RTÉ2
| RTÉ2 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | 2 November 1978 |
| Owned by | Raidió Teilifís Éireann |
| Picture format |
1080i 16:9 (HDTV) 576i 16:9 (SDTV) |
| Audience share | 10.0% (31 December 2012, [1]) |
| Slogan | We Go There |
| Language |
English Irish |
| Broadcast area |
Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Worldwide (online with restricted and unrestricted programming) |
| Headquarters | Donnybrook, Dublin |
| Formerly called | Network 2 (1988–2004) RTÉ Two (2004–2014) |
| Sister channel(s) |
RTÉ One RTÉ News Now RTÉjr |
| Website | www.rte.ie/tv/rte2.html |
|
Availability
|
|
| Terrestrial | |
| Saorview | Channel 2 (HD) |
| Freeview (UK) | Channel 53 (Northern Ireland only) |
| Satellite | |
| Saorsat | Ka-Sat 9A (9.0°E), TP 20185 L Channel 102 |
| Sky (Ireland) | Channel 102 (HD/SD) Channel 278 (SD) |
| Sky (UK) | Channel 162 (HD/SD) Channel 224 (SD) (Northern Ireland only) |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media (Ireland) | Channel 102 Channel 136 (HD) |
| Virgin Media (UK) | Channel 876 (Northern Ireland only) |
| IPTV | |
| Eir TV | Channel 102 |
| Streaming media | |
| Horizon GO | Watch live (Ireland only) |
| Aer TV | Watch live (Ireland only) |
| RTÉ Player | Watch live (available depending on rights) |
RTÉ2 is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. It is available to 98% of viewers across the Republic of Ireland through Saorview and available in Northern Ireland through Freeview. It is also available through digital television services Virgin Media Ireland, Sky Ireland, Eir TV and in Northern Ireland on Virgin Media and Sky. Content from RTÉ2 is available on the RTÉ Player both nationally and internationally.
RTÉ2 broadcasts in both standard definition and high-definition.
In the 1970s the Irish government considered three options for the introduction of a second television service: the re-transmission of BBC1 Northern Ireland; authorisation of an independent commercial service; or charging RTÉ with the establishment of a second national channel. It was the last of these that was finally chosen.
The channel, the Republic of Ireland's second, began transmissions on 2 November 1978 with an opening broadcast of a gala ceremony from Cork Opera House. Owing to a technical fault, audio from BBC2 was played during the countdown instead of the proper soundtrack, and when the channel commenced programmes, there was no audio for the initial 15 seconds or so. At first the new channel broadcast in the evenings only. The first broadcast on RTÉ 2 was on 6 June 1978, it was largely aimed at those in "single channel land". Programmes included The Streets of San Francisco and Duchess of Duke Street.
Up to 60% of the Republic of Ireland could receive UK channels via spillover or via cable. Cable in the republic was only permitted in areas of spillover up to the mid-1980s, to provide viewers with better reception of channels they could already receive over the air. Hence RTÉ 2 was aimed at those that did not have the UK channels. To this end one of their main remits was the re-broadcasting of UK programming to Irish audiences, that would not otherwise be seen on RTÉ 1.
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Wikipedia