Editing RTÉ2 (section)

==History==
In the 1970s, the Irish government considered three options for the introduction of a second television service: the re-transmission of [[BBC One Northern Ireland|BBC1 Northern Ireland]]; authorization 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 April 2006 |title=Features |url=http://www.rte.ie/laweb/brc/brc_1970s.html |work=RTÉ News}}</ref>

After a period of test transmissions in the late summer and autumn the channel began scheduled broadcasting at 20:00 on 2 November 1978, opening with a broadcast of a gala ceremony from [[Cork Opera House]]. Owing to a technical error, audio from [[BBC Two|BBC2]] was played during the countdown instead of the proper soundtrack. When the channel commenced programmes, there was no audio for the initial 15 seconds.

The opening night's line up was as follows:

* 20:00 – RTÉ 2 presenters [[Bernadette Ní Ghallchóir]], Roisin Harkin and Raymond Maxwell introduce viewers to Ireland's second national television channel. The [[Amhrán na bhFiann|National Anthem]] followed.
* 20.05 – The President of Ireland, [[Patrick Hillery]] introduces the new service.
* 20.06 – ''First Night'', a gala performance aired live from the Cork Opera House in Cork City, hosted by Mike Murphy. Guest stars included [[The Chieftains]], [[Gemma Craven]], [[Val Doonican]], [[The George May Dancers]], [[The Irish Ballet Company]], [[The Montford Singers]], [[John O'Connor (musician)|John O'Connor]], [[Maureen Potter]], [[Colm Wilkinson|Colm C.T. Wilkinson]] and [[Lena Zavaroni|Lena Zavoroni]]. There were specially recorded inserts from British and American stars such as [[Bruce Forsyth]], [[Ronnie Barker]], [[Liberace]], [[Sammy Davis Jr.|Sammy Davis Jr]], [[Michael Parkinson]], [[Andy Williams]], [[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]] and [[Eamonn Andrews]].
* 21.30 – The first movie to be shown on RTÉ 2, ''[[Bullitt]]'', starring [[Steve McQueen]], [[Robert Vaughn|Robert Vaughan]] and [[Jacqueline Bisset]].
* 23.30 – ''Newsnight'', a late night summary of the national and international news headlines. 
* 23.35 – The channel closed down, ending the first night on air.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listings |url=https://thetvroom.com/ark/listings/listing-3332.html |website=thetvroom.com}}</ref>

===RTÉ 2 (1978–1988)===
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.

The official opening on RTE 2 outlined the promised content of the new channel, with presenter Róisín Harkin stating: "from ten to seven [i.e. 6:50 p.m.] each weekday, three o'clock on Saturdays and six o'clock on Sundays, RTÉ 2 will be bringing you the best of BBC, ITV and other first rate programming."<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--N/A--> |date={{date|2013-11-01}} |title=RTÉ 2 Opening Night (1978) |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2013/1031/483860-rt-2-launches-1978/ |access-date={{date|2024-07-18}} |website=[[RTÉ Archives]] |publisher=[[RTÉ]]}}</ref> In the first two years of the channel, it would normally open at 6pm and close down for the night at 11.30pm.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6RFrkSKyw |title=Ireland gets a second TV channel {{!}} 2 November 1978 |date=2 November 2012 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

British soap drama ''[[Coronation Street]]'' aired on the channel simultaneously with ITV's broadcasts of the programme (this continued until 1992 when it was put on RTÉ 1 due to the [[Olympic Games]] coverage). It broadcast much live programming from the [[BBC]] and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] including ''[[Top of the Pops]]''. However, the channel in its initial format was not considered a success. It was on air from 18:00 until 23:30 during the week, with an earlier start around 15:30 at weekends.

However, by 1987, RTÉ 2 rebranded as part of RTÉ's 25th celebrations relaunched with a new corporate logo and TV idents, this would be the first time that the RTÉ corporate logo would be seen on RTÉ2. While the rebrand was a small success for the channel it was felt that RTÉ 2 and RTÉ 1 needed more specific audiences. RTÉ 2 at this stage was becoming more and more associated with youth orientated programming and sports programming (especially as UK and other international channels were becoming more and more available across the country). In 1988, the majority of sporting and children's programming was moved to Network 2, the new name for RTÉ 2.

===Network 2 (1988–1997)===
{{Redirect|Network 2|the early partial Unix distribution|Net/2}}
In September 1988, RTÉ 2 was given a major revamp and became Network Two.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=McCaughren |first=Samantha |date=20 July 2004 |title=Fall in ratings sparks rush to rebrand RTE Network 2 |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/fall-in-ratings-sparks-rush-to-rebrand-rte-network-2/25906911.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref> In addition to the launch of a new vivid red, blue, and green logo, the channel now came on air at 14:30. ''[[The Den (Ireland)|The Den]]'' was moved to the channel, along with most youth and children's programming. ''[[Jo Maxi]]'' was launched as the youth strand. ''Sports Stadium'' took up the entire Saturday afternoon schedule, and all sports programming was aired on the channel, along with [[Irish language]] programming. A late night news bulletin, ''[[RTÉ News on Two|Network News]]'', was followed by the controversial but highly successful chat show / soap opera ''[[Nighthawks (TV series)|Nighthawks]]'' presented by [[Shay Healy]], and produced by David Blake-Knox.

This relaunch was a big success, and Network Two remained stable until the mid-1990s. A new logo – referring to the channel as RTÉ Network 2 (though the "RTÉ" part was not referred to by announcers) – was launched with the new RTÉ logo in 1995. By this time, RTÉ Network 2 broadcast from mid-morning onwards, with educational programmes during the day. Also during this era, the channel experimented with late night broadcasts at weekends, under ''[[The End (Irish TV programme)|The End]]'' brand, anchored by [[Barry Murphy (comedian)|Barry Murphy]] and [[Sean Moncrieff]]. Broadcast hours were extended to 03:00 every day with a new service called The Night Shift.

=== N2 (1997–2004) ===
[[Image:Network 2 (Ireland) 1997 – 2004 logo.svg|thumb|The N2 logo]]
There was another major revamp in November 1997, and the channel was visually rebranded as "N2", though announcers continued to refer to "Network 2".<ref name=":0" /> N2 brought about perhaps as big a change as the original relaunch, RTÉ branding was dropped from the station almost completely, with home produced programmes now being referred to as "N2 Productions" (foreign imports were "N2 Presentations"). A futuristic logo along with a series of unusual graphical [[television ident|idents]] were developed. In-vision announcing returned. More importantly, the channel's line-up was completely refreshed. The late night schedule was completely revamped, with the launch of ''News 2''—a tailored bulletin for young people—followed by a talk show, ''[[Later On 2]]''. Monday nights became comedy nights, with the launch of home-produced comedy such as ''[[Don't Feed The Gondolas]]''. Elsewhere theme nights became a regular fixture, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays. ''The Den'' was now broadcast all day until 18:00 and was renamed ''Den 2''.

RTE 1 and N2 had separate Weather forecasts (November 1997- January 13, 2002). On Monday January 14, RTE 1 and N2 weather forecasts were remerged. 

Not all the changes were universally welcomed, with the "N2" era, RTÉ cancelled its long-running Saturday sports programme, ''[[Sports Stadium]]'' in 1997. 

Many of the innovations of the N2 era had faded out by 2003: Simpler creations replaced the idents and the in-vision continuity was scrapped again. ''[[Later On 2]]'' had more-or-less ended (one of the strands later continued as ''[[The View (Irish TV programme)|The View]]'' on [[RTÉ One]]). In September 2003, News 2 reverted to the regular [[RTÉ News]] format (as ''[[RTÉ News on Two]]'').

From September 2003, continuity announcers and trailers began to refer to the channel by the fuller title of "RTÉ Network Two", in line with a new RTÉ initiative to promote the corporate branding. The main channel [[television ident|idents]] never changed and said merely "N2" (although a newly introduced on-screen [[Digital On-screen Graphics|DOG]] said "RTÉ N2".) and finally in 2004 Network 2 was relaunched as RTÉ Two, in line with its sister channel RTÉ One.

===RTÉ Two (2004–2014)===
RTÉ decided the channel needed another revamp to keep it fresh. The channel's name reverted to RTÉ Two on the morning of 2 October 2004, with a themed evening of programmes called "Farewell Network 2" beginning at 20:00, featuring [[Podge and Rodge]]. The new logo is similar in style to the current [[RTÉ One]] logo. The new branding is designed to promote the Irishness of the station, green is the dominant colour. New strands were developed. In particular, the number of Irish made programmes has increased, though some of this is made up of a new strand of early evening repeats. The idents from this time were based on a Green Room theme.

The latest change has been a complete rebrand and relaunch of ''[[The Den (Ireland)|The Den]]'', on Saturday 17 September 2005, with the ''id Two'' strand becoming ''TTV'' on the following Monday. In September 2009, ''TTV'' relaunched as ''Two Tube''.

RTÉ Two got a new look on 17 September 2009. The new idents were created by RTÉ Graphic Design.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 July 2009 |title=Introduction: RTÉ Two's New Look |url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/ident_rtetwo.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092436/http://www.rte.ie/tv/ident_rtetwo.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |work=RTÉ News}}</ref> Programme cutbacks saw the end of 24-hour broadcasting on the channel, with [[Euronews]] filling the down-time. Teleshopping was also introduced for the first time.

Continuing with the corporate branding of RTÉ radio and Television stations RTÉ Two's iconic children's brand ''The Den'' ended on 20 September 2010. ''The Den'' was replaced by [[TRTÉ]], while ''Den Tots'' was replaced by [[RTÉjr]]; this was due mainly to the onset of digital TV on which RTÉjr is available as a separate channel. ''Two Tube'' remains as the teenage block of programming.

===RTÉ2 (2014–2017)===
From 22 September 2014 RTÉ Two became RTÉ2 and presented a new schedule of programming.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 September 2014 |title=Watch! RTÉ2 launches new season |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2014/0911/642985-watch-rt2-launches-new-season/ |via=rte.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Harrison |first=Bernice |date=11 September 2014 |title='Connected' and 'Drunk': RTÉ Two looks to become 'Irish voice' aimed at under-35s |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/connected-and-drunk-rt%C3%A9-two-looks-to-become-irish-voice-aimed-at-under-35s-1.1924001 |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 August 2021 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> The channel established itself as the "voice for the under 35s"<ref name="tvmediasales.rte.ie">{{Cite web |title=RTÉ2 gets real in exciting new line-up |url=http://tvmediasales.rte.ie/rte-2-launch-new-season-content/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140911165900/http://tvmediasales.rte.ie/rte-2-launch-new-season-content/ |archive-date=11 September 2014 |access-date=2014-09-11}}</ref> where the new schedule continued with new seasons of ''[[New Girl]]'', ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'', ''[[Brooklyn Nine-Nine]]'', ''[[Masters of Sex]]'', ''[[Devious Maids]]'', ''[[The Americans]]'', ''[[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]'' and the final season run of ''[[Mad Men]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 September 2014 |title=RTE2 autumn schedule – Eoghan McDermott, Darren Kennedy, and Jennifer Maguire dominate with two shows each |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/rte2-autumn-schedule-eoghan-mcdermott-darren-kennedy-and-jennifer-maguire-dominate-with-two-shows-each-30580224.html |website=Irish Independent}}</ref> Brand new imported shows included ''[[Outlander (TV series)|Outlander]]'', ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'', ''[[Resurrection (American TV series)|Resurrection]]'', ''[[iZombie (TV series)|iZombie]]'' and ''[[CSI Cyber]]''. RTÉ2 confirmed it had secured broadcasting rights for two Danish drama series [[1864 (TV series)|1864]] and ''[[The Heavy Water War|The Saboteurs: The Heavy Water War]]'', both broadcasting in 2015. In terms of home-produced Irish programming RTÉ2 confirmed the return of ''[[Other Voices (Irish TV series)|Other Voices]]'' (Season 13), [[Maia Dunphy]]'s ''What Women Want'' (Season 2), ''[[Second Captains Live]]'', '''[[The Savage Eye (TV series)|The Savage Eye]]'' (final series), ''[[The Republic of Telly]]'', ''[[Damo & Ivor]]'', ''The Fear'' and the newly created youth orientated news service ''News Feed''. RTÉ2 also confirmed new Irish reality programmes including ''Holding Out for a Hero'', ''Connected'', ''Full Frontal'', ''Bressie's Teenage Kicks'', and ''Drunk and #Trending''.

RTÉ2 continued to focus on major sporting events and the channel will showcase Irish films in association with the [[Irish Film Board]].<ref name="tvmediasales.rte.ie" /> [[TRTÉ]] will play a major role in the daytime schedule on the channel. [[Two Tube]] will continue to air from 17:30 until 19:00. It is proposed by RTÉ to launch RTÉ2+1 in efforts to raise much needed revenue.

By 2015, RTÉ2 began to focus on imported programming from Denmark, Iceland and Germany. The channel increased its output of Irish themed reality series.

=== RTÉ2 (since 2018) ===
On 3 November 2018, RTÉ2 celebrated its 40th anniversary and began to offer vintage clips of shows from RTÉ2 on the RTÉ archives website.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2018 |title=RTÉ2 Celebrates 40th Anniversary |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/republicofirelandnews/2018/11/03/news/rte-2-celebrates-40-years-on-air-1475702/ |website=irishnews.com}}</ref>

Much of the innovation and local programming on RTÉ2 has been cut by RTÉ. Outside of sports programming RTÉ2 programming includes the Irish version of ''[[First Dates (Irish TV series)|First Dates]]'' and a DIY show called ''Home Rescue''. Some innovations remain such as ''[[Other Voices (Irish TV series)|Other Voices]]'' and highlights from the RTÉ [[Choice Music Prize]].

With children's content now starting at 08:15 in the morning with RTÉjr, following a simulcast of [[Euronews]], and finishing at 4:30.

===RTÉ2 HD===
{{advert|section|date=September 2018}}
[[File:Rte2hdlogo.png|thumb|RTÉ2 HD logo since 2014]]
The HD channel launched on [[Saorview]] on 27 May 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Television Channels and Services |url=http://www.saorview.ie/channels-services/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827181419/http://www.saorview.ie/channels-services/ |archive-date=27 August 2011 |access-date=30 August 2013 |publisher=Saorview}}</ref> The service broadcasts sports, documentaries, movies and American, Canadian, and Australian programming in a [[High-definition television|high-definition]] [[1080i]] format.

On 15 March 2012, RTÉ2 HD was added to [[Virgin Media Ireland|UPC Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2012 |title=UPC forges ahead with new content from RTÉ |url=http://www.upc.ie/pdf/rte.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108135004/http://www.upc.ie/pdf/rte.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2012 |access-date=15 March 2012 |publisher=UPC Ireland}}</ref>

RTÉ2 HD was added to [[Sky Ireland|Sky]] on 16 May 2012. RTÉ2 HD was due to launch on Sky on 14 May 2012, but was delayed by two days due to technical problems.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 May 2012 |title=RTÉ2 HD to launch on Sky Platform |url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0513/rte.html |publisher=RTÉ}}</ref> On 22 April 2024, RTÉ2 SD was shut down on Sky, marking the end of the [[Standard-definition television|standard-definition]] feed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2024 |title=Changes to the Sky TV Guide - April 2024 |url=https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/What-s-On/Changes-to-the-Sky-TV-Guide-April-2024/m-p/4600061}}</ref>

====Format====
* The channel [[simulcast]]s content from RTÉ2 SD and [[Video scaler|upscales]] SD content into HD.<ref name="DCENRPubConn2010">{{Cite web |title=PVT Consultation Document |url=http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/C13536EC-C703-4110-9A07-2A5DB4107DE3/0/PVTConsultationDocument.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721124921/http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/C13536EC-C703-4110-9A07-2A5DB4107DE3/0/PVTConsultationDocument.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 |access-date=7 December 2010 |publisher=Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Ireland) |page=8}}</ref> All other content on the channel is made available entirely in HD, this includes [[Gaelic Athletic Association]], [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]], [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]], [[Olympic Games]], [[Pro14]] sporting content, USA television series and movies.

===RTÉ2 +1===
[[File:RTE2plus1.jpg|thumb|RTÉ2 +1 logo since 2019]]
RTÉ2 +1 launched on 19 February 2019,<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/YZ288stELmM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200428123145/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ288stELmM&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |title=RTÉ 2+1 Launching 19th February On Saorview | date=18 February 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ288stELmM |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and it broadcasts daily from 19:00 until 02:00 Monday to Friday and 12:00 until 02:00 Saturday and Sunday. The channel launched only on [[Saorview]] and it will eventually roll out onto other platforms such as [[Sky Ireland]] and [[Virgin Media Ireland]].

The development of RTÉ2 +1 has been a long process however in May 2018, it was reported by [[The Irish Times]] that RTÉ have requested permission from the [[Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment|Department of Communications]] to launch RTÉ2 +1.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Slattery |first=Laura |title=RTÉ plans plus-one channel for RTÉ2 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/rt%C3%A9-plans-plus-one-channel-for-rt%C3%A92-1.3485996 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>

====Astra 2F (Sky)====
On 13 December 2018, RTÉ2 +1 began test broadcasts on [[Astra 2F]] under the label 5493 using frequency 11914 H 27500 5/6 DVB-S QPSK. Testing included showing Sky Sports channels and a previously aired weather forecast on repeat.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2018 |title=Channels testing on Sky |url=https://www.tvchannellists.com/index.php?title=Channels_testing_on_Sky&oldid=50594 |via=tvchannellists.com}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2021}}</ref> This frequency is the same used by RTÉ One SD, RTÉ One +1, RTÉ2 SD and others. Astra 2F is a satellite that Sky and Freesat (in the UK) use.

On 19 February 2019, RTÉ2 +1 launched on Saorsat (and Saorview) only. From 19 February to 20 July 2019, RTÉ2 +1 broadcast the same on Astra 2F as on Saorsat and Saorview. On 20 July 2019, RTÉ2 +1 stopped broadcasting on Astra 2F showing a "No signal" message.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 July 2019 |title=Channels testing on Sky |url=https://www.tvchannellists.com/index.php?title=Channels_testing_on_Sky&oldid=56187 |via=tvchannellists.com}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2021}}</ref>

On 24 February 2021, RTÉ2 +1 reappeared on Astra 2F on the same frequency as before using the same label (5493).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Additional and defunct channels on Sky (UK & Ireland) |url=https://www.tvchannellists.com/index.php?title=Additional_and_defunct_channels_on_Sky_(UK_%26_Ireland)&oldid=84461 |via=tvchannellists.com}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2021}}</ref>

On Wednesday 10 March 2021, RTÉ2 +1 was added to Sky on channel 202.<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of line-up changes on Sky (UK and Ireland) in 2021 |url=https://www.tvchannellists.com/w/List_of_line-up_changes_on_Sky_(UK_and_Ireland)_in_2021#March |access-date=2021-03-05 |via=tvchannellists.com}}</ref>