Michael Nicholas Salvatore Bongiorno was an Italian-American television presenter. After a few experiences in the US, he started working on RAI in the 1950s and was considered to be the most popular host in Italy. He was also known by the nickname il Re del Quiz, and the peculiarity of starting all his shows with his trademark greeting: Allegria!.
Mike Bongiorno in 1972
Bongiorno with Pippo Baudo, Corrado Mantoni, and Enzo Tortora
RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana, commercially styled as Rai since 2000 and known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many terrestrial and subscription television channels and radio stations. It is one of the biggest broadcasters in Europe, and the biggest in Italy competing with Mediaset and other minor radio and television networks. RAI has a relatively high television audience share of 35.9%.
RAI headquarters in Rome