In the 1980s it was known for its political affiliation to the Italian Socialist Party, it has shifted recently its focus towards the youth, including in its schedule reality shows, entertainment, TV series, news, knowledge and sports.

[1] This evening for us, citizens of the monoscope, subjects of the antennas, inscribed in the roles of the telescreen, this is a great day.

We consider you a friend and even if, as in the dynasties of monarchs, you bear the name Canale Secondo, we wish you to be second to none and now, little new channel, good night.Rai 2 begins its regular broadcasts on 4 November 1961 (after three months of experimental broadcasts, starting from 1 August that same year[3]) under the name Secondo Programma: the birth of Rai's second network was baptized by Aba Cercato, who presented the inaugural broadcast of the nascent channel, dedicated to the First World War, with the airing of Giuseppe Dessi's miniseries La trincea, given the coincidence of the launch of the channel with National Unity and Armed Forces Day; the birth of the new channel was also celebrated by Mina during Studio Uno, on the air, though, on Programma Nazionale, the extant network.

Precisely because of this dynamic and experimental vocation, the channel proved to be a true hotbed of talent, who would later become stars of the first magnitude on the television scene and beyond, and also of new formats.

In 1970, Rischiatutto debuted, the famous game show by Mike Bongiorno which became a great success, so much so that the Rai top management decided to move it to the first channel for the 1972 and 1974 finals.

[5] Enzo Biagi, already director of Telegiornale, debuted as a presenter in 1962 on Secondo Programma with RT Rotocalco Televisivo, the first Italian topical magazine programme.

A few programmes include: Storie di donne al bivio [it] Until 1975 regular broadcasting was monochrome, with very few exceptions.