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This article is about the Australian television channel. For other uses, see ABC2 (disambiguation).
ABC2 is a national public television channel in Australia. Launched on 7 March 2005, it is the responsibility of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television division, and is available nationally to digital television viewers in Australia. The channel broadcasts a range of original content supplemented with repeats of popular ABC1 programmes, notably children's programmes, magazine shows, and sport.
[edit] HistoryFurther information: History of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation [edit] OriginsThe history of ABC2 can be traced back to 1998, when the Australian Broadcasting Authority released a report, titled Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting, recommending that the Australian Government support the early introduction of digital broadcasting as a free-to-air service with the loan of a 7 MHz channel for each broadcaster.[2] The Australian Broadcasting Corporation stated that it wished to run up to four multichannels at different times of the day or alternatively offer a high-definition television service. The corporation claimed that up to AUD$100 million would be needed to prepare for these services, half of which would need to be government-funded.[2] The Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched, in August 2001, the ABC Kids Channel, with Fly TV launching in November 2001. The two multichannels, available only through digital television, broadcasted a range of programming targeted at younger and teenage viewers.[3] Funding issues meant that, in May 2003, ABC Television closed ABC Kids and Fly TV.[4] Unlike its predecessors, ABC2 launched on 7 March 2005, on channel 21, independent of government funding, instead running on a budget of AUD$3 million per year.[5] The first programme in the launch schedule was an episode of Landline - although scheduled to begin at 6.25am, the programme was delayed ten minutes. The channel was officially inaugurated by former Minister for Communications, Senator Helen Coonan, at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra on 10 March 2005.[6] [edit] Late 2000sWeekly video gaming and technology programme Good Game was launched on 19 September 2006, becoming one the first programmes in its genre to be broadcast on free-to-air television in Australia.[7] Similarly in the same year, programmes produced included Australia Wide, Short and Curly, dig tv and Late Night Legends. Genre restrictions imposed by the Australian government on digital multichanneling were lifted along with the media ownership laws passed through the Australian parliament on 18 October 2006.[7][8] Previously limited in the subjects it could cover, ABC2 was henceforth able to carry shows identified as comedy, drama, national news, sport or entertainment. On 6 February 2008, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation announced the introduction of live coverage and programme content on ABC2 from the Australian Film Commission, Opera Australia, and the Australian Ballet.[9] At 12:00pm on 8 February 2008, ABC2 was rebranded with a new slogan[10] and yellow-coloured logo, complementing the new ABC TV logo, which was concurrently revamped as ABC1.[11][12] The channel also moved from channel 21 to channel 22.[13] [edit] ProgrammingFurther information: List of programmes broadcast by ABC Television ABC2 is required by charter to meet certain programming obligations.[14] Although it has a strong focus on comedic and lifestyle programming, it also presents documentaries and educational programmes, news and current affairs, children's shows, drama, and sports. ABC2's programming consists primarily of repeated programmes from ABC1, in addition to original exclusive content, which include Good Game, The Wire, Cold Feet, triple j tv and triple j tv presents . Some of the overseas programmes exclusive to the channel, include Scrapheap Challenge ,Junkyard Wars, Afro Samurai, Ideal, Torchwood, Being Erica,Hyperdrive,Billable Hours, Heartland,Wild at Heart and Red Dwarf. ABC2's schedule consists of timeshifted shows as well as new ones. Game shows include quiz shows The Einstein Factor, and competition-based programmes, which include The New Inventors. In addition to this, ABC2 also broadcasts arts discussion shows At the Movies and Sunday Arts. Every Saturday night at 8:30pm ABC2 broadcasts two 'Classic' Movies often favouring monthly film festivals such as "Audrey Hepburn Movies" and "Classics of Cannes". In 2009 and in 2010 many new shows will have their premieres on ABC 2 including Red Dwarf: Back to Earth Special 2009 and Torchwood : Children of the Earth [edit] News & Current AffairsFurther information: ABC News and Current Affairs, ABC News  In order to allow automated operation of the channel without the complications of variable length live news broadcasts, ABC2 broadcasts hourly ABC News updates produced for ABC Online.
[edit] SportFurther information: ABC Sport ABC2 broadcasts exclusive national coverage of many sporting competitions, which include the New South Wales Rugby Union, Queensland Rugby League, Victorian Football League, South Australian National Football League, West Australian Football League and the Northern Territory Football League. The Women's National Basketball League is broadcast live on ABC2 every week, the first time that domestic netball has been shown live on Australian television. In addition to this ABC2 also broadcasts four games of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, the Fed Cup and the Tiwi Islands Football League Grand Final annually. [edit] ChildrenFurther information: ABC Kids ABC2's children's programming, combined with ABC1's, is more extensive than any other network in Australia.[16] From December 4th 2009, ABC For Kids on 2 launched on ABC 2. This means that from 9am to 6pm on Monday to Friday children's programming will air. Saturdays and Sundays now feature childrens programming from 6am to 6pm. Due to this music video show rage will no longer feature on ABC2. [edit] AvailabilityFurther information: ABC Television ABC2 is available on all of ABC Television's digital television transmitters in 576i SD Digital, as well as on most satellite and cable services. ABC2 does not broadcast 24 hours a day. ABC2 usually closes sometime around 11.30pm to 12am and opens at 5.30am Monday to Friday and 6am Saturday and Sunday. During this time the ABC Guide is broadcast with ABC DiG music. [edit] LogosThe channel launched with a three-dimensional logo of the numeral two. The previous idents were produced in part by Amanda Dennis (known for her work on Australia Wide, and Good Game), and were used in some form since the channel's launch, until the 2008 rebrand. ABC2's previous slogan was More Choice, More Often. All promos featured the "Big 2" placed in famous, and iconic Australian locations, such as Port Jackson, the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre and the Northern Territory. The "Big 2" was somewhat similar to the on air mascot of BBC Two in appearance. ABC2's logo was modified for the promotion of the channels launch, and for various sporting events, notably the channel's launch, where the logo appeared under-construction, and during the promotion of Australians Women's Netball where it took on the appearance of a netball. On 8 February 2008, ABC2 updated to a yellow logo, and slogan to Connecting 2[12], as well as moving its digital terrestrial broadcast from Channel 21 to Channel 22. In addition to this, the slogan More Choice, More Often was changed to Connecting 2. After concerns in some sections of the media that the 43-year-old Lissajous curve brand was to disappear completely, ABC management reaffirmed that it would remain in use by the corporation.[17][18] [edit] References
[edit] External links
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