diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/_extractors.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/_extractors.py
index bf041ae61..d9028a831 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/_extractors.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/_extractors.py
@@ -1548,6 +1548,8 @@ from .radlive import (
     RadLiveSeasonIE,
 )
 from .rai import (
+    RaiIE,
+    RaiCulturaIE,
     RaiPlayIE,
     RaiPlayLiveIE,
     RaiPlayPlaylistIE,
@@ -1556,7 +1558,6 @@ from .rai import (
     RaiPlaySoundPlaylistIE,
     RaiNewsIE,
     RaiSudtirolIE,
-    RaiIE,
 )
 from .raywenderlich import (
     RayWenderlichIE,
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/rai.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/rai.py
index cab12cc21..df4102a40 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/rai.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/rai.py
@@ -1,19 +1,12 @@
 import re
 
 from .common import InfoExtractor
-from ..compat import (
-    compat_str,
-    compat_urlparse,
-)
 from ..utils import (
     clean_html,
     determine_ext,
     ExtractorError,
     filter_dict,
-    find_xpath_attr,
-    fix_xml_ampersands,
     GeoRestrictedError,
-    HEADRequest,
     int_or_none,
     join_nonempty,
     parse_duration,
@@ -35,82 +28,70 @@ class RaiBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
     _GEO_BYPASS = False
 
     def _extract_relinker_info(self, relinker_url, video_id, audio_only=False):
+        def fix_cdata(s):
+            # remove \r\n\t before and after <![CDATA[ ]]> to avoid
+            # polluted text with xpath_text
+            s = re.sub(r'(\]\]>)[\r\n\t]+(</)', '\\1\\2', s)
+            return re.sub(r'(>)[\r\n\t]+(<!\[CDATA\[)', '\\1\\2', s)
+
         if not re.match(r'https?://', relinker_url):
             return {'formats': [{'url': relinker_url}]}
 
-        formats = []
-        geoprotection = None
-        is_live = None
-        duration = None
-
-        for platform in ('mon', 'flash', 'native'):
-            relinker = self._download_xml(
-                relinker_url, video_id,
-                note=f'Downloading XML metadata for platform {platform}',
-                transform_source=fix_xml_ampersands,
-                query={'output': 45, 'pl': platform},
-                headers=self.geo_verification_headers())
-
-            if xpath_text(relinker, './license_url', default='{}') != '{}':
-                self.report_drm(video_id)
+        # set User-Agent to generic 'Rai' to avoid quality filtering from
+        # the media server and get the maximum qualities available
+        relinker = self._download_xml(
+            relinker_url, video_id, note='Downloading XML metadata',
+            transform_source=fix_cdata, query={'output': 64},
+            headers={**self.geo_verification_headers(), 'User-Agent': 'Rai'})
 
-            if not geoprotection:
-                geoprotection = xpath_text(
-                    relinker, './geoprotection', default=None) == 'Y'
+        if xpath_text(relinker, './license_url', default='{}') != '{}':
+            self.report_drm(video_id)
 
-            if not is_live:
-                is_live = xpath_text(
-                    relinker, './is_live', default=None) == 'Y'
-            if not duration:
-                duration = parse_duration(xpath_text(
-                    relinker, './duration', default=None))
+        is_live = xpath_text(relinker, './is_live', default='N') == 'Y'
+        duration = parse_duration(xpath_text(relinker, './duration', default=None))
+        media_url = xpath_text(relinker, './url[@type="content"]', default=None)
 
-            url_elem = find_xpath_attr(relinker, './url', 'type', 'content')
-            if url_elem is None:
-                continue
+        if not media_url:
+            self.raise_no_formats('The relinker returned no media url')
 
-            media_url = url_elem.text
+        # geo flag is a bit unreliable and not properly set all the time
+        geoprotection = xpath_text(relinker, './geoprotection', default='N') == 'Y'
 
-            # This does not imply geo restriction (e.g.
-            # http://www.raisport.rai.it/dl/raiSport/media/rassegna-stampa-04a9f4bd-b563-40cf-82a6-aad3529cb4a9.html)
-            if '/video_no_available.mp4' in media_url:
-                continue
-
-            ext = determine_ext(media_url)
-            if (ext == 'm3u8' and platform != 'mon') or (ext == 'f4m' and platform != 'flash'):
-                continue
+        ext = determine_ext(media_url)
+        formats = []
 
-            if ext == 'mp3':
-                formats.append({
-                    'url': media_url,
-                    'vcodec': 'none',
-                    'acodec': 'mp3',
-                    'format_id': 'http-mp3',
-                })
-                break
-            elif ext == 'm3u8' or 'format=m3u8' in media_url or platform == 'mon':
-                formats.extend(self._extract_m3u8_formats(
-                    media_url, video_id, 'mp4', 'm3u8_native',
-                    m3u8_id='hls', fatal=False))
-            elif ext == 'f4m' or platform == 'flash':
-                manifest_url = update_url_query(
-                    media_url.replace('manifest#live_hds.f4m', 'manifest.f4m'),
-                    {'hdcore': '3.7.0', 'plugin': 'aasp-3.7.0.39.44'})
-                formats.extend(self._extract_f4m_formats(
-                    manifest_url, video_id, f4m_id='hds', fatal=False))
-            else:
-                bitrate = int_or_none(xpath_text(relinker, 'bitrate'))
-                formats.append({
-                    'url': media_url,
-                    'tbr': bitrate if bitrate > 0 else None,
-                    'format_id': f'http-{bitrate if bitrate > 0 else "http"}',
-                })
+        if ext == 'mp3':
+            formats.append({
+                'url': media_url,
+                'vcodec': 'none',
+                'acodec': 'mp3',
+                'format_id': 'https-mp3',
+            })
+        elif ext == 'm3u8' or 'format=m3u8' in media_url:
+            formats.extend(self._extract_m3u8_formats(
+                media_url, video_id, 'mp4', m3u8_id='hls', fatal=False))
+        elif ext == 'f4m':
+            # very likely no longer needed. Cannot find any url that uses it.
+            manifest_url = update_url_query(
+                media_url.replace('manifest#live_hds.f4m', 'manifest.f4m'),
+                {'hdcore': '3.7.0', 'plugin': 'aasp-3.7.0.39.44'})
+            formats.extend(self._extract_f4m_formats(
+                manifest_url, video_id, f4m_id='hds', fatal=False))
+        elif ext == 'mp4':
+            bitrate = int_or_none(xpath_text(relinker, './bitrate'))
+            formats.append({
+                'url': media_url,
+                'tbr': bitrate if bitrate > 0 else None,
+                'format_id': join_nonempty('https', bitrate, delim='-'),
+            })
+        else:
+            raise ExtractorError('Unrecognized media file found')
 
-        if not formats and geoprotection is True:
+        if (not formats and geoprotection is True) or '/video_no_available.mp4' in media_url:
             self.raise_geo_restricted(countries=self._GEO_COUNTRIES, metadata_available=True)
 
-        if not audio_only:
-            formats.extend(self._create_http_urls(relinker_url, formats))
+        if not audio_only and not is_live:
+            formats.extend(self._create_http_urls(media_url, relinker_url, formats))
 
         return filter_dict({
             'is_live': is_live,
@@ -118,38 +99,31 @@ class RaiBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
             'formats': formats,
         })
 
-    def _create_http_urls(self, relinker_url, fmts):
-        _RELINKER_REG = r'https?://(?P<host>[^/]+?)/(?:i/)?(?P<extra>[^/]+?)/(?P<path>.+?)/(?P<id>\w+)(?:_(?P<quality>[\d\,]+))?(?:\.mp4|/playlist\.m3u8).+?'
+    def _create_http_urls(self, manifest_url, relinker_url, fmts):
+        _MANIFEST_REG = r'/(?P<id>\w+)(?:_(?P<quality>[\d\,]+))?(?:\.mp4)?(?:\.csmil)?/playlist\.m3u8'
         _MP4_TMPL = '%s&overrideUserAgentRule=mp4-%s'
         _QUALITY = {
             # tbr: w, h
-            '250': [352, 198],
-            '400': [512, 288],
-            '700': [512, 288],
-            '800': [700, 394],
-            '1200': [736, 414],
-            '1800': [1024, 576],
-            '2400': [1280, 720],
-            '3200': [1440, 810],
-            '3600': [1440, 810],
-            '5000': [1920, 1080],
-            '10000': [1920, 1080],
+            250: [352, 198],
+            400: [512, 288],
+            600: [512, 288],
+            700: [512, 288],
+            800: [700, 394],
+            1200: [736, 414],
+            1500: [920, 518],
+            1800: [1024, 576],
+            2400: [1280, 720],
+            3200: [1440, 810],
+            3600: [1440, 810],
+            5000: [1920, 1080],
+            10000: [1920, 1080],
         }
 
-        def test_url(url):
-            resp = self._request_webpage(
-                HEADRequest(url), None, headers={'User-Agent': 'Rai'},
-                fatal=False, errnote=False, note=False)
-
-            if resp is False:
+        def percentage(number, target, pc=20, roof=125):
+            '''check if the target is in the range of number +/- percent'''
+            if not number or number < 0:
                 return False
-
-            if resp.code == 200:
-                return False if resp.url == url else resp.url
-            return None
-
-        # filter out audio-only formats
-        fmts = [f for f in fmts if not f.get('vcodec') == 'none']
+            return abs(target - number) < min(float(number) * float(pc) / 100.0, roof)
 
         def get_format_info(tbr):
             import math
@@ -157,67 +131,78 @@ class RaiBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
             if len(fmts) == 1 and not br:
                 br = fmts[0].get('tbr')
             if br and br > 300:
-                tbr = compat_str(math.floor(br / 100) * 100)
+                tbr = math.floor(br / 100) * 100
             else:
-                tbr = '250'
+                tbr = 250
 
             # try extracting info from available m3u8 formats
-            format_copy = None
+            format_copy = [None, None]
             for f in fmts:
                 if f.get('tbr'):
-                    br_limit = math.floor(br / 100)
-                    if br_limit - 1 <= math.floor(f['tbr'] / 100) <= br_limit + 1:
-                        format_copy = f.copy()
+                    if percentage(tbr, f['tbr']):
+                        format_copy[0] = f.copy()
+                if [f.get('width'), f.get('height')] == _QUALITY.get(tbr):
+                    format_copy[1] = f.copy()
+                    format_copy[1]['tbr'] = tbr
+
+            # prefer format with similar bitrate because there might be
+            # multiple video with the same resolution but different bitrate
+            format_copy = format_copy[0] or format_copy[1] or {}
             return {
+                'format_id': f'https-{tbr}',
                 'width': format_copy.get('width'),
                 'height': format_copy.get('height'),
                 'tbr': format_copy.get('tbr'),
                 'vcodec': format_copy.get('vcodec'),
                 'acodec': format_copy.get('acodec'),
                 'fps': format_copy.get('fps'),
-                'format_id': f'https-{tbr}',
             } if format_copy else {
+                'format_id': f'https-{tbr}',
                 'width': _QUALITY[tbr][0],
                 'height': _QUALITY[tbr][1],
-                'format_id': f'https-{tbr}',
-                'tbr': int(tbr),
+                'tbr': tbr,
+                'vcodec': 'avc1',
+                'acodec': 'mp4a',
+                'fps': 25,
             }
 
-        loc = test_url(_MP4_TMPL % (relinker_url, '*'))
-        if not isinstance(loc, compat_str):
-            return []
+        # filter out single-stream formats
+        fmts = [f for f in fmts
+                if not f.get('vcodec') == 'none' and not f.get('acodec') == 'none']
 
-        mobj = re.match(
-            _RELINKER_REG,
-            test_url(relinker_url) or '')
+        mobj = re.search(_MANIFEST_REG, manifest_url)
         if not mobj:
             return []
-
         available_qualities = mobj.group('quality').split(',') if mobj.group('quality') else ['*']
-        available_qualities = [i for i in available_qualities if i]
 
         formats = []
-        for q in available_qualities:
-            fmt = {
+        for q in filter(None, available_qualities):
+            self.write_debug(f'Creating https format for quality {q}')
+            formats.append({
                 'url': _MP4_TMPL % (relinker_url, q),
                 'protocol': 'https',
                 'ext': 'mp4',
                 **get_format_info(q)
-            }
-            formats.append(fmt)
+            })
         return formats
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_thumbnails_list(thumbs, url):
+        return [{
+            'url': urljoin(url, thumb_url),
+        } for thumb_url in (thumbs or {}).values() if thumb_url]
+
     @staticmethod
     def _extract_subtitles(url, video_data):
         STL_EXT = 'stl'
         SRT_EXT = 'srt'
         subtitles = {}
-        subtitles_array = video_data.get('subtitlesArray') or []
+        subtitles_array = video_data.get('subtitlesArray') or video_data.get('subtitleList') or []
         for k in ('subtitles', 'subtitlesUrl'):
             subtitles_array.append({'url': video_data.get(k)})
         for subtitle in subtitles_array:
             sub_url = subtitle.get('url')
-            if sub_url and isinstance(sub_url, compat_str):
+            if sub_url and isinstance(sub_url, str):
                 sub_lang = subtitle.get('language') or 'it'
                 sub_url = urljoin(url, sub_url)
                 sub_ext = determine_ext(sub_url, SRT_EXT)
@@ -236,7 +221,7 @@ class RaiBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
 class RaiPlayIE(RaiBaseIE):
     _VALID_URL = rf'(?P<base>https?://(?:www\.)?raiplay\.it/.+?-(?P<id>{RaiBaseIE._UUID_RE}))\.(?:html|json)'
     _TESTS = [{
-        'url': 'http://www.raiplay.it/video/2014/04/Report-del-07042014-cb27157f-9dd0-4aee-b788-b1f67643a391.html',
+        'url': 'https://www.raiplay.it/video/2014/04/Report-del-07042014-cb27157f-9dd0-4aee-b788-b1f67643a391.html',
         'md5': '8970abf8caf8aef4696e7b1f2adfc696',
         'info_dict': {
             'id': 'cb27157f-9dd0-4aee-b788-b1f67643a391',
@@ -244,22 +229,20 @@ class RaiPlayIE(RaiBaseIE):
             'title': 'Report del 07/04/2014',
             'alt_title': 'St 2013/14 - Report - Espresso nel caffè - 07/04/2014',
             'description': 'md5:d730c168a58f4bb35600fc2f881ec04e',
-            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.jpg$',
-            'uploader': 'Rai Gulp',
+            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://www\.raiplay\.it/.+\.jpg',
+            'uploader': 'Rai 3',
+            'creator': 'Rai 3',
             'duration': 6160,
             'series': 'Report',
             'season': '2013/14',
-            'subtitles': {
-                'it': 'count:4',
-            },
+            'subtitles': {'it': 'count:4'},
             'release_year': 2022,
             'episode': 'Espresso nel caffè - 07/04/2014',
             'timestamp': 1396919880,
             'upload_date': '20140408',
+            'formats': 'count:4',
         },
-        'params': {
-            'skip_download': True,
-        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
     }, {
         # 1080p direct mp4 url
         'url': 'https://www.raiplay.it/video/2021/11/Blanca-S1E1-Senza-occhi-b1255a4a-8e72-4a2f-b9f3-fc1308e00736.html',
@@ -270,8 +253,9 @@ class RaiPlayIE(RaiBaseIE):
             'title': 'Blanca - S1E1 - Senza occhi',
             'alt_title': 'St 1 Ep 1 - Blanca - Senza occhi',
             'description': 'md5:75f95d5c030ec8bac263b1212322e28c',
-            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.jpg$',
-            'uploader': 'Rai 1',
+            'thumbnail': r're:^https://www\.raiplay\.it/dl/img/.+\.jpg',
+            'uploader': 'Rai Premium',
+            'creator': 'Rai Fiction',
             'duration': 6493,
             'series': 'Blanca',
             'season': 'Season 1',
@@ -281,6 +265,30 @@ class RaiPlayIE(RaiBaseIE):
             'episode': 'Senza occhi',
             'timestamp': 1637318940,
             'upload_date': '20211119',
+            'formats': 'count:12',
+        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
+        'expected_warnings': ['Video not available. Likely due to geo-restriction.']
+    }, {
+        # 1500 quality
+        'url': 'https://www.raiplay.it/video/2012/09/S1E11---Tutto-cio-che-luccica-0cab3323-732e-45d6-8e86-7704acab6598.html',
+        'md5': 'a634d20e8ab2d43724c273563f6bf87a',
+        'info_dict': {
+            'id': '0cab3323-732e-45d6-8e86-7704acab6598',
+            'ext': 'mp4',
+            'title': 'Mia and Me - S1E11 - Tutto ciò che luccica',
+            'alt_title': 'St 1 Ep 11 - Mia and Me - Tutto ciò che luccica',
+            'description': 'md5:4969e594184b1920c4c1f2b704da9dea',
+            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.jpg$',
+            'uploader': 'Rai Gulp',
+            'series': 'Mia and Me',
+            'season': 'Season 1',
+            'episode_number': 11,
+            'release_year': 2015,
+            'season_number': 1,
+            'episode': 'Tutto ciò che luccica',
+            'timestamp': 1348495020,
+            'upload_date': '20120924',
         },
     }, {
         'url': 'http://www.raiplay.it/video/2016/11/gazebotraindesi-efebe701-969c-4593-92f3-285f0d1ce750.html?',
@@ -299,57 +307,40 @@ class RaiPlayIE(RaiBaseIE):
         base, video_id = self._match_valid_url(url).groups()
 
         media = self._download_json(
-            base + '.json', video_id, 'Downloading video JSON')
+            f'{base}.json', video_id, 'Downloading video JSON')
 
         if not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats'):
-            if try_get(
-                    media,
-                    (lambda x: x['rights_management']['rights']['drm'],
-                     lambda x: x['program_info']['rights_management']['rights']['drm']),
-                    dict):
+            if traverse_obj(media, (('program_info', None), 'rights_management', 'rights', 'drm')):
                 self.report_drm(video_id)
 
-        title = media['name']
         video = media['video']
-
         relinker_info = self._extract_relinker_info(video['content_url'], video_id)
-
-        thumbnails = []
-        for _, value in media.get('images', {}).items():
-            if value:
-                thumbnails.append({
-                    'url': urljoin(url, value),
-                })
-
-        date_published = media.get('date_published')
-        time_published = media.get('time_published')
-        if date_published and time_published:
-            date_published += ' ' + time_published
-
-        subtitles = self._extract_subtitles(url, video)
-
-        program_info = media.get('program_info') or {}
+        date_published = join_nonempty(
+            media.get('date_published'), media.get('time_published'), delim=' ')
         season = media.get('season')
-
         alt_title = join_nonempty(media.get('subtitle'), media.get('toptitle'), delim=' - ')
 
         return {
             'id': remove_start(media.get('id'), 'ContentItem-') or video_id,
             'display_id': video_id,
-            'title': title,
+            'title': media.get('name'),
             'alt_title': strip_or_none(alt_title or None),
             'description': media.get('description'),
-            'uploader': strip_or_none(media.get('channel') or None),
-            'creator': strip_or_none(media.get('editor') or None),
+            'uploader': strip_or_none(
+                traverse_obj(media, ('program_info', 'channel'))
+                or media.get('channel') or None),
+            'creator': strip_or_none(
+                traverse_obj(media, ('program_info', 'editor'))
+                or media.get('editor') or None),
             'duration': parse_duration(video.get('duration')),
             'timestamp': unified_timestamp(date_published),
-            'thumbnails': thumbnails,
-            'series': program_info.get('name'),
+            'thumbnails': self._get_thumbnails_list(media.get('images'), url),
+            'series': traverse_obj(media, ('program_info', 'name')),
             'season_number': int_or_none(season),
             'season': season if (season and not season.isdigit()) else None,
             'episode': media.get('episode_title'),
             'episode_number': int_or_none(media.get('episode')),
-            'subtitles': subtitles,
+            'subtitles': self._extract_subtitles(url, video),
             'release_year': int_or_none(traverse_obj(media, ('track_info', 'edit_year'))),
             **relinker_info
         }
@@ -371,38 +362,39 @@ class RaiPlayLiveIE(RaiPlayIE):  # XXX: Do not subclass from concrete IE
             'live_status': 'is_live',
             'upload_date': '20090502',
             'timestamp': 1241276220,
+            'formats': 'count:3',
         },
-        'params': {
-            'skip_download': True,
-        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
     }]
 
 
 class RaiPlayPlaylistIE(InfoExtractor):
     _VALID_URL = r'(?P<base>https?://(?:www\.)?raiplay\.it/programmi/(?P<id>[^/?#&]+))(?:/(?P<extra_id>[^?#&]+))?'
     _TESTS = [{
+        # entire series episodes + extras...
         'url': 'https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/nondirloalmiocapo/',
         'info_dict': {
             'id': 'nondirloalmiocapo',
             'title': 'Non dirlo al mio capo',
             'description': 'md5:98ab6b98f7f44c2843fd7d6f045f153b',
         },
-        'playlist_mincount': 12,
+        'playlist_mincount': 30,
     }, {
+        # single season
         'url': 'https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/nondirloalmiocapo/episodi/stagione-2/',
         'info_dict': {
             'id': 'nondirloalmiocapo',
             'title': 'Non dirlo al mio capo - Stagione 2',
             'description': 'md5:98ab6b98f7f44c2843fd7d6f045f153b',
         },
-        'playlist_mincount': 12,
+        'playlist_count': 12,
     }]
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
         base, playlist_id, extra_id = self._match_valid_url(url).groups()
 
         program = self._download_json(
-            base + '.json', playlist_id, 'Downloading program JSON')
+            f'{base}.json', playlist_id, 'Downloading program JSON')
 
         if extra_id:
             extra_id = extra_id.upper().rstrip('/')
@@ -450,7 +442,7 @@ class RaiPlaySoundIE(RaiBaseIE):
             'title': 'Il Ruggito del Coniglio del 10/12/2021',
             'alt_title': 'md5:0e6476cd57858bb0f3fcc835d305b455',
             'description': 'md5:2a17d2107e59a4a8faa0e18334139ee2',
-            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.jpg$',
+            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.+\.jpg$',
             'uploader': 'rai radio 2',
             'duration': 5685,
             'series': 'Il Ruggito del Coniglio',
@@ -459,9 +451,7 @@ class RaiPlaySoundIE(RaiBaseIE):
             'timestamp': 1638346620,
             'upload_date': '20211201',
         },
-        'params': {
-            'skip_download': True,
-        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
     }]
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
@@ -480,9 +470,6 @@ class RaiPlaySoundIE(RaiBaseIE):
                                          lambda x: x['live']['create_date']))
 
         podcast_info = traverse_obj(media, 'podcast_info', ('live', 'cards', 0)) or {}
-        thumbnails = [{
-            'url': urljoin(url, thumb_url),
-        } for thumb_url in (podcast_info.get('images') or {}).values() if thumb_url]
 
         return {
             **info,
@@ -494,7 +481,7 @@ class RaiPlaySoundIE(RaiBaseIE):
             'uploader': traverse_obj(media, ('track_info', 'channel'), expected_type=strip_or_none),
             'creator': traverse_obj(media, ('track_info', 'editor'), expected_type=strip_or_none),
             'timestamp': unified_timestamp(date_published),
-            'thumbnails': thumbnails,
+            'thumbnails': self._get_thumbnails_list(podcast_info.get('images'), url),
             'series': podcast_info.get('title'),
             'season_number': int_or_none(media.get('season')),
             'episode': media.get('episode_title'),
@@ -512,30 +499,30 @@ class RaiPlaySoundLiveIE(RaiPlaySoundIE):  # XXX: Do not subclass from concrete
             'display_id': 'radio2',
             'ext': 'mp4',
             'title': r're:Rai Radio 2 \d+-\d+-\d+ \d+:\d+',
-            'thumbnail': r're:https://www.raiplaysound.it/dl/img/.+?png',
+            'thumbnail': r're:^https://www\.raiplaysound\.it/dl/img/.+\.png',
             'uploader': 'rai radio 2',
             'series': 'Rai Radio 2',
             'creator': 'raiplaysound',
             'is_live': True,
             'live_status': 'is_live',
         },
-        'params': {
-            'skip_download': 'live',
-        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
     }]
 
 
 class RaiPlaySoundPlaylistIE(InfoExtractor):
     _VALID_URL = r'(?P<base>https?://(?:www\.)?raiplaysound\.it/(?:programmi|playlist|audiolibri)/(?P<id>[^/?#&]+))(?:/(?P<extra_id>[^?#&]+))?'
     _TESTS = [{
+        # entire show
         'url': 'https://www.raiplaysound.it/programmi/ilruggitodelconiglio',
         'info_dict': {
             'id': 'ilruggitodelconiglio',
             'title': 'Il Ruggito del Coniglio',
-            'description': 'md5:1bbaf631245a7ab1ec4d9fbb3c7aa8f3',
+            'description': 'md5:48cff6972435964284614d70474132e6',
         },
         'playlist_mincount': 65,
     }, {
+        # single season
         'url': 'https://www.raiplaysound.it/programmi/ilruggitodelconiglio/puntate/prima-stagione-1995',
         'info_dict': {
             'id': 'ilruggitodelconiglio_puntate_prima-stagione-1995',
@@ -568,22 +555,19 @@ class RaiPlaySoundPlaylistIE(InfoExtractor):
 class RaiIE(RaiBaseIE):
     _VALID_URL = rf'https?://[^/]+\.(?:rai\.(?:it|tv))/.+?-(?P<id>{RaiBaseIE._UUID_RE})(?:-.+?)?\.html'
     _TESTS = [{
-        # var uniquename = "ContentItem-..."
-        # data-id="ContentItem-..."
         'url': 'https://www.raisport.rai.it/dl/raiSport/media/rassegna-stampa-04a9f4bd-b563-40cf-82a6-aad3529cb4a9.html',
         'info_dict': {
             'id': '04a9f4bd-b563-40cf-82a6-aad3529cb4a9',
             'ext': 'mp4',
             'title': 'TG PRIMO TEMPO',
-            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.jpg$',
+            'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.jpg',
             'duration': 1758,
             'upload_date': '20140612',
         },
-        'skip': 'This content is available only in Italy',
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
+        'expected_warnings': ['Video not available. Likely due to geo-restriction.']
     }, {
-        # with ContentItem in og:url
         'url': 'https://www.rai.it/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-efb17665-691c-45d5-a60c-5301333cbb0c.html',
-        'md5': '06345bd97c932f19ffb129973d07a020',
         'info_dict': {
             'id': 'efb17665-691c-45d5-a60c-5301333cbb0c',
             'ext': 'mp4',
@@ -592,123 +576,51 @@ class RaiIE(RaiBaseIE):
             'thumbnail': r're:^https?://.*\.jpg$',
             'duration': 2214,
             'upload_date': '20161103'
-        }
+        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
     }, {
-        # Direct MMS URL
+        # Direct MMS: Media URL no longer works.
         'url': 'http://www.rai.it/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-b63a4089-ac28-48cf-bca5-9f5b5bc46df5.html',
         'only_matching': True,
     }]
 
-    def _extract_from_content_id(self, content_id, url):
+    def _real_extract(self, url):
+        content_id = self._match_id(url)
         media = self._download_json(
             f'https://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-{content_id}.html?json',
-            content_id, 'Downloading video JSON')
+            content_id, 'Downloading video JSON', fatal=False, expected_status=404)
 
-        title = media['name'].strip()
+        if media is None:
+            return None
 
-        media_type = media['type']
-        if 'Audio' in media_type:
+        if 'Audio' in media['type']:
             relinker_info = {
                 'formats': [{
-                    'format_id': media.get('formatoAudio'),
+                    'format_id': join_nonempty('https', media.get('formatoAudio'), delim='-'),
                     'url': media['audioUrl'],
                     'ext': media.get('formatoAudio'),
+                    'vcodec': 'none',
+                    'acodec': media.get('formatoAudio'),
                 }]
             }
-        elif 'Video' in media_type:
+        elif 'Video' in media['type']:
             relinker_info = self._extract_relinker_info(media['mediaUri'], content_id)
         else:
             raise ExtractorError('not a media file')
 
-        thumbnails = []
-        for image_type in ('image', 'image_medium', 'image_300'):
-            thumbnail_url = media.get(image_type)
-            if thumbnail_url:
-                thumbnails.append({
-                    'url': compat_urlparse.urljoin(url, thumbnail_url),
-                })
-
-        subtitles = self._extract_subtitles(url, media)
+        thumbnails = self._get_thumbnails_list(
+            {image_type: media.get(image_type) for image_type in (
+                'image', 'image_medium', 'image_300')}, url)
 
         return {
             'id': content_id,
-            'title': title,
-            'description': strip_or_none(media.get('desc') or None),
+            'title': strip_or_none(media.get('name') or media.get('title')),
+            'description': strip_or_none(media.get('desc')) or None,
             'thumbnails': thumbnails,
-            'uploader': strip_or_none(media.get('author') or None),
+            'uploader': strip_or_none(media.get('author')) or None,
             'upload_date': unified_strdate(media.get('date')),
             'duration': parse_duration(media.get('length')),
-            'subtitles': subtitles,
-            **relinker_info
-        }
-
-    def _real_extract(self, url):
-        video_id = self._match_id(url)
-
-        webpage = self._download_webpage(url, video_id)
-
-        content_item_id = None
-
-        content_item_url = self._html_search_meta(
-            ('og:url', 'og:video', 'og:video:secure_url', 'twitter:url',
-             'twitter:player', 'jsonlink'), webpage, default=None)
-        if content_item_url:
-            content_item_id = self._search_regex(
-                rf'ContentItem-({self._UUID_RE})', content_item_url,
-                'content item id', default=None)
-
-        if not content_item_id:
-            content_item_id = self._search_regex(
-                rf'''(?x)
-                    (?:
-                        (?:initEdizione|drawMediaRaiTV)\(|
-                        <(?:[^>]+\bdata-id|var\s+uniquename)=|
-                        <iframe[^>]+\bsrc=
-                    )
-                    (["\'])
-                    (?:(?!\1).)*\bContentItem-(?P<id>{self._UUID_RE})
-                ''',
-                webpage, 'content item id', default=None, group='id')
-
-        content_item_ids = set()
-        if content_item_id:
-            content_item_ids.add(content_item_id)
-        if video_id not in content_item_ids:
-            content_item_ids.add(video_id)
-
-        for content_item_id in content_item_ids:
-            try:
-                return self._extract_from_content_id(content_item_id, url)
-            except GeoRestrictedError:
-                raise
-            except ExtractorError:
-                pass
-
-        relinker_url = self._proto_relative_url(self._search_regex(
-            r'''(?x)
-                (?:
-                    var\s+videoURL|
-                    mediaInfo\.mediaUri
-                )\s*=\s*
-                ([\'"])
-                (?P<url>
-                    (?:https?:)?
-                    //mediapolis(?:vod)?\.rai\.it/relinker/relinkerServlet\.htm\?
-                    (?:(?!\1).)*\bcont=(?:(?!\1).)+)\1
-            ''',
-            webpage, 'relinker URL', group='url'))
-
-        relinker_info = self._extract_relinker_info(
-            urljoin(url, relinker_url), video_id)
-
-        title = self._search_regex(
-            r'var\s+videoTitolo\s*=\s*([\'"])(?P<title>[^\'"]+)\1',
-            webpage, 'title', group='title',
-            default=None) or self._og_search_title(webpage)
-
-        return {
-            'id': video_id,
-            'title': title,
+            'subtitles': self._extract_subtitles(url, media),
             **relinker_info
         }
 
@@ -726,7 +638,8 @@ class RaiNewsIE(RaiIE):  # XXX: Do not subclass from concrete IE
             'duration': 1589,
             'upload_date': '20220529',
             'uploader': 'rainews',
-        }
+        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
     }, {
         # old content with fallback method to extract media urls
         'url': 'https://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/media/Weekend-al-cinema-da-Hollywood-arriva-il-thriller-di-Tate-Taylor-La-ragazza-del-treno-1632c009-c843-4836-bb65-80c33084a64b.html',
@@ -739,12 +652,14 @@ class RaiNewsIE(RaiIE):  # XXX: Do not subclass from concrete IE
             'duration': 833,
             'upload_date': '20161103'
         },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
         'expected_warnings': ['unable to extract player_data'],
     }, {
         # iframe + drm
         'url': 'https://www.rainews.it/iframe/video/2022/07/euro2022-europei-calcio-femminile-italia-belgio-gol-0-1-video-4de06a69-de75-4e32-a657-02f0885f8118.html',
         'only_matching': True,
     }]
+    _PLAYER_TAG = 'news'
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
         video_id = self._match_id(url)
@@ -752,8 +667,8 @@ class RaiNewsIE(RaiIE):  # XXX: Do not subclass from concrete IE
         webpage = self._download_webpage(url, video_id)
 
         player_data = self._search_json(
-            r'<rainews-player\s*data=\'', webpage, 'player_data', video_id,
-            transform_source=clean_html, fatal=False)
+            rf'<rai{self._PLAYER_TAG}-player\s*data=\'', webpage, 'player_data', video_id,
+            transform_source=clean_html, default={})
         track_info = player_data.get('track_info')
         relinker_url = traverse_obj(player_data, 'mediapolis', 'content_url')
 
@@ -770,16 +685,36 @@ class RaiNewsIE(RaiIE):  # XXX: Do not subclass from concrete IE
 
         return {
             'id': video_id,
-            'title': track_info.get('title') or self._og_search_title(webpage),
+            'title': player_data.get('title') or track_info.get('title') or self._og_search_title(webpage),
             'upload_date': unified_strdate(track_info.get('date')),
             'uploader': strip_or_none(track_info.get('editor') or None),
             **relinker_info
         }
 
 
+class RaiCulturaIE(RaiNewsIE):  # XXX: Do not subclass from concrete IE
+    _VALID_URL = rf'https?://(www\.)?raicultura\.it/(?!articoli)[^?#]+-(?P<id>{RaiBaseIE._UUID_RE})(?:-[^/?#]+)?\.html'
+    _EMBED_REGEX = [rf'<iframe[^>]+data-src="(?P<url>/iframe/[^?#]+?{RaiBaseIE._UUID_RE}\.html)']
+    _TESTS = [{
+        'url': 'https://www.raicultura.it/letteratura/articoli/2018/12/Alberto-Asor-Rosa-Letteratura-e-potere-05ba8775-82b5-45c5-a89d-dd955fbde1fb.html',
+        'info_dict': {
+            'id': '05ba8775-82b5-45c5-a89d-dd955fbde1fb',
+            'ext': 'mp4',
+            'title': 'Alberto Asor Rosa: Letteratura e potere',
+            'duration': 1756,
+            'upload_date': '20181206',
+            'uploader': 'raicultura',
+            'formats': 'count:2',
+        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
+    }]
+    _PLAYER_TAG = 'cultura'
+
+
 class RaiSudtirolIE(RaiBaseIE):
-    _VALID_URL = r'https?://raisudtirol\.rai\.it/.+?media=(?P<id>[TP]tv\d+)'
+    _VALID_URL = r'https?://raisudtirol\.rai\.it/.+media=(?P<id>\w+)'
     _TESTS = [{
+        # mp4 file
         'url': 'https://raisudtirol.rai.it/la/index.php?media=Ptv1619729460',
         'info_dict': {
             'id': 'Ptv1619729460',
@@ -787,34 +722,62 @@ class RaiSudtirolIE(RaiBaseIE):
             'title': 'Euro: trasmisciun d\'economia - 29-04-2021 20:51',
             'series': 'Euro: trasmisciun d\'economia',
             'upload_date': '20210429',
-            'thumbnail': r're:https://raisudtirol\.rai\.it/img/.+?\.jpg',
+            'thumbnail': r're:https://raisudtirol\.rai\.it/img/.+\.jpg',
             'uploader': 'raisudtirol',
-        }
+            'formats': 'count:1',
+        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
+    }, {
+        # m3u manifest
+        'url': 'https://raisudtirol.rai.it/it/kidsplayer.php?lang=it&media=GUGGUG_P1.smil',
+        'info_dict': {
+            'id': 'GUGGUG_P1',
+            'ext': 'mp4',
+            'title': 'GUGGUG! La Prospettiva - Die Perspektive',
+            'uploader': 'raisudtirol',
+            'formats': 'count:6',
+        },
+        'params': {'skip_download': True},
     }]
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
         video_id = self._match_id(url)
         webpage = self._download_webpage(url, video_id)
 
-        video_date = self._html_search_regex(r'<span class="med_data">(.+?)</span>', webpage, 'video_date', fatal=False)
-        video_title = self._html_search_regex(r'<span class="med_title">(.+?)</span>', webpage, 'video_title', fatal=False)
-        video_url = self._html_search_regex(r'sources:\s*\[\{file:\s*"(.+?)"\}\]', webpage, 'video_url')
-        video_thumb = self._html_search_regex(r'image: \'(.+?)\'', webpage, 'video_thumb', fatal=False)
+        video_date = self._html_search_regex(
+            r'<span class="med_data">(.+?)</span>', webpage, 'video_date', default=None)
+        video_title = self._html_search_regex([
+            r'<span class="med_title">(.+?)</span>', r'title: \'(.+?)\','],
+            webpage, 'video_title', default=None)
+        video_url = self._html_search_regex([
+            r'sources:\s*\[\{file:\s*"(.+?)"\}\]',
+            r'<source\s+src="(.+?)"\s+type="application/x-mpegURL"'],
+            webpage, 'video_url', default=None)
+
+        ext = determine_ext(video_url)
+        if ext == 'm3u8':
+            formats = self._extract_m3u8_formats(video_url, video_id)
+        elif ext == 'mp4':
+            formats = [{
+                'format_id': 'https-mp4',
+                'url': self._proto_relative_url(video_url),
+                'width': 1024,
+                'height': 576,
+                'fps': 25,
+                'vcodec': 'avc1',
+                'acodec': 'mp4a',
+            }]
+        else:
+            formats = []
+            self.raise_no_formats(f'Unrecognized media file: {video_url}')
 
         return {
             'id': video_id,
             'title': join_nonempty(video_title, video_date, delim=' - '),
-            'series': video_title,
+            'series': video_title if video_date else None,
             'upload_date': unified_strdate(video_date),
-            'thumbnail': urljoin('https://raisudtirol.rai.it/', video_thumb),
+            'thumbnail': urljoin('https://raisudtirol.rai.it/', self._html_search_regex(
+                r'image: \'(.+?)\'', webpage, 'video_thumb', default=None)),
             'uploader': 'raisudtirol',
-            'formats': [{
-                'format_id': 'https-mp4',
-                'url': self._proto_relative_url(video_url),
-                'width': 1024,
-                'height': 576,
-                'fps': 25,
-                'vcodec': 'h264',
-                'acodec': 'aac',
-            }],
+            'formats': formats,
         }