A Bold Experiment Fades: Rai’s Morning Show ‘Track 2’ To End
Ambitious Concept Didn’t Resonate with Italian Viewers
“Track 2,” Rai’s ambitious experiment to bring a fresh, radio-inspired wake-up show to the TV airwaves, is coming to an abrupt end.
The morning program, which launched on October 21st, will broadcast its final installment on December 20th, just weeks before the Christmas holiday.
The show was conceived as a unique fusion of news, guests, and entertainment, transmitted live from the bustling Tiburtina train station in Rome. Its innovative format aimed to capture the rhythm of the city and engage commuters on their morning commute.
However, despite its compelling concept, “Track 2” struggled to gather a substantial audience.
Rai’s Day Time Entertainment Management acknowledged the program’s originality but ultimately cited low viewership as the primary reason for its cancellation.
“It was a highly innovative experiment, conceived within a studio and a location (the Tiburtina station in Rome) that will remain unique in Rai history,” the management stated in a recent announcement.
“An experiment which, as such, contained a margin of risk, and which in the morning slot was not rewarded by ratings, despite obtaining excellent performances in reruns at other times, in particular on Sunday mornings on Rai 2.”
The decision to discontinue “Track 2,” while difficult, stood as a pragmatic response to the economic realities of television production.
“There remains an editorial proposal which, over time, could have grown and improved in terms of audience ratings but which, due to an evaluation linked to respect for the economic values assigned by the Company, the Management has decided to discontinue, thanking in any case hosts, authors, editorial staff, production, direction and technicians, for the work done,” the statement elaborated.
The program’s hosts, Andrea Perroni, Carolina Di Domenico, and Gianluca Semprini, poured their energy and enthusiasm into the project. But ultimately, “Track 2” couldn’t overcome the challenges of its unconventional timing and the weighty legacy of its predecessor, Fiorello’s wildly successful “Viva Rai2!”.
The enduring allure of Fiorello’s unique brand of entertainment proved difficult to replicatFee.
“The morning show is transforming,” Angelo Mellone, Rai’s director of daytime entertainment, previously remarked. “I certainly feel the responsibility, we will have all eyes on it.
Fiorello had a resounding success, he invented this band from scratch. He is unique, he cannot be imitated, he is like Maradona.”
And indeed, “Track 2” had consciously moved away from the “Fiorellesque variety” model. Yet, audiences missed the familiar presence. As with past attempts at reinventing morning offerings, such as “The Other Italy” with Antonino Monteleone on Rai 2 and “Come On People” with Nunzia De Girolamo on Rai 3, “Track 2” succumbed to the allure of established success.
Rai invested significantly in “Track 2,” with a team of around eighty dedicated professionals working on the program, which aired five days a week.
What specific aspects of “Track 2″‘s format might have contributed to its lower-than expected ratings?
## “Track 2” Derailed: A Look at Rai’s Short-Lived Experiment
**News Editor:** Welcome back. Joining us today is media analyst, Antonia Bellucci, to discuss the recent cancellation of Rai’s innovative morning show, “Track 2.” Antonia, thanks for being with us.
**Antonia Bellucci:** Thank you for having me.
**News Editor:** “Track 2” was a bold concept, aiming to revolutionize morning television with its radio-inspired format and unique location. What were your initial thoughts on the show when it launched?
**Antonia Bellucci:** I was intrigued. Rai clearly took a gamble, attempting to capture the energy of commute with its live broadcast from Rome’s Tiburtina station. The fusion of news, entertainment, and guest interviews was certainly refreshing for Italian morning television.
**News Editor:** So, what happened? Why wasn’t “Track 2” a ratings success?
**Antonia Bellucci:** Unfortunately, despite the creative concept, it seems Italian viewers just weren’t tuning in. Rai themselves cited low viewership as the primary reason for cancellation. They acknowledged the show’s innovative spirit, calling it “a highly innovative experiment,” but ultimately, ratings dictate a program’s fate.
**News Editor:** It’s interesting they mentioned that the show fared better in reruns, particularly on Sunday mornings. Could that indicate a missed opportunity in terms of scheduling?
**Antonia Bellucci:** Perhaps. It raises the question of whether the fast-paced, radio-style format, which might work better for a commute, was a bit jarring for viewers expecting a traditional morning show experience.
**News Editor:** Well, “Track 2” may be ending, but is there anything valuable Rai can take away from this experiment?
**Antonia Bellucci:** Absolutely. Even though it didn’t resonate with audiences this time, the willingness to experiment is commendable. Rai demonstrated a desire to push boundaries and try something different. They learned what worked, what didn’t, and that’s valuable information going forward.
**News Editor:** Antonia Bellucci, thank you for your insightful analysis.
