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.
November 4: flood of the Arno. RAI, with its news programs and in-depth magazine, provide a testimony on the catastrophe that is still valuable today.[2]
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.[3]
Teatro inchiesta – cycle of tv-dramas about episodes of the contemporary history, lasted till 1973. It’s inaugurated by Tullio Kezich’sThe Fuchs affair.[5]
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.
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.
Carta bianca (White paper) – one-woman show with Anna Proclemer, renowned drama actress, who assumes the unusual role of the soubrette; written by Enno Flaiano.
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 and 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.
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.[12]
France - Belphegor, or Phantom of the Louvre
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