TV2 (New Zealand)

TV2
	TV2 Logo
Launched	30 June 1975
Owned by	TVNZ
Picture format	576i 16:9 (SDTV); 1080i[citation needed] (HDTV)
Country	New Zealand
Formerly called	South Pacific Television; Channel 2; Network 2
Website	tv2.co.nz
Availability
Terrestrial
Analogue	VHF Band; normally tuned to 2
Freeview\|HD	Channel 2
Satellite
Freeview	Channel 2
SKY Network Television	Channel 002
Cable
TelstraClear InHomeTV	Channel 2

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TV2 is a national television network in New Zealand, which is owned and operated by the state-owned broadcaster TVNZ. It targets a younger audience than its sister network, TV One. TV2's line up consists of dramas, sitcoms, and reality shows, most of which are produced in New Zealand or imported from the United States.

[edit] History

TV2 was formed following the dissolution of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation in 1975. TV2 took over stations AKTV2 in Auckland and CHTV3 in Christchurch. It began broadcasting in those cities on 30 June of that year, but did not begin broadcasting in Wellington until that November. It is a sister station to TV One.

TV2 opened with a Telethon for the St John Ambulance Service. As there was only one national link, and TV 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. In 1976 TV2 was renamed South Pacific Television, and along with TV One and Radio New Zealand it became part of the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand (BCNZ) in 1977.

In 1980, South Pacific Television (which reverted to its original name of TV2) and TV One merged to form Television New Zealand, with the promise of 'complementary programming'. 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.

The National government debated selling off TV2 to a private enterprise in 1983, but this did not happen. In 1988 the Labour government dissolved BCNZ, and deregulated the broadcasting market. With the launch of TV3 in 1989, TV2 (now rebranded 'Channel 2') moved away from complementary programming and repositioned itself as an entertainment channel, leaving more serious programming to TV One. On 29 November 1991, Channel 2 began broadcasting 24 hour weekend television on Friday and Saturday nights and then in late July 1994 this was extended to Thursday and Sunday nights and on 19 October 1994, Channel 2 began broadcasting 24 hours a day everyday. In 1995, Channel 2 reverted to its old name, TV2.

On 22 September 2007, TV2 went into 16:9 widescreen on Freeview 24 hours a day.

On 2 September 2010, TV2 changed from broadcasting in 720p high definition to 1080i.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Programming

[edit] News programming

News and sport is usually catered for by sister channel TV One. However, the channel does feature one news show, 20/20, which borrows the format and some of the stories from the American Broadcasting Company in the United States, the program's originator. TV2 once featured headline updates at the top of the hour, but these were discontinued in 2002 also TV2 had its own late night news called News Night during the mid-nineties hosted by Marcus Lush. TV2 does broadcast headlines for the ONE News bulletin at 5:00pm and 5:30pm.