The RAI technical commission chooses, for the color telecasts, the German system PAL , preferring it to the French SECAM and the American NTSC. Nevertheless, for political and commercial reasons, the definitive choice of PAL and the effective start of the color programs will be delayed till 1977.
February 7.: Rai Sudtirol, the RAI channel for the German speaking minority living in South Tyrol, begins broadcasting on the frequencies of RAI 2. Because of tensions between the Italian government and South-Tyrolean nationalists, Silvius Magnago, president of the Bolzano province, refuses to inaugurate the new channel with a greeting to the viewers.
December 24.: in Naples, start of the first Italian cable station, Telediffusione Italiana Telenapoli. It broadcasts advertising announcements to television sets placed in supermarkets and public places.[2]
Settevoci (seven voices) – four seasons, This mix of quiz and music show, originally thought as a filler for the Sunday afternoon, gets a huge success and leads to popularity the novice host Pippo Baudo and many young singers.
National Trophy Rapallo Davoli – six seasons. Musical contest, reserved to singers and groups of beat music.
La fantarca (The fantastic ark) – by Vittorio Cottafavi; libretto by Giuseppe Berto (from his novel); music by Roman Vlad. It's a rare example of opera realized expressly for the television. The legend of the Noah's ark is transposed into a dystopic future, but leaving a lot of space for humor and satire.
Il conte di Montecristo (The count of Montecristo) – by Edmo Fenoglio, with Andrea Giordana and Giuliana Lojodice. This version of the Dumas’ masterpiece, with an excellent cast of stage actors, gets a wide audience and makes the twenty-years old Giordana a star. The innovative Fengolio's direction, with an intensive use of extreme close-up, instead, causes some irony by the critics.[4]
Corruzione al palazzo di giustizia (Corruption in the courthouse) – by Ottavio Spadaro, from the Ugo Betti’s drama, with Tino Buazzelli.
Camera 22– cabaret. The brothers Raffaele and Mario Pisu (an entertainer and a serious stage actor) ironize about their different careers.
I due nel sacco (The two in the bag) – variety show with Franco and Ciccio.
Il signore ha suonato? (Has sir rang?) – variety show with Gino Bramieri.
Tigre contro tigre (Tiger vs. Tiger) – variety show, about the rivalry between cinema and television, with Gino Bramieri and Marisa Del Frate.
Johnny sera (Evening Johnny) – variety with Johnny Dorelli. The showman plays the clumsy thief Dorellik, a Diabolik's parody,
Scala reale (Royal flush) – name of the 1966 edition of Canzonissima, won by Claudio Villa with Granada. Peppino De Filippo, also presenter, plays the muddler Pappagone in some farcical sketches, conquers the public, notwithstanding the slating of the critics.
The show introduces a "battle"
with the young beat and
ye-ye singers opposing the old generation of neapolitan and traditional
italian melodic style.
Notable performances by Dalida, Gene Pitney, Sandie Shaw, Françoise Hardy and the
illusionist Silvan.
Io, Gigliola (I, Gigliola) – in 3 episodes; by Silviero Blasi, with Gigliola Cinquetti.[7]
Incontro con Luigi Tenco (Meeting with Luigi Tenco). Few months before his suicide, the song singer-writer discusses about music and society with an audience of young people and with the friends Lucio Dalla and Ornella Vanoni.[8]
Giochi in famiglia (Family games) – quiz, hosted by Mike Bongiorno; the competitors are entire families rather than single persons.
Giocagiò – show for baby, Italian version of the English show Playschool
Giorgio Strehler, il mestiere del teatro (The craft of theatre) – by Gilberto Tofano; documentary about Giorgio Strehler, with interviews and shooting of the rehearsal for the Henry VI trilogy. [11]