Editing DR2 (section)

==History==
DR2 was launched in 1996 as a [[Satellite television|satellite]]- and [[Cable television|cable]]-only channel. This was highly controversial at the time, as it was considered close to a breach of public service principles that the new station did not reach all viewers. Adding to the critics' cause was that DR did have [[Electromagnetic spectrum|broadband spectrum]] available for [[Terrestrial television|terrestrial broadcasts]]. However, this was reserved for [[digital broadcasting]] tests. The less-than-100%-coverage coupled with a "highbrow" reputation resulted in low ratings, which in turn earned it the nickname "the secret channel" to the regret of the director general who had been pushing the line "my channel" (in the sense of programmes appealing to individuals, not the whole family as DR1 supposedly). This was finally remedied on 31 March 2006, when terrestrial digital broadcasts started.

In 2006, along with other DR properties, DR2 received a new on-air presentation design from Front Nordic.<ref>{{cite web |title=We did |url=https://frontnordic.com/we-did/ |website=Front Nordic |access-date=15 February 2025 |quote=Identify for DR, DR1 and DR2 and onair design for their most important productions; TV Avisen and Deadline}}</ref>

Following the introduction of digital television (and the closing down of all analogue channels except for cable) in Denmark on 1 November 2009, the channel is broadcast free-to-air via a public [[DVB-T]] and [[MPEG-4]] system. It now reaches the whole country and the nearby east side of the [[Øresund]] to the southernmost areas of [[Sweden]].

In 2013, the channel was rebranded and converted to a 24-hour channel with the inclusion of hourly news and current affairs programming.<ref name="luften den">{{cite news|title=DR3 går i luften den 28. januar |url=http://www.dr.dk/OmDR/Nyt_fra_DR/Nyt_fra_DR/2013/01/092755.htm |access-date=22 January 2013 |newspaper=DR |date=17 January 2013 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118055624/http://www.dr.dk/OmDR/Nyt_fra_DR/Nyt_fra_DR/2013/01/092755.htm |archive-date=18 January 2013|language=da }}</ref> [[DR Update]] previously aired some programming before the channel was closed to make room for DR Ultra. DR2, unlike DR Update, will not interrupt any programmes for breaking news.

The channel switched from SD to 720p [[High-definition television|HD]] broadcasting on 28 February 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brinch|first1=Ulrik|title=DR2 opgraderer kvaliteten på antenne-tv|url=http://www.tvnyt.com/artikel/default.asp?id=65381|access-date=15 March 2017|date=28 February 2017|archive-date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129184303/http://tvnyt.com/artikel/default.asp?id=65381|url-status=dead |language=da}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kjærgaard|first1=Bo|title=Alle DR kanaler i HD hos Stofa fra i dag|url=http://digitalt.tv/dr-kanaler-hd-stofa-dag/|access-date=15 March 2017|date=30 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kjærgaard|first1=Bo|title=Waoo tilføjer DR kanaler i HD 28. februar|url=http://digitalt.tv/waoo-tilfoejer-dr-kanaler-hd-28-februar/|access-date=15 March 2017|date=21 February 2017 |language=da}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kjærgaard|first1=Bo|title=Alle DR kanaler på vej i HD hos YouSee|url=http://digitalt.tv/dr-kanaler-paa-vej-hd-yousee/|access-date=15 March 2017|date=17 January 2017 |language=da}}</ref>