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 Current logo used since 2016 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | National |
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Timeshift service | TVNZ 2+1 |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | TVNZ |
| Sister channels | TVNZ 1 TVNZ Duke |
| History | |
| Launched | 30 June 1975; 50 years ago (1975-06-30) |
| Former names | TV2 (1975–1976, 1995–2016) South Pacific Television (1976–1980) Television Two (1980–1982) Television 2 (1982–1987) Network Two (1987–1989) Channel 2 (1989–1995) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Watch live (NZ only) |
| Website | tvnz.co.nz/livetv/tvnz-2 |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| DVB64-QAM on band IV | |
TVNZ 2 is the secondNew Zealand television channel owned and operated by the state-owned broadcasterTelevision New Zealand (TVNZ). It targets a younger audience than its sister channel,TVNZ 1. TVNZ 2's lineup consists of dramas, comedies, andreality TV shows. A small number are produced in New Zealand which are either of a comedic, soap opera or reality nature, with rest of the program lineup taken from international catalogues, mostly from Canada and the United States.
TVNZ 2 is New Zealand's second-oldest television channel, formed in 1975 following the break-up of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation intoRadio New Zealand, Television One and Television Two. It began broadcasting on 30 June 1975, and for most of the 1970s was known asSouth Pacific Television. In 1980, it became a part of TVNZ when South Pacific Television and Television One merged, and reverted to the nameTV2. The channel was renamed TVNZ 2 in October 2016.[1]
The channel is broadcast on the government ownedKordia terrestrial network as well as on one of the two Kordia satellite transponders, which is included in channel packages on theFreeview andSky platforms. Sky also make the channel available on one of their own satellite transponders.
Following the establishment of the national network in 1969 and the first colour tests a little later, theNew Zealand Broadcasting Corporation began studying plans for a second channel. One of the suggestions was to make it a commercial-free operation; it even invitedHuw Weldon from the BBC to support evidence from like-minded broadcasters around the world that already had two channels. In February 1972, ahead of the elections, the New Zealand government announced its plans to launch a bid for a second channel, which piqued NZBC's interest, however it was facing competition from the Independent Television Corporation, which planned to turn the second channel into a commercial outlet from launch. Formal hearings took place in October, creating tensions between the two bids.[2]: 129–130
In 1973, with the impending dissolution of the NZBC, a second television channel was announced. It would inherit the studios and facilities ofAKTV2 andCHTV3 and would broadcast in the coverage areas of both stations in an initial phase. In December, it was expected that the channel would become operational in mid-1975 and an inaugural meeting would take place in January 1974. At the time, the new corporation lacked equipment, staff, finance, transmission and programmes.[3]
Allan Martin was appointed channel director during 1974; in October of that year, he announced that TV2 would be operational by June or July 1975. Its style was "quality mixed with enterprise and entertainment". It would have greater differences in terms of style than the homogenous NZBC network, which would become TV One from 1 April 1975.[4] On 8 December, equipment for two transmitters, manufactured by Marconi, arrived on a chartered aircraft in Auckland. The first transmitter was set to be installed at Waiatarua, to cover Auckland, followed by a second in Te Aroha, to coverWaikato.[5]
TV2 was formed following the dissolution of theNew Zealand Broadcasting Corporation on 1 April 1975, with the corporation splitting intoRadio New Zealand and two television channels:Television One and Television Two. Whereas Television One took over WNTV1 inWellington and DNTV2 inDunedin as well as the existing channel frequencies, Television Two took over AKTV2 inAuckland and CHTV3 inChristchurch, broadcasting on channel 4 in Auckland and channel 8 in Christchurch.
TV2 began broadcasting inAuckland at 1 pm on Monday 30 June 1975. Broadcasting began inChristchurch five hours later at 6 pm, due to extra time being needed to fix an aerial fault at the city'sSugarloaf transmitter.[6] The opening weekend saw the country's firsttelethon, raising over$485,000 for theSt John Ambulance Service.[7]
As there was only one national link at the time, and Television One had priority, TV2 used the link overnight to feed the next day's programmes between Auckland and Christchurch so they could be broadcast simultaneously. During its first year, TV2 introduced theGoodnight Kiwi cartoon for itsclosedown, although it was not until 1980 that it assumed its most recognised form.
TV2 began broadcasting in theWaikato on 1 September 1975. TV2 began broadcasting inWellington on 24 November 1975, after the city's infamous winds hampered aerial installation at theMount Kaukau transmitter.[8][9] Coverage was extended to Dunedin andInvercargill on 28 June 1976.[10]
The channel had branded itself as "TV2 South Pacific Television" since its launch.[11] In 1976, it dropped the TV2 moniker and was renamed simplySouth Pacific Television. This also reduced confusion in Auckland and Dunedin where Television One broadcast on channel 2 (TV2 broadcast on channel 4 in both centres).[12] Along with Television One andRadio New Zealand, South Pacific Television became part of the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand (BCNZ) in 1977.
In February 1979, the National Government announced it would the amalgamate Television One and South Pacific Television under a single administration.[13] South Pacific Television closed down for the last time at 12:15 am on 16 February 1980, after airing a two-hour farewell special.[14]
South Pacific Television was known for producing original TV series, with titles such asChildren of Fire Mountain and Hunter’s Gold ranking among its top international sellers.[15]
Television Two relaunched at 12:00 noon on 16 February 1980 under the administration ofTelevision New Zealand, with the promise of 'complementary programming'.[16][17] In 1981, tenders were called for the supply of programmes for TV2's morning slot. The following year Northern Television began producing programmes as the first private enterprise TV broadcaster in the country. In 1983 Northern TV was forced to close due to high costs and low advertising revenue.
On 2 September 1980, TV Two's transmitter network in the South Island aired an adult scene after closedown, featuring a woman taking off her bra. It was later revealed to be a signal coming from Brisbane from freak weather conditions, which was likely a picture without sound.[18]
TheNational government debated selling off TV2 to a private enterprise in 1983, but this did not happen. In 1987, Television New Zealand started to move away from complementary programming, with TV2 emphasising entertainment while TV One would emphasise information-based programming.[19]
By mid-1987, TV2 was rebranded as "Network Two", and in 1989 was rebranded as "Channel 2". In January 1992, Channel 2 introduced 24-hour television overnight which lasted three months. It went back to a nightly closedown but 24-hour programming was reintroduced by mid-1993, initially on Fridays and Saturdays. By mid-1994, 24-hour programming on Channel 2 was extended to Thursdays to Sundays, and on 19 October 1994, Channel 2 began broadcasting non-stop, 24 hours a day. In 1995, Channel 2 reverted to its old name, TV2.
In line with TVNZ's repositioning in mid-1997, a new raft of local shows were unveiled, as well as a new look. The increase in such productions would also solidify its ratings performance in the 7:30pm-8:30pm timeslot, while also increasing the amount of local faces on screen and jobs in the media industry.[20]
On 2 February 2003, the channel introduced a new brand identity, using the slogan "2 in the neighbourhood", conceived bySaatchi & Saatchi, and with idents filmed entirely in Auckland depicting a neighbourhood with TV2's stars of the time, accompanied byThe Neighbourhood bySisters Underground. The logo was amended, replacing the circle behind the 2 with a "glass marble", as described by network bosses, in five separate colours.[21] TV2 picked upSportsCafe from Sky 1 in 2003 in order to attract a wider audience.[22] That same year, it ended the overnight programming blockM2, dedicated to national and international music, after eighteen months on air, which was criticised by local musicians. Satellite Pictures,M2's producer, continued makingSqueeze andSpace for the channel.[23]
On 22 September 2007, TV2 went into 16:9 widescreen onFreeview 24 hours a day.
On 2 September 2010, TV2 changed from broadcasting in720phigh definition to1080i.[citation needed]
On New Year's Day 2012, TV2 introduced a new look graphics package with a new theme song for the network. At the same time, the TV2digital on-screen graphic logo moved from the top right hand corner of the screen to the bottom right hand corner of the screen, for the first time since 2003.
From 19 August 2013, TV2 reacquired broadcast rights forHome and Away, after outbidding TV3.[24] In 2014, TV2 unveiled a new set of idents without using special effects, in which air cannons sent 8,000 copies of the channel's logo, in six idents featuring live-action scenes involving actors from its local shows.[25]
On 1 October 2016, the channel was renamed TVNZ 2.
Long-running TVNZ 2 programmes include children's showWhat Now (since 1981; on TVNZ 2 since 1989) and soap operaShortland Street (since 1992).
 | |
| Broadcast area | National |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Television New Zealand |
| History | |
| Launched | 1 September 2013 |
| Replaced | TVNZ U |
| Former names | TV2+1 (2013–2016) |
TVNZ 2+1 was launched to Freeview and Sky customers on 1 September 2013 asTV2+1. It is achannel with a one-hour time shift of the Auckland TVNZ 2 feed. The channel is available on Channel 7 on Freeview and 502 on Sky. This channel replacedU, which was an interactive youth-orientated channel. When the channel was launched, TV One Plus 1 (nowTVNZ 1+1) moved to Channel 6 on Freeview, while TV2+1 took over Channel 7. It was rebranded as TVNZ 2+1 on 1 October 2016.
Home Learning TV was launched on 15 April 2020, and broadcast on the channel from 9 am to 3 pm on weekdays instead of a timeshift of TVNZ 2. From 15 June, it was shifted to TVNZ 2, broadcasting from 8:15 am to 9 am on weekdays. It was part of the government's efforts to encourage continued educational engagement during thenationwide lockdown that had closed all New Zealand schools. The content was hosted by various New Zealand educators.
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