Rai Italia Radio

Lore & Background

Rai Italia Radio began broadcasting from Rome in the 1930s, when Italy became one of the first countries to launch international shortwave transmissions. Guglielmo Marconi oversaw the construction of the first shortwave transmitter at Prato Smeraldo outside Rome on July 1, 1930.

Four years later two more transmitters were completed, and broadcasts began in English and Italian to North America. In 1935 programmes in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish were beamed to South America. By 1939, after six new transmitters were built, English programmes reached the Far East, Europe and Mediterranean countries.

During the Second World War political and strategic motives joined the original aim of linking Italy with Italian migrants worldwide. After Italy entered the war, shortwave broadcasts were suspended following the armistice of September 8, 1943, and resumed on September 3, 1946, with news bulletins in English, Italian, French, Portuguese and Spanish. A 1962 law placed management of international shortwave broadcasts with state broadcaster Rai. Over time the programmes lost their official and propaganda character, becoming a news source reflecting the democratic nature of the Italian Republic.

In 1975 a special management section for foreign broadcasting and journalism was set up, leading to expansion that included intercontinental television channels. Up to its closure, Rai Internazionale Radio transmitted 24 hours a day online and via satellite, offering music, information and entertainment from the three Radio Rai networks. Its editorial team produced ten daily editions of "Italia chiama Italia News" in Italian, along with programmes such as Racconto Italiano, Taccuino Italiano, Tutto di Prima and Storia e Storie.

Reader's Guide

Rai Italia Radio's significance lies in its role as one of the earliest international shortwave broadcasters, established under the direct oversight of radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi. For 72 years it served as a link between Italy and Italian communities worldwide, adapting from its original cultural mission to include wartime propaganda and later evolving into a democratic news service. Its closure of shortwave operations on October 1, 2007, and full shutdown on December 31, 2011, marked the end of an era for Italian international broadcasting.

The service's legacy includes its pioneering use of shortwave technology, its comprehensive news coverage of Italian politics and society within the European Union, and its eventual transition to online and satellite distribution before ceasing entirely. Many local radio stations worldwide re-transmitted its programmes on AM, FM, shortwave or cable, extending its reach beyond direct broadcasts. The final English news items were carried as part of "Notturno Italiano" on medium wave until the last day of 2011.