1979 in Italian television

none 1979 Italian television This is a list of Italian television related events from 1979. Events RAI January 13: Mino Vergnaghi, with Amare, wins the Sanremo music festival, hosted by Mike Bongiorno and Anna Maria Rizzoli. Rai broadcasts integrally only the finally evening, that gets a rating of 22.3 million viewers.Hit 2010-08-20 Auditel Rewind - 1979 https://www.tvblog.it/post/auditel-rewind-1979 2023-03-03 TvBlog it 22 February. Announcement of the sentence in the Catanzaro trial, for the Piazza Fontana bombing. The hearings have been, for the first time, integrally shoot  by the RAI cameras. From 25 September, a selection in five episodes of the proceedings is aired, showing to the public the embarrassed and reticent depositions of politicians, such as Giulio Andreotti and Mariano Rumor.Storia Veneta - Il film parte prima https://www.storiaveneta.it/inchieste/123-il-film-della-rai-sul-processo-di-catanzaro/702-il-film-parte-prima.html 2020-08-29 www.storiaveneta.it 26 April. The documentary Trial for rape, realized by a feminist collective, shocks public opinion, showing the victim of a ravishment humiliated and criminalized by the defense attorneys.Processo per stupro: l'arringa di Lagostena Bassi https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/processoperstuprolarringadilagostenabassi 2020-08-29 RaiPlay it 15 December. The adolescent actress Fabiana Udenio announces the beginning of RETE 3 broadcasting. This is the schedule of the first day. 18:30Il pollice (anticipations)19:00TG3 and TGR19:30Tutti in scena (entertainment magazine)20:00Teatrino (puppetry show)20:05The taking of power by Louis XIV21:35TG322:05Teatrino Rete 3 is, in the intents, focused on the local realities, with programs and news realized by the RAI regional offices; however, for years it will be a “ghost channel”, lacking of means and ignored by the public.9–15 December 1979 Nasce la terza rete http://www.radiocorriere.teche.rai.it/Download.aspx?data=AQAAANCMnd8BFdERjHoAwE/Cl+sBAAAAjbsJekpi70WVXGT66RPqlAQAAAACAAAAAAADZgAAwAAAABAAAADPWftEK4+HxBuLviufP6hnAAAAAASAAACgAAAAEAAAAFE9/2MrqFg0ygxvyRzDgFQQAAAAcdSjON0WeKjfHgtBzvJVlRQAAAClAIblnuJPDvZq/hHup9SN4PskLA== Radiocorriere TV 50 18–26 The most watched show of the year is Portobello, with an average rate of 25.1 million viewers. Private channels In 1979, Italian private television stations have a breakthrough: the most active massively buy films and American telefilms, hire RAI stars such as Mike Bongiorno and Pippo Baudo and begin to broadcast nationally (the rule forcing them to operate only locally is bypassed, airing on several local stations the same show, prerecorded on videotape). Particularly dynamic is Silvio Berlusconi’s  Telemilano 58. New television stations (with the date of the first airing) January: Elefante TV, syndacation managed by the Marcucci brothers, focused on sport and information:Emanuelli Massimo 2017-10-18 Elefante https://massimoemanuelli.com/2017/10/18/elefante/ 2025-10-08 MASSIMO EMANUELLI it-IT 4 March: TV Port, syndication of 90 local channels, specialized in American film and telefilm.Emanuelli Massimo 2017-10-27 Tv Port https://massimoemanuelli.com/2017/10/27/port-tv/ 2020-08-29 MASSIMO EMANUELLI it-IT 19 June: Antenna Sicilia, owned by the newspaper editor Mario Cancio Sanfilippo, art director Pippo Baudo July: Rete televisiva Italiana, owned by Il Messaggero's editor Carlo Perrone.Bruno Somalvico 25 October 2012 cronologia radiotelevisiva III: 1976-1992: 1976-1979 http://cronoradiotv3.blogspot.com/2012/10/1976-1979.html 2020-08-29 cronologia radiotelevisiva III 2 July : Compagnia televisioni Associate; syndication of 20 local channels.Emanuelli Massimo 2018-01-28 Cta https://massimoemanuelli.com/2018/01/28/cta-2/ 2020-08-29 MASSIMO EMANUELLI it-IT Autunni : TV Parma 8 September. GPE-Telemond, by Arnoldo Mondadori editore,  later fused with Rete televisiva Italiana in Rete 4.Emanuelli Massimo 2018-04-22 Gpe Telemond / Gpe 80 https://massimoemanuelli.com/2018/04/22/gpe-telemond-gpe-80/ 2020-08-29 MASSIMO EMANUELLI it-IT Berlusconi's ascent 30 January: Silvio Berlusconi founds Rete Italia, society for the marketing of TV shows. The newborn society gets right away a big deal, buoying 325 movies from Titanus for 2 billion lira. 13 September : Birth of Publitalia, Berlusconi's advertising media agency. December. Telemilano 58, until then visible only in Milan, extends its signal to the whole Lombardy. 5 December. Mike Bongiorno debuts on Silvio Berlusconi's Telemilano 58 with the game show The dreams in the weaver; he's the first TV star who leaves RAI to work full-time for a private network. The collaboration between Bongiorno and the public company, lasted 27 years, has got into crisis few months before with an unsuccessful remake of Lascia o raddoppia? Debuts RAI 3,2,1... contatto – show for children, inspired by the homonymous PBS program; 2 season. It sees the debut of Paolo Bonolis. Fantastico (Fantastic) – show of the Saturday evening, aired in autumn and bound to the Lotteria Italia. In the 1980s, as Canzonissima in the Sixties, it is the most viewed RAI show and causes also political controversies. The first edition, directed by Enzo Trapani and hosted by Beppe Grillo, Loretta Goggi and Heather Parisi, gets an audience of 23.6 million viewers.Fantastico https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/fantastico 2020-08-29 RaiPlay it Storia di un italiano (History of an Italian) – history of the modern Italy through an anthology of the Alberto Sordi’s movies – 4 seasons. TG3 settimanale (Weekly TG3) - magazine Private channels Ciao ciao (Hello hello) – cartoon show; started on the Mondadori's Telenord, it later becomes one of the most popular shows for children on the Fininvest network - 32 seasons. I sogni nel cassetto (Dreams in the drawer) – game show, hosted by Mike Bongiorno (Telemilano 58) – 2 seasons. TG Telenuovo (Telenuovo Verona, 1979) by Germano Mosconi. Telemattina (TV morning) – with Ettore Andenna, first European show aired in the morning (Antenna 3) – 2 seasons. Telemenù – cooking show, with Wilma De Angelis (Telemontecarlo) – 18 seasons. The Buggzum (TMC) - game show hosted by Franchy TV and is about deciding the words. VG21 news (Canale 21) International USA M*A*S*H (RAI 1) Germany Derrick (Rai 2) USAColumbo (Rai 2) USA Starsky and Hutch (Rai 2) UKGeorge & Mildred (Rai 2) USA How the West Was Won (Rai 2) USA Charlie's Angels (GPE-Telemond) USA General Hospital (local networks) Television shows Drama La torre (The tower) – by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, remake of Pedro Calderon de la Barca’s Life is dream, directed by Luca Ronconi (stage) and Miklos Jancso (television), with Franco Branciaroli. La promessa (The promise) – by Alberto Negrin, with Rossano Brazzi; from Friedrich Durrenmatt’s The pledge. Rocco Scotellaro – by Maurizio Scaparro, with Bruno Cirino; the true story of Rocco Scotellaro, poet, socialist militant and major of his village.Rocco Scotellaro https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/roccoscotellaro 2023-07-14 RaiPlay it L’altro Simenon - cycle of four TV movies, by various directors,  from the George Simenon’s novels without the Inspector Maigret.Testa Pubblicato da Maurizio SIMENON... O L'ALTRO SIMENON ? http://www.simenon-simenon.com/2012/04/simenon-o-meglio-laltro-simenon.html 2025-10-06 it The tree of Wooden Clogs by Ermanno Olmi and Orchestra rehearsalProva d'orchestra https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/provadorchestra 2020-09-01 RaiPlay it by Federico Fellini (both previously distributed in the cinemas). Musical comedy Anche i bancari hanno un’anima (The bank clerk too have a soul) by Terzoli and Vaime, directed by Gino Landi, with Gino Bramieri and Valeria Valeri; a bank clerk, on the eve of retirement, has a gallant adventure (actually organized by his colleagues). Profumo di classe (Classy perfume)  - by Giorgio Capitani, with Ombretta Colli and Aldo Maccione; inspired by Pygmalion, but with inverted gender roles (here, it's a female teacher to educate a tramp). Addavenì quel giorno e quella sera (That day and that evening have to come) – by Giorgio Ferrara, with Ninetto Davoli and Adriana Asti, music by Antonello Venditti; controversial attempt to adapt the themes  of Pasolini's fiction in form of musical comedy. Miniseries Cinema! – by Pupi Avati, with Lino Capolicchio, in 5 episodes; follow-up of Jazz Band, it fictionalizes the adventurous Avati's debut as movie director.Cinema!!! https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/cinema 2021-12-10 RaiPlay it Ma che cos’è questo amore? (This love, what is it?) – by Ugo Gregoretti, in 2 episodes, with Stefano Satta Flores and Roberto Benigni, from the Achille Campanile’s humoristic novel; the slap of a woman to an intrusive suitor has the most unpredictable and absurd consequences. USAHolocaust; the hit of the year among the minsieries, with 20.2 million viewiers. Period dramas Accadde ad Ankara (It happened in Ankara) – by Mario Landi, in 3 episodes; reconstruction of the “Cicero affair” with Stefano Satta Flores as Elyesa Bazna. L’affare Stavisky by Luigi Perelli, with Pietro Biondi in the title role and Ivana Monti. Le affinità elettive (Elective affinities) – by Gianni Amico, from the Johan Wolfgang Goethe’s novel, with Franco Graziosi, Nino Castelnuovo and the future director Francesca Archibugi; 3 episodes.Le affinità elettive https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/leaffinitaelettive 2021-02-11 RaiPlay it Bel Ami – by Sandro Bolchi, with Corrado Pani, in 4 episodes; from the Guy de Maupassant’s novel. Che fare? (What is to be done?) – by Gianni Serra, with Elisabetta Pozzi and Remo Girone, in 5 episodes; from the Nikolaj Gavrilovič Černyševskij’s novel. Il delitto Notarbatolo (The Notarbartolo affair) – by Alberto Negrin, in 3 episodes, with Ivo Garrani; reconstruction of the first clamorous Mafia crime, happened 1n 1893. La commediante veneziana (The venetian actress) – by Savatore Nocita, in 5 episodes, from the Raffaello Calzini's novel; the life of the actress Teodora Ricci, lover of Carlo Gozzi. I vecchi e I giovani (The old and the young ones) – by Marco Leto, with Gabriele Ferzetti and Alain Cuny, in 5 episodes; from the Luigi Pirandello’s novel. In the Sicilia of the late Nineteenth century, the “old generation” (the Risorgimento men, by now corrupted or disillusioned) face the “young people” (the socialists of the Fasci Siciliani).I vecchi e i giovani https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/ivecchieigiovani 2020-08-29 RaiPlay it Martin Eden – by Giacomo Battiato, with Christopher Connelly, in 5 episodes, from the Jack London’s novel. Mystery Così per gioco (Just a game) – by Leonardo Cortese, in 5 episodes, with Mariano Rigillo; mystery set in the world of the gamble. La mano sugli occhi (The hand on the eyes) – by Pino Passalacqua, written by Andrea Camilleri, with Leopoldo Trieste, in 3 episodes; a quiet chicken farmer is inexplicably involved in a mafia plot.La mano sugli occhi https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/lamanosugliocchi 2025-10-07 RaiPlay it Astuzia per astuzia (Cunning for cunning) by Mario Caiano, with Mario Carotenuto and Elsa Martinelli; a former lawyer enquires about the murder of a model. La dama dei veleni (The dame of the poisons) – by Silverio Blasi, from John Dickson Carr’s The burning court, with Ugo Pagliai and Susanna Martinkova.La dama dei veleni http://www.vicolostretto.net/la_dama_dei_veleni.html 2025-10-08 www.vicolostretto.net and Morte a passo di valzer (Death at a waltz pace) by Giovanni Fago, from same author's Fire, burn !, with Gianni Garko and Macha Meril Luigi Ganna detective – by Maurizio Ponzi, in 4 episodes, with Luigi Pistilli; the adventures of a Milan private eye.Luigi Ganna detective https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/luigigannadetective 2020-08-29 RaiPlay it La vedova e il piedipiatti (The widow and the cop) – comic-mystery serial, by Mario Landi, in 6 episodes; with Ave Ninchi and Veronica Lario. Il giorno dei cristalli (Crystals day) political thriller by Giacomo Battiato, with Francisco Rabal and Saverio Marconi; a neo-fascist organization plans an attack to sabotage a peace conference. Fantastic Racconti di fantascienza (SF tales) – by Alessandro Blasetti (in the last direction of a fifty years career), in 3 episodes, with Arnoldo Foà as the teller. I racconti fantastici di Edgar Allan Poe (Edgar Allan Poe’s fantastic tales) – by Daniele D’Anza, in 4 episodes, with Philippe Leroy as Roderick Usher. The classical horror stories of the American writer are transferred in the USA of the Twentieth Century.Racconti fantastici https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/raccontifantastici 2020-08-29 RaiPlay it Il filo e il labirinto (The thread and the labyrinth) – by various directors, written by Biagio Proietti; cycle of four stories with paranormal implications. Paura sul mondo (Fear on the world) by Domenico Campana, from Corrado Alvaro’s dystopian novel The man is strong, with Ugo Pagliai, Laura Belli and Raoul Grassilli. News and educational Made in England - reportage about England, by Enzo Biagi, in 12 episodes.Made in England https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/madeinengland 2020-09-01 RaiPlay it Il cuore della Jugoslavia è fatto di mulini (Yugoslavia's heart is made by mills) - reportage by Tonino Guerra, in 3 episodes.Il cuore della Jugoslavia è fatto di mulini https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/ilcuoredellajugoslaviaefattodimulini 2020-09-01 RaiPlay it Sono arrivati quattro fratelli (Four brothers are arrived) – documentary by Maricla Boggio about the child-adoption.Sono arrivati quattro fratelli https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/sonoarrivatiquattrofratelli 2023-03-05 RaiPlay it Un autore una città (An author a city) – six great Italian writers speak about their link with the home town.Bevilacqua: palcoscenico Parma https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/bevilacquapalcoscenicoparma 2023-10-11 RaiPlay it Quando è arrivata la televisione (When television arrived) – documentary by Ermanno Olmi, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Italian television Quando è arrivata la televisione https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/quandoearrivatalatelevisione 2024-01-19 RaiPlay it Il lavoro contro la vita (Labour versus life) -  by Anna Lajolo, Guido Lombardi and Alfredo Leonardi; documentary on the Porto Marghera chemical industry and its negative effects on the health of workers and the environment. Variety C’era una volta Roma (Once upon a time in Rome) – with the Bagaglino troupe; parodic history of the Italian capital. Carissimi, la nebbia agli irti colli (Dearest, the fog at the steep hills) – first variety aired on Rai 3.The title cites a popular Giosuè Carducci’s poem. Due come noi (Two people like us) – by Antonello Falqui, with Pino Caruso and Ornella Vanoni. Grand’Italia– talk show, hosted by Maurizio Costanzo.Grand'Italia https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/granditalia 2025-10-06 RaiPlay it Sotto il divano (Under the sofa) – talk-show hosted by Adriana Asti. Luna park – hosted by Pippo Baudo, with Tina Turner as constant guest; debut of Heather Parisi.Luna Park https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/lunapark 2020-08-29 RaiPlay it Tilt – with Stefania Rotolo.Stefania Rotolo - Chroma key follies https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/stefaniarotolo-chromakeyfollies 2021-07-30 RaiPlay it Una valigia tutta blu (A fully blue bag) – musical show, hosted by Walter Chiari. Private channels Il Napoleone – game show, with Ettore Andenna, directed by Cino Tortorella (Antenna 3 Lombardia) Ottava nota – music show, with Richard Benson (TVA 40). Ending this year L’altra domenica Gioco città. Montecarlo sera Non Stop La sberla. Networks and services Launches Network Type Launch date Notes Source Antenna Sicilia Cable and satellite Unknown Tele Arena Cable and satellite Unknown Televisione Cristiana in Italia Cable and satellite Unknown Telepace Cable and satellite Unknown Telenuovo Cable and satellite 12 November Conversions and rebrandings Old network name New network name Type Conversion Date Notes Source Closures Network Type Closure date Notes Source Births 3 January: Francesco Bellissimo, celebrity chef Deaths 3 November: Paolo Carlini, 57, actor, star of the early Italian television. 5 November: Amedeo Nazzari, 72, actor, star of the black-and white Italian cinema, in the Sixties active in television as player in fiction and TV-dramas. 3 December: Alighiero Noschese, 47, impersonator, who shots himself in the chapel of the Roman clinic where he was hospitalized; he suffered for years from depression, because the divorce and some professional fails.Noschese: uno, nessuno e centomila https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/noscheseunonessunoecentomila 2023-03-05 RaiPlay it References 1979 Italy Category:1979 in Italian television