El Watania 2, also known as Télévision Tunisienne 2, is the second Tunisian public national television channel. It is owned and operated by Télévision Tunisienne (formerly ERTT). Formerly known as Canal 21 (1994–2007), then as Tunisie 21 (2007–2011), and as El Watania 2 since 2011. The television channel started broadcasting on November 7, 1994.
History
The French, who wanted to set up the relay for the second ORTF channel in Tunisia in 1966, came up against the refusal of Tunisian officials. In 1969, ORTF officials agreed to finance the creation of a second French-speaking Tunisian channel, to fit out a studio at the RTT headquarters equipped with light technical means of transmission and to install four transmitters and repeaters around the capital, and in the north of the country. The project stumbled and the agreement was not signed until 1982.
The decree of December 25, 1982 provides for the creation within the direction of television of a sub-direction of the international chain which must “ensure the design, the programming, the production and the diffusion of the programs in French language”.
Officially launched on 12 June 1983 at 8:30pm with the national anthem, RTT 2 broadcast its programs daily between 8:30pm and 11pm (7pm to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays) from studio 12 of the RTT house. However, aside from its television news, the channel didn't have its own budget or means of production.
10% of Tunisian television's total budget allocated to it was primarily used to pay its staff. Added to this was unattractive programming. For lack of live and spontaneity, the managers of the second channel are forced to select programs from French public channels and TV5. A study carried out in 1988 credits RTT 2 with a weekly audience of 20%.