiPlay

  RaiPlay provides the channel's live stream and online programme access after Rai Gulp discontinued its standalone website in 2020. It represents the brand's principal digital distribution route within RAI's streaming ecosystem.

• Animated series · 2014

  Winx Club programming

  Winx Club became one of the notable animated properties associated with Rai Gulp. The channel carried new episodes from 2014 after their earlier placement on Rai 2; from 2019, Rai Gulp primarily broadcast repeats while new episodes moved to Rai Yoyo.

• 2017Rai channel-wide graphics renewal

  Italy

  Rai Gulp adopted a renewed logo and graphics package as part of a broader visual update across RAI channels.

  Outcome. The channel was brought into a more consistent contemporary RAI visual system.

  Source
• 2010Rai Gulp audience and identity refresh

  Italy

  Rai Gulp refreshed its on-screen branding and adjusted its programming strategy around viewers aged eight to fourteen, adding cartoons, live-action series, and other youth formats.

  Outcome. The channel established a clearer position as RAI's service for older children and young teenagers.

  Source

• 2026

  Proposed replacement by VibeStrategy

  Background

  The cited reference material describes a planned change in RAI's youth-channel strategy aimed at Generation Alpha.

  Action taken

  RAI reportedly announced that Rai Gulp would be replaced by Vibe in January 2027, with a stronger digital orientation.

  Aftermath

  The final status and implementation of the proposed replacement remain to be verified.

  Source

• 2020

  Consolidate digital distribution on RaiPlayStrategy

  Background

  RAI increasingly centralized online access to its television programming through RaiPlay.

  Action taken

  Rai Gulp discontinued its standalone website and made its programmes available through RaiPlay.

  Aftermath

  The brand's digital presence became integrated with RAI's wider streaming platform.

  Source

• 2017

  Renew channel brandingOther

  Background

  RAI undertook a visual update across its channels.

  Action taken

  Rai Gulp introduced a new logo and graphics package on 10 April.

  Aftermath

  The channel's presentation became aligned with the updated RAI network identity.

  Source

• 2010

  Clarify the channel's youth audienceStrategy

  Background

  Rai Gulp revised its presentation and programming during an autumn 2010 refresh.

  Action taken

  The channel focused its stated target on children aged eight to fourteen and expanded cartoons, live-action series, and other shows.

  Aftermath

  Rai Gulp occupied a clearer position between preschool television and general-interest youth programming.

  Source

• 2007

  Launch a replacement youth channelStrategy

  Background

  Rai Doc and Rai Futura had closed shortly before the new service launched.

  Action taken

  RAI introduced Rai Gulp as a dedicated free-to-air channel for children and young teenagers.

  Aftermath

  The service became part of RAI's dedicated children's and youth television portfolio.

  Source

1. 1Rai Gulpen.wikipedia.org
2. 2RaiPlay Rai Gulp live streamraiplay.it