Italia 2

Italia 2, also known as Italia Due or Mediaset Italia Due, is an Italian free-to-air television channel operated by Mediaset and owned by MFE - MediaForEurope. The channel was created as part of Mediaset's effort to expand its portfolio of specialist digital-terrestrial networks and began broadcasting in July 2011. Its programming concept was designed primarily for younger viewers, with a particularly strong emphasis on male audiences, and was positioned within Mediaset's portfolio alongside La5, which was oriented more toward a female audience. Italia 2 broadcasts nationally in Italian. Its programming mix has included television series, films, animation, music programming, sports coverage, acquired entertainment formats, and selected repeats or revivals of programmes associated with Italia 1. During its initial year, the channel experimented with a schedule divided into thematic zones. One of these, the U-Zone, incorporated amateur videos submitted by viewers, giving the network an element of participatory programming. Evening schedules were organized around themed nights, while weekend daytime programming differed from the weekday pattern. The channel also carried occasional internal productions, although its identity has chiefly been built around acquired content, genre programming, sports, and cross-promotion within the Mediaset television ecosystem. Sports became an important part of the brand's early schedule. From 2012, Italia 2 broadcast selected UEFA Europa League matches, at times in partial simulcast arrangements involving Italia 1 and Italia 1 HD. It also carried motorsport coverage, including free practice sessions, qualifying sessions, and races from motorcycle competitions. Between 2013 and 2018, this included coverage associated with the Superbike World Championship and related Superstock categories. A daily second edition of Sport Mediaset was added to the schedule in September 2012, reinforcing the channel's sports-oriented appeal. The network also revived the historical music programme Superclassifica Show under the title Superclassifica 2 in 2013. The channel's distribution changed several times. It initially launched on Italian digital terrestrial television with logical channel numbering associated with LCN 35 and was subsequently made available through the Tivùsat satellite platform. In April 2018, Italia 2 was displaced from its original terrestrial frequencies when Focus was relaunched on channel 35. Italia 2 then moved to channel 120 on the La3 multiplex. In February 2019, it moved again to channels 66 and 566 after Mediaset acquired the relevant channel capacity associated with Retecapri. From January 2019, the channel was also available on Sky Italia at channel 175. A proposed 2012 restyling, promoted as Italia .2, was announced and supported by summer promotional material but was not ultimately implemented. The channel's strongest reported audience event occurred on 14 October 2012 during coverage of Red Bull Stratos, when the event generated a reported average audience of 867,000 viewers and a peak of 1,856,000 viewers. The broadcast was especially strong among men aged 15 to 34. Italia 2's continuing identity is therefore based on a youth-focused, male-skewing entertainment proposition, supported by genre television, animation, film, music, and sports within the wider Mediaset network.

Italia 2 was established by Mediaset as a specialist Italian television channel intended to broaden the group's digital-terrestrial offering. Promotional spots began airing on 1 July 2011, and the channel formally launched on 4 July at 10 p.m. Central European Summer Time. Its first programme was the film Dragonball Evolution. From the outset, Italia 2 was conceived as a youth-oriented service with a pronounced male skew, complementing La5 within Mediaset's portfolio. The channel's identity was not built around a single genre; instead, it combined television series, films, animation, music, sport, and selected programming connected with Italia 1. The first-year schedule was organized into thematic zones. This structure allowed different parts of the day and evening to focus on distinct subject areas, while the U-Zone incorporated amateur videos supplied by viewers. Weekend daytime programming followed a different pattern from the weekday schedule, and evening content was presented through themed nights. The channel's initial scheduling strategy was subsequently adjusted, including changes to the start time of its principal night programming. Sports became a significant component of Italia 2's development. From 2012, the channel carried selected UEFA Europa League matches, in some cases through partial simulcasts with Italia 1 and Italia 1 HD. It also broadcast motorsport programming, including free practice and qualifying sessions for motorcycle championships. Between 2013 and 2018, its coverage included the Superbike World Championship and several Superstock categories. In September 2012, a daily second edition of Sport Mediaset was added. The channel also revived the music and chart programme Superclassifica Show in 2013 under the name Superclassifica 2. Mediaset announced a proposed visual and brand restyling for 2 September 2012, using the name Italia .2 in promotional material. The proposed change did not take effect. Instead, the channel continued under the Italia 2 name while evolving its programme mix. One of its most notable audience performances came on 14 October 2012, when its coverage of the Red Bull Stratos jump produced a reported average audience of 867,000 viewers, with a peak of 1,856,000. The event was particularly successful among the male 15-to-34 demographic, which matched the channel's intended audience profile. Italia 2's distribution history reflects the restructuring of Italian digital-terrestrial television. It launched on terrestrial channel position 35 and was later distributed through Tivùsat. On 19 April 2018, Focus returned to channel 35, replacing Italia 2 there. Italia 2 moved to channel 120 on the La3 multiplex. On 28 February 2019, it moved again to channels 66 and 566 after changes involving capacity acquired from Retecapri. The channel was also added to Sky Italia at channel 175 from 2 January 2019. Throughout these changes, Italia 2 remained a national Italian-language television brand within the Mediaset ecosystem, distinguished by its youth-focused, male-skewing entertainment and sports proposition.

• 2019

  Sky Italia distribution

  [1]Italia 2en.wikipedia.org

  Italia 2 becomes available on Sky Italia at channel 175.

• 2019

  Further terrestrial channel move

  [1]Italia 2en.wikipedia.org

  The channel moves to terrestrial logical channel positions 66 and 566.

• 2018

  Move from terrestrial channel 35

  [1]Italia 2en.wikipedia.org

  Italia 2 leaves its original channel position when Focus is relaunched on channel 35 and moves to channel 120 on the La3 multiplex.

• 2013

  Superclassifica 2 revival

  [1]Italia 2en.wikipedia.org

  The historical music programme Superclassifica Show returns on the channel under the title Superclassifica 2.

• 2012

  Sports programming expansion

  [1]Italia 2en.wikipedia.org

  The channel begins carrying selected UEFA Europa League matches and develops a broader sports offering.

• 2011

  Promotional transmissions begin

  [1]Italia 2en.wikipedia.org

  Italia 2 begins broadcasting launch spots on 1 July, ahead of its formal launch.

• 2011

  Official channel launch

  [1]Italia 2en.wikipedia.org

  Italia 2 officially begins broadcasting on 4 July with Dragonball Evolution.

A national Italian television channel aimed primarily at younger and male viewers, combining genre entertainment, animation, films, series, music, and sports within the Mediaset portfolio.

• Television channel · 2011

  Italia 2 television channel

  The core Italia 2 offering is a national Italian-language television service. Its schedule combines series, films, animation, music, sports, acquired entertainment, and selected programmes related to the wider Mediaset and Italia 1 portfolio. The channel was designed to appeal particularly to younger viewers and men, rather than to serve as a narrowly defined news, film, or sports network.

• 2019

  Expansion to Sky ItaliaStrategy

  Background

  Mediaset expanded the channel's distribution beyond terrestrial and satellite free-to-air access.

  Action taken

  Italia 2 was added to Sky Italia at channel 175 from 2 January.

  Aftermath

  The channel gained an additional platform for distribution in Italy.

  Source

• 2019

  Further terrestrial repositioningStrategy

  Background

  Changes to Italian digital-terrestrial capacity followed Mediaset's acquisition of channel capacity associated with Retecapri.

  Action taken

  Italia 2 moved to logical channel positions 66 and 566 on 28 February.

  Aftermath

  The channel continued its national terrestrial distribution from new logical positions.

  Source

• 2018

  Terrestrial frequency relocationStrategy

  Background

  Focus was relaunched on Italia 2's original terrestrial channel position.

  Action taken

  Italia 2 was moved from channel 35 to channel 120 on the La3 multiplex.

  Aftermath

  The move changed how terrestrial viewers accessed the channel and preceded another channel-position change in 2019.

  Source

• 2012

  Adoption of a thematic-zone scheduleStrategy

  Background

  At launch, Mediaset sought to distinguish Italia 2 from general-interest channels through a schedule divided into thematic zones and aimed at younger viewers.

  Action taken

  The channel introduced themed programming blocks, including the viewer-participation U-Zone, with separate weekend and weekday daytime structures.

  Aftermath

  The zone-based structure formed part of the channel's initial identity, while later schedules emphasized series, films, animation, music, sport, and themed evenings.

  Source

• 2012

  Proposed Italia .2 restyling abandonedOther

  Background

  Mediaset promoted a planned 2012 restyling using the name Italia .2.

  Action taken

  Promotional material announced the proposed change, but the restyling was not implemented.

  Aftermath

  The channel continued operating under the Italia 2 name.

  Source

1. 1Italia 2en.wikipedia.org