[1] During this time Bernabei became a close friend and associate of future five-time prime minister Christian Democrat Amintore Fanfani.

In order to create a seemingly more balanced RAI and to appease his opponents, Bernabei began the practice of hiring journalists with ties to other parties.

Although Bernabei's strategy greatly increased the operational size of RAI, it ultimately backfired for alienating a big part of the country political spectrum as well as splitting Christian Democrats into competing groups.

In 1991, with a group of Italian entrepreneurs he started the television production company Lux Vide, which produced series such as The Bible and Jesus.

[7] In 1966, Bernabei was named Cavaliere di Gran Croce by President of the Italian Republic Giuseppe Saragat.