{{Short description|Spanish free-to-air television channel}} {{Redirect|TVE2|the Finnish locomotive class|VR Class Tve2}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox television channel | name = La 2 | logo = La 2 2026.svg | logo_size = 60px | logo_caption = | logo_alt = | image = | launch_date = {{Start date and age|1966|11|15|df=y}} | closed_date = | picture_format = 1080i HDTV | network = Televisión Española (TVE) | owner = Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) | country = Spain | language = Spanish | area = National, Andorra, Gibraltar, parts of Northern Morocco, also parts of France and Portugal<br/>Worldwide | headquarters = Prado del Rey, Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid) | former_names = TVE-UHF (1965–1966)<br />Segunda Cadena (1966–1976)<br />TVE 2 (1976–1991) | replaced = | replaced_by = | sister_channels = La 1<br/>Clan<br/>24h<br/>Teledeporte<br/>TVE Internacional<br/>Star TVE | website = [https://www.rtve.es/play/la-2/ La 2] | terr_serv_1 = Digital terrestrial television | terr_chan_1 = Spain: Depends on each province<br />Andorra: 45 | sat_radio_serv_1 = | sat_radio_chan_1 = | online_serv_1 = RTVE.es | online_chan_1 = {{URL|https://www.rtve.es/play/la-2/|Live}} }}
'''La 2''' ({{IPA|es|la ˈðos}}, ''The Two'') is a Spanish free-to-air television channel owned and operated by Televisión Española (TVE), the television division of state-owned public broadcaster Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE). It is the corporation's second television channel, and is known for broadcasting cultural and public service programming, including documentaries, concerts, theatre and independent, Ibero-American and classic cinema.
It was launched on 15 November 1966 as the second regular television service in Spain right after TVE's first channel launched on 28 October 1956. As TVE held a monopoly on television broadcasting in the country, they were the only television channels until the first regional public television station was launched on 16 February 1983, when Euskal Telebista started broadcasting in the Basque Country. Commercial television was launched on 25 January 1990, when Antena 3 started broadcasting nationwide.
As it started broadcasting on UHF frequencies the channel was initially simply referred to as "UHF". It received other names, such as "Cadena II", "Segunda Cadena", "Segundo Programa" or "TVE2" until it adopted its current name "La 2" (''La dos'') during the 1990s. Its headquarters and main production center is Prado del Rey in Pozuelo de Alarcón with some programs produced in TVE's production center in San Cugat del Vallés. Although almost all its programming is in Spanish and is the same for all of Spain, TVE has territorial centers in every autonomous community and produces and broadcasts some local programming in regional variations in each of them in the corresponding co-official language.
== History == === Creation of 'The second channel' === In the 1960s, the Spanish minister of Information and Tourism, Manuel Fraga Iribarne, decided that Televisión Española should start broadcasting a second television channel on the UHF band, following other European broadcasters that did the same.<ref name = "oficial66">{{Cite web |url=http://recursos.cnice.mec.es/media/television/bloque2/pag5.html |title=La Segunda cadena; una emisora para la inmensa minoría |trans-title=The Second channel; a station for the immense minority |access-date=26 September 2010 |editor=Ministry of Education of Spain |language=es |archive-date=5 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305181411/http://recursos.cnice.mec.es/media/television/bloque2/pag5.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 1 January 1965, TVE's second television service was launched in Madrid as a test broadcast,<ref name = "segundocanaluhf">{{Cite web |url=http://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1964/10/11/pagina-52/32693401/pdf.html |title=UHF, el segundo programa de TVE |trans-title=UHF, the second TVE program |access-date=5 January 2012 |date=11 October 1964 |author = Radiotelevisión Española |publisher=La Vanguardia |language=es}}</ref> with programming limited to 4 hours at night that consisted of musical slots and re-airings of TV shows from Primera Cadena, mostly ''Telediario'' newscasts and ''Estudio 1''.<ref name = "segundocanaluhf" />
Regular broadcasts started on 15 November 1966.<ref name = "segundoabc">{{Cite web | url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1966/09/21/083.html |title=Sin cambios fundamentales en la programación de TVE |trans-title=No fundamental changes in the TVE programming|access-date=5 January 2012 |date=21 September 1966 |author =Radiotelevisión Española |publisher=La Vanguardia |language=es}}</ref><ref name = "la2encataluna">{{Cite web |url=http://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1966/11/15/pagina-54/32663893/pdf.html |title=La nueva programación de TVE para el segundo canal |trans-title=The new TVE programming for the second channel|access-date=5 January 2012 |date=15 November 1966 |publisher=La Vanguardia |language=es}}</ref> TVE started producing original programming for the channel, mainly produced at the broadcaster's headquarters in Barcelona. UHF's first director was Salvador Pons Muñoz. In its first years, the channel could only be received in Madrid, Zaragoza and Barcelona,<ref name = "segundocanaluhf" /> cities in which the UHF technology was implemented; it only aired at night and not all TV sets could tune in. Most TVs could not receive UHF broadcasts, so a UHF converter was needed.
As TVE's strategy evolved into turning the first channel into a generalist channel, niche programming was moved to UHF. Under the Salvador Pons administration, the second channel received artists from the country's Official Film School ({{langx|es|Escuela Oficial de Cine}}), such as Claudio Guerin, Pedro Olea or Antonio Mercero, people who would use the channel as a test zone to air alternative programming, such as documentaries or fiction shows.<ref name="salvadorpons">{{Cite web |url=http://elpais.com/diario/2009/08/18/necrologicas/1250546402_850215.html |title=Salvador Pons, fundador de La 2 de Televisión Española |trans-title=Salvador Pons, founder of La 2 of Televisión Española |access-date=5 January 2012 |date=18 August 2009 |publisher=El País |language=es}}</ref> There was a high share of cultural programmes, like classical music blocks or theatre slots.<ref name = "oficial66" />
=== 1970s === During the '70s, the channel's programming was restricted to air at night (from 20:00 to 00:00), with an extension in the weekends.<ref name="oficial66"/> Coverage reached the main cities of Spain, but although TVE pointed out that only "three years" would pass before UHF could be tuned in all Spain,<ref name="segundocanaluhf"/> the second channel could not get it until 1982.<ref name ="oficial66"/><ref name ="rtvecana">{{Cite web |url=http://www.rtve.es/tve/canarias/historia.htm |title=Historia de RTVE Canarias |trans-title=History of RTVE Canarias |access-date= 26 September 2010 |editor=RTVE |language=es}}</ref> For this reason it was not strange that successful programs on UHF passed to the first channel.
The UHF station continued to develop a minority programming, with a strong cultural emphasis, which did not compete directly with TVE-1.<ref name="oficial66" /> In addition to documentaries, theater broadcasts and dramas, the second channel also was at time broadcasting sports events and educational programming. At that time, the second channel was colloquially dubbed "el canalillo."<ref name = "canalillo">{{Cite web |url =http://tv_mav.cnice.mec.es/siglo/50/loaded_movies/guias/02_purple/04_2_la_programacion_en_television.pdf |title=50 años de televisión en España |trans-title=50 years of television in Spain |access-date= 26 September 2010 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111160027/http://tv_mav.cnice.mec.es/siglo/50/loaded_movies/guias/02_purple/04_2_la_programacion_en_television.pdf |archive-date=11 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
During the Spanish transition, the programming of the second channel received a small boost. In January 1976 debuted the program of debate ''La Clave'' (1976-1985), which addressed current issues from different points of view, something very complicated during the Francoism, preceded by a film related to the subject.<ref name = "balbin">{{Cite web |url =http://www.rtve.es/rtve/20100429/clave-programa-mas-intelectual-tve-arranco-1976/329481.shtml |title='La Clave', el programa más intelectual de TVE, arrancó en 1976 |trans-title='La Clave', TVE's most intellectual program, started in 1976|access-date= 5 January 2012 |editor =Radiotelevisión Española|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216084928/http://www.rtve.es/rtve/20100429/clave-programa-mas-intelectual-tve-arranco-1976/329481.shtml |archive-date= 16 December 2010 |language=es}}</ref> Another important program was ''A fondo (In depth)'' (1976-1981), a talk show presented by Joaquín Soler Serrano which discussed with personalities from the artistic, literary and scientific fields of the time.<ref name="afondoe">{{Cite web |url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/09/07/comunicacion/1283885546.html |title= Fallece Joaquín Soler Serrano, un histórico de la radio y la TV en España |trans-title=Joaquín Soler Serrano dies, a history of radio and TV in Spain |access-date= 5 January 2012 |date =7 September 2010 |editor=El Mundo |language=es}}</ref> On the other hand, the new artistic and musical trends were reflected in ''Encuentros con las artes y las letras (Encounters with the arts and the lyrics)'' (1976-1981) and ''Popgrama'' (1979-1981).<ref name = "popgrama" >{{Cite book |last=Palace |first=Manuel |title=La televisión durante la Transición española |trans-title=Television during the Spanish Transition |url=http://www.catedra.com/cgigeneral/newFichaProducto.pl?obrcod=2678652&id_sello_editorial_web=01&id_sello_VisualizarDatos=01 |year=2012 |publisher=Cátedra |isbn=978-84-376-3068-7 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141205124021/http://www.catedra.com/cgigeneral/newFichaProducto.pl?obrcod=2678652&id_sello_editorial_web=01&id_sello_VisualizarDatos=01 |archive-date=5 December 2014 |language=es}}</ref>
Another important aspect was the consolidation of the station's regional broadcasting centres, most importantly in Catalonia and the Canary Islands. TVE Cataluña started producing and broadcasting regional programming in opt-outs through the ''Circuit Català'' (Catalan circuit), while continuing to produce content for nationwide broadcasts.<ref name="informemiramar">{{Cite web |url=http://www.upf.edu/depeca/opa/dossier1/dossier1_eng/ds1_trib1_eng.htm |title=50 años de televisión también en Catalunya |trans-title=50 years of television also in Catalonia |access-date=20 November 2010 |author = Sergi Schaaff |editor =Pompeu Fabra University |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605001952/http://www.upf.edu/depeca/opa/dossier1/dossier1_esp/ds1_trib1_esp.htm |archive-date=5 June 2011 |language=es}}</ref> On the eve of the 1982 World Cup held in Spain, the Canary Islands regional broadcasting centre erected a new production office that, in addition to broadcasting the Second channel, allowed to develop dedicated programming for the archipelago.<ref name="rtvecana"/>
=== 1980s === In 1983, the second channel was renamed "TVE-2" with a new corporate image. The schedule was not consolidated until the end of the decade.<ref name="matinal2">{{Cite web |url=http://descargas.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/34692845433458317865679/009403_7.pdf |title=Capítulo 6: las emisiones televisivas |trans-title=Chapter 6: television broadcasts |access-date= 5 January 2012 |editor=Instituto Cervantes |editor-link=Instituto Cervantes |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908024343/http://descargas.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/34692845433458317865679/009403_7.pdf |archive-date=8 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In the mandates of {{ill|José María Calviño|es}} and Pilar Miró, TVE-2 continued to be a cultural channel that accommodated spaces not appropriate for the first channel. In the midst of the Movida Madrileña phenomenon, it premiered ''La Edad de Oro (The Golden Age)'' (1983), directed and presented by {{ill|Paloma Chamorro|es}}, that with time it turned into a cult classic.<ref name="ultimogrito">{{Cite web |url=http://www.rtve.es/tve/50_aniversario/20060611_blog50anyos.htm |title=El UHF, La Segunda Cadena, La 2 |trans-title=The UHF, The Second channel, La 2 |access-date=5 January 2012 |date=11 June 2006 |editor=Radiotelevisión Española |language=es}}</ref> The 1980s also marked the premiere of emblematic programs such as the cultural magazine ''Metropoli'' (1985),<ref name="ultimogrito"/> the game show ''El tiempo es oro (Time is money)'' (1987) presented by Constantino Romero<ref name="tiempoesoro">{{Cite web |url=http://www.vayatele.com/la-tele-de-ayer/nostalgia-tv-el-tiempo-es-oro |title=El tiempo es oro, Nostalgia TV |trans-title=Time is money, Nostalgia TV |access-date=5 January 2012 |date=26 October 2008 |editor=Vaya Tele |language=es}}</ref> and ''Con las manos en la masa (Hands on the bat)'' (1984), directed and presented by Elena Santonja, considered the first cooking show in Spanish television history.<ref name="santonja">{{Cite web |url=http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/con-las-manos-en-la-masa/manos-mass-chapter-1-elena-saint-luis-irizar-ensenan-as-se-guisan-un-lentejas-jerez/1485372/ |title=Con las manos en la masa |trans-title=With hands in the mass |access-date=30 June 2014 |date= 15 May 2010 |editor=rtve.es |language=es}}</ref>
On the other hand, TVE-2 retained the broadcast of special events live, some of which exceeded in the audience the first channel: the European football competitions (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and Cup Winners' Cup), the Spanish First Division in communities without autonomic television, the qualifying matches of the Spain national football team, and the Eurovision Song Contest from 1984 to 1992.<ref name="eurovision">{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurovision-spain.com/iphp/noticia.php?numero=5098 |title=José Ramón Pardo: "Hay demasiado progre que ataca el festival, aunque luego lo ve en su casa" |trans-title=José Ramón Pardo: "There is too much progress in attacking the festival, although it is later seen at home" |access-date=5 January 2012 |date=15 January 2009 |editor=Eurovision-spain |language=es}}</ref>
In 1984, it premiered ''Estadio 2'', specializing in sports broadcasts, information, and a live results service during the weekends.<ref name ="stadium2">{{Cite web |url=http://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/21/radiotv/1077318001_850215.html |title='Estadio 2' cumple 20 años en TVE |trans-title='Estadio 2' turns 20 on TVE |access-date=4 January 2012 |date=21 February 2004 |editor=El País |language=es}}</ref>
=== Creation of ''La 2'' === The channel strategy of TVE changed with the emergence and sudden popularity of private television in 1989, with the first airing of Antena 3 and Tele 5<ref name="coloma">{{Cite web |url=http://elpais.com/diario/1991/01/05/radiotv/663030001_850215.html |title=Ramón Colom refuerza la segunda cadena en la nueva programación de Televisión Española |trans-title=Ramón Colom reinforces the second channel in the new Spanish Television programming |access-date=4 January 2012 |date=5 January 1991 |editor= El País |language=es}}</ref> As of 1991, TVE-2 was renamed as ''La 2'' and assumed a new alternative programming, whose spirit was included in the slogan «''La 2, para una inmensa minoría''» (''La 2, for a huge minority'').<ref name="inmensaminoria">{{Cite web |url=http://elpais.com/diario/1993/09/08/radiotv/747439232_850215.html |title=La 2 cambia de estrategia y se convierte en una cadena para menores de 30 años |trans-title=The 2 changes strategy and becomes a channel for minors of 30 years |access-date=4 January 2012 |date=8 September 1993 |editor=El País |language=es}}</ref> The following director of TVE, Ramón Colom, would redefine the concept towards a smaller target audience aged 30 years old.<ref name="inmensaminoria" />
In the 90s there was a significant increase in own programming, giving La 2 its personality. All documentaries, including ''Documentos TV'', presented by Pedro Erquicia, were moved to that signal. In addition, TVE promoted an alternative newsletter to ''Telediario'' with the creation of ''La 2 Noticias'', specialized in the news of human, social, and ecological interest in exchange for reducing the weight of the policy in the blocks. The new format was premiered on 7 November 1994 and thanks to it two journalists rose to fame: Lorenzo Milá (presenter) and Fran Llorente (news director).<ref name="la2noticias94">{{Cite web |url=http://www.rtve.es/television/20091104/2-noticias-cumple-15-anos-historia-autentica/299265.shtml |title=La 2 Noticias cumple 15 años (la historia auténtica) |trans-title=La 2 Noticias turns 15 (the authentic story) |access-date=4 January 2012 |author=Fran Llorente |date=4 November 2009 |editor=RTVE |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230131851/http://www.rtve.es/television/20091104/2-noticias-cumple-15-anos-historia-autentica/299265.shtml |archive-date=30 December 2011 |language=es}}</ref>
In addition, La 2 issued US series with no place on La Primera: ''The Simpsons'' (until 1993),<ref name="coloma" /> ''Northern Exposure'', ''Married... with Children'' and ''Hangin' with Mr. Cooper''. As for sports broadcasts, football was transferred to the first channel while the second was left with the rights of the Liga ACB of basketball, the Liga Asobal of handball and the LNFS. Although the channel's audience fell by private competition, these changes served to improve its reputation and turn it into an alternative to conventional programming.<ref name="inmensaminoria" /> The strategy remained unchanged until 2004, with new programs that have been part of the backbone of La 2. In 1996 began the space of scientific disclosure ''Redes'', directed by Eduard Punset, and in 1997 premiered ''Saber y ganar'', presented by Jordi Hurtado, who became the longest-running game show in Spanish television.<ref name="saberyganar1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/04/17/television/1271503711.html |title='Saber y ganar' cumple 3.000 citas con la cultura sin aburrir a la audiencia |trans-title= 'Saber y ganar' fulfills 3,000 appointments with the culture without boring the hearing |access-date=5 January 2012 |date=21 April 2010 |editor=El Mundo |language=es}}</ref> One year later was launched ''Versión española (Spanish version)'', Spanish film program presented by Cayetana Guillén Cuervo and that offered films without advertising breaks.<ref name="getforyou">{{Cite web |url=http://www.vertele.com/noticias/cine-nacional-sin-cortes-publicitarios-en-version-espanola/ |title=Cine nacional sin cortes publicitarios en "Versión española" |trans-title = National cinema without advertising breaks in "Spanish version" |access-date=5 January 2012 |date=22 March 2001 |editor=Vertele |language=es}}</ref> Other important spaces were ''La noche temática (The thematic night)'' (documentary block of the pan-European channel Arte), the literary space ''Negro sobre blanco (Black on white)'', the informative ''Escuela del deporte (School of sport)'' and the containers of infantile programming, among them ''Con mucha marcha (With a lot of march)'', ''TPH Club'', ''Hyakutake'' and ''Los Lunnis'', the latter one of his greatest commercial successes.<ref name="lunnis">{{cite web|url=http://www.vayatele.com/infantil/el-secreto-del-exito-de-los-lunnis |title=El secreto del éxito de Los Lunnis |trans-title=The secret of the success of The Lunnis |access-date=5 January 2012 |date=23 May 2006 | editor=Vaya Tele |language=es}}</ref>
=== Present day === In 2004, changes were made in the strategy of La 2: information services are remodeled because Fran Llorente, presenter of La 2 Noticias, is chosen news director of TVE, while Lorenzo Milá became the host of Telediario of La 1.<ref name="mila">{{Cite web |url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/09/14/comunicacion/1095162907.html |title=Los Telediarios de TVE lideran la audiencia de informativos en el primer día de su nueva etapa|trans-title= TVE newscasts lead the news audience on the first day of its new stage |access-date=30 June 2014 |date=14 September 2004 |author = Editorial |work=Agencia EFE |editor= El Mundo |location = Madrid |language=es}}</ref> The new direction redirects the offer to the young public, with the advance of primetime at 9:30 p.m.,<ref name="delasaprime">{{Cite web |url=http://www.vertele.com/noticias/la-2-retrasa-su-prime-time-a-las-diez-de-la-noche-con-la-llegada-del-verano/ |title=La 2 retrasa su prime time a las diez de la noche con la llegada del verano|trans-title=La 2 delays its prime time at ten o'clock at night with the arrival of summer |access-date=4 January 2012 |date=7 June 2007 |editor = Vertele |language=es}}</ref> the gradual disappearance of regional programming (except for a few blocks in Catalonia and Canary Islands) and the entry of series American as ''Six Feet Under'', ''Two and a Half Men'', ''The OC'' or ''Gilmore Girls''.
On 1 June 2010, the Board of Directors of RTVE made La 2 into a strictly cultural channel,<ref name = "culturaes">{{Cite web |url=http://www.vayatele.com/la-2/la-2-se-remodela-adios-a-culturales |title=La 2 se remodela, adiós a Cultural•es |trans-title = La 2 remodeled, bye to Cultural•es |access-date=4 January 2012 |date=1 June 2010 |editor = Vayatele |language=es}}</ref> positioning it as the reference for creativity and talent. From that same month, La 2 stopped broadcasting its sports programming (which moved to La 1 and Teledeporte) and infantile (which continued exclusively on Clan). Instead, it introduced cultural programming from the channel Cultural·es.<ref name="culturaes" /> In addition, an address was created for the channel, and its management was moved from Torrespaña to the center of TVE Cataluña in San Cugat del Vallés, Barcelona.<ref name = "periodicocatalunya">{{Cite web |url=http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/tele/20100917/centro-tve-sant-cugat-asumira-direccion/482752.shtml |title=El centro de TVE en Sant Cugat asumirá la dirección de La 2 |trans-title= the center of TVE in Sant Cugat take the direction of La 2 |access-date=5 January 2012 |date=17 September 2010 |editor =El Periódico de Cataluña |language=es}}</ref> Since 2014, primetime is covered by Spanish cinema cycles from Monday to Friday, and European films on weekends. The audience of La 2 has dropped to 2.6% audience share, similar to the children's channel Clan.<ref name="audienciadeclan">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mundoplus.tv/noticias/?seccion=tv_digital&id=7806 |title=Clan TVE alcanza a La 2 en audiencias |trans-title=Clan TVE La 2 reaches hearings |access-date = 4 January 2012 |date = May 2010 |editor = Mundoplus.tv |language=es}}</ref>
=== La 2 HD === On 7 September 2017, during the presentation of the new season of the channel, Televisión Española announced the launch of the high definition signal of La 2,<ref>{{cite web |editor=Communication room rtve.es |title=La 2, ahora en HD, refuerza su apuesta por la cultura con nuevos formatos de entretenimiento para todos los públicos|trans-title=La 2, now in HD, reinforces its commitment to culture with new entertainment formats for all audiences |url=http://www.rtve.es/television/20170907/2-ahora-hd-refuerza-su-apuesta-cultura-nuevos-formatos-entretenimiento-para-todos-publicos/1609560.shtmll |access-date=7 September 2017 |language=es}}</ref> which started issuing 31 October 2017 in Madrid, 7 November 2017 in the rest of Spain (except Catalonia and Canary Islands), 14 November 2017 in Catalonia and 21 November 2017 in Canary Islands.<ref>{{cite web |editor=Communication room rtve.es |title=RTVE inicia las emisiones en Alta Definición (HD) en sus canales La 2 y Clan el próximo 31 de octubre|trans-title=RTVE starts broadcasts in High Definition (HD) on its channels La 2 and Clan next 31 October |url=http://www.rtve.es/rtve/20171030/rtve-inicia-emisiones-alta-definicion-hd-canales-2-clan-proximo-31-octubre/1631328.shtml |access-date=30 October 2017|language=es}}</ref> With standard-definition feed discontinued on 11 February 2024, it has only been available in HD ever since.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mundoplus.tv/tv-digital/la-1-uhd-ya-ha-iniciado-sus-emisiones-en-tdt-sera-necesario-resintonizar-teledeporte/|title=La 1 UHD has already started its DTT broadcasts, it will be necessary to retune Teledeporte|website=mundoplus.tv|language=es|date=11 February 2024}}</ref>
=== Upcoming Catalan regional version and new opt-outs === On 29 January 2025, a joint Junts-PSOE agreement paved way for La 2 to broadcast entirely in Catalan from 2027 in Catalonia.<ref>{{cite news |title=La Generalitat anuncia un nuevo canal de RTVE “íntegramente” en lengua catalana |url=https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2025-01-29/la-generalitat-anuncia-un-nuevo-canal-de-rtve-integramente-en-lengua-catalana.html |work=El Pais |date=29 January 2025 |language=es-es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Nogueras anuncia que La 2 emitirá íntegramente en catalán en dos años |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/es/politica/nogueras-anuncia-2-emitira-integramente-en-catalan-en-dos-anos_1354168_102.html |work=El Nacional| language=es-es}}</ref> On 28 March 2025, the RTVE Administrative Council unanimously approved the creation of the new channel, named 2CAT, with Laura Folguera appointed as director.<ref>{{cite news |title=El Consejo de Administración de RTVE aprueba el lanzamiento del canal 2CAT |url=https://www.rtve.es/rtve/20250331/consejo-administracion-rtve-aprueba-lanzamiento-del-canal-2cat/16514249.shtml |work=RTVE |date=31 March 2025 |language=es-es}}</ref> The move comes as part of RTVE's growing commitment towards regional languages to reflect "a plural Spain and multilingualism", with sister channel Clan seeing a 25% increase in Catalan-language content in local opt-outs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Així serà 2CAT, el nou canal de RTVE íntegrament en català |url=https://elmon.cat/comunicacio/2cat-nou-canal-988327/ |work=El Mon |language=Catalan}}</ref>
On 1 April, the RTVE board announced that it would increase opt-outs for the channel, which as of the time of the decision, were limited to Madrid, Catalonia and the Canary Islands. For this end, talks with Cellnex regarding the feasibility of the project were held, aiming to increase it to the remaining autonomous communities. La 2, on a national scale, initiated a plan to potentiate its possibilities in order to give a "new impulse", claiming that its programming was largely disconnected from each other, as if it were "a big box full of little boxes". The network already premiered ''Malas lenguas'' in March, but plans a wider revamp in September, with the beginning of the new television season.<ref>{{cite news |title=El Presidente de RTVE detalla los planes para La 1, La 2, 24h y Teledeporte; y centra su apuesta en lo territorial |url=https://www.eldiario.es/vertele/noticias/presidente-rtve-detalla-planes-1-2-24h-teledeporte-centra-apuesta-territorial_1_12184774.html |work=VerTele |language=es-ES}}</ref>
==Logo history== <gallery> File:TVE 2 1986.svg|first logo; 1966 to 1976, 1983 to January 1991 File:Logo TVE 2 1976-1983.svg|1976 to 1983 File:TVE 2 1991.svg|January to September 1991 File:Logo La 2 1991-2003.svg|1991 to 2002 File:Tve2-logo2.png|2002 to 2008 File:TVE2 logo (2000-2003).png|2000 to 2002 Tve2 2003.png|2003 File:Logo La 2.svg|December 2008 to January 2026 File:La 2 2026.svg|January 2026 to present </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Official website|https://www.rtve.es/play/la-2/}} {{in lang|es}}
{{RTVE}} {{Spanish television stations}} {{Channels on Movistar+}} {{Portal bar|Spain|Television}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2 (Spanish TV channel)}} Category:RTVE 2 Category:Television channels and stations established in 1966 Category:Spanish-language television stations Category:1966 establishments in Spain