RTÉ Two (known from 1988 to 2004 as Network 2 or RTÉ Network Two) is the Republic of Ireland's second-oldest television channel, produced by Irish state broadcaster Radio Telefís Éireann. It started broadcasting in 1978 as RTÉ2; its name was changed to Network 2 in the late 1988. There was another major relaunch in 1997, the channel was visually rebranded as "N2", though announcers continued to refer to "Network 2".
RTÉ Two's main emphasis is on programmes for children and young people, particularly during the daytime, with sports and American imports in the evenings. It is also the home of RTÉ's live sports coverage.
RTÉ Two is universally available throughout the island of Ireland on the VHF and UHF bands (though VHF has mostly been phased out), and is also available on satellite to Republic of Ireland subscribers to Sky Digital.
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 initive to promote the corporate branding. The main channel idents never changed, and said merely "N2" (apart from the on-screen DOG).
The channel's name was reverted to RTÉ Two on 2nd October 2004 at 8pm, with an accompanying publicity campaign featuring Podge and Rodge (see The Den). The new logo is similar in style to the current RTE ONE logo.
SNL mocked this station as "Ireland's Other TV Channel", which it was for many years.
| Radio Telefís Éireann | | |
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Television: RTÉ One | Network 2 | TG4 | ||
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Radio: RTÉ Radio 1 | 2FM | RTÉ Lyric FM | Raidió na Gaeltachta |