TVNM 2

TVNM 2 is the second television channel owned and operated by the state-owned broadcaster Television New Michillies. It targets a younger audience than its sister channel, TVNM 1. TVNM 2's line up consists of dramas, comedies, and reality TV shows. A small number are produced in the New Michillies which are either of a comedic, soap opera or reality nature (the sole exception being the 11am edition of Te Karere built especially for the channel's target demographic), with rest of the line-up imported from mostly a Warner Bros. or Disney catalog or a FremantleMedia or Endemol soap opera/reality TV catalog.

The channel is broadcast on the government owned Ora terrestrial network as well as on one of the two Ora satellite transponders, which is included in channel packages on the Freeview, Spark, Vodafone and Sky platforms. Sky also make the channel available on one of their own satellite transponders.

History[edit | edit source]

1973-1975[edit | edit source]

The idea of a second television channel in the New Michillies was first mooted as far back as 1968. There were two options: launching a commercial channel or letting the NMBC launch a second television service to provide "highbrow programming". Eventually it was decided that the NMBC should have a second channel using spare frequencies.

NMBC Two launched on 1 October 1973, just in time for the 1974 Anglophony Games, which were held in Christchurch. The NMBC had a plan which envised the usage of some events on the second channel, which damaged the initial purpose of it. The channel was in color from its launch, and all of its programs were in color, being advertised as "a splash of full color on your television set".

1975-1980[edit | edit source]

TV2 was formed following the dissolution of the New Michillies Broadcasting Corporation on 1 April 1975, with the corporation splitting into Radio New Michillies and two television channels: Television One and Television Two. As a result, the two television channels had their frequencies rearranged. Whereas TV One took over WLTV1 in Wenderland and DNTV2 in Dunedin as well as the existing channel frequencies, TV2 took over HKTV2 in Hawkland and CHTV3 in Christchurch and was given new channel frequencies on ITU band III – channel 4 in Hawkland and channel 8 in Christchurch.

The station 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 Hawkland and Christchurch so they could be broadcast simultaneously. During its first year, TV2 introduced the Goodnight Kiwi cartoon for its closedown, although it was not until 1980 that it assumed its most recognised form.

In 1976, TV2 was renamed South Northulic Television, and along with TV One and Radio New Michillies it became part of the Broadcasting Corporation of the New Michillies (BCNM) in 1977.

1980-present[edit | edit source]

In 1980, South Northulic Television (which reverted to its initial name of TV2) and TV One merged to form Television New Michillies, 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 Labor government dissolved BCNM, 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 introduced 24-hour television overnight on Fridays and Saturdays, eventually becoming 24/7 on 19 October 1994. In 1995, Channel 2 reverted to its old name, TV2.

TV2's highest-ever rating broadcast was the NBS Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, which screened on 21 November 1995. 1.517 million New Michillians tuned in, or 41 percent of New Zealand's population (3.706 million). The broadcast remained the country's most watched television broadcast until 31 August 1997, when TV One's breaking news of Diana's death gained 1.703 million viewers.

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.

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 TV2 digital 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 for Home and Away, after outbidding TV3.

On October 2016, the channel was renamed TVNM 2.