Télévision Tunisienne 2

Télévision Tunisienne 2, commonly known as El Watania 2, is the second public national television channel in Tunisia. It is owned and operated by Télévision Tunisienne, the state broadcasting organization formerly known as the Établissement de la radiodiffusion-télévision tunisienne (ERTT). The channel’s current identity dates from January 2011, but its institutional and technical predecessors form part of a much longer history of second-channel television in Tunisia. The earliest plans for a second Tunisian television service emerged in the 1960s. French broadcasting authorities and Tunisian officials discussed creating a French-language channel associated with the second ORTF service. Although the initial proposal did not proceed, a later agreement led to the establishment of RTT 2, which officially began broadcasting in June 1983. RTT 2 had limited production resources, a small operating budget, and a schedule that relied heavily on material acquired or selected from French public television and TV5. Its audience remained modest, and the service eventually disappeared in 1989 when the relevant transmission facilities were used for the relay of Antenne 2, later France 2. A succession of experiments followed. The Arab Maghreb Channel was introduced in the context of the Tunisian government’s support for regional Maghreb cooperation, but the project faced limited reach and weak audience performance. Around 1993, the service was retitled Tunis 2 and given a more explicitly Tunisian orientation, although much of its schedule still consisted of repeats. On November 7, 1994, Canal 21 replaced the earlier service. The new channel was aimed particularly at young viewers, with the number 21 referring to Tunisia’s Youth Day on March 21. At first, it broadcast for only part of the day while the remainder of the network carried France 2 programming. At the end of October 1999, Canal 21 obtained exclusive use of the second terrestrial network after the relay of France 2 ended. It consequently expanded its transmission hours, but its reach and audience remained constrained by terrestrial distribution, competition from private Tunisian stations, and the growing availability of Arab satellite channels. In 2007, the government announced a conversion of the channel into a satellite service with a modernized identity and schedule. On November 7 of that year, Canal 21 became Tunisie 21 and began satellite broadcasting, enabling it to reach viewers beyond its earlier terrestrial footprint. The channel moved into new Télévision Tunisienne premises in March 2010. Following the fall of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali during the Tunisian revolution, Tunisie 21 was renamed National Tunisian Television 2 in Arabic and Télévision Tunisienne 2 in French on January 20, 2011. The rebranding placed the service within the post-revolution public television structure and emphasized its role as a national channel rather than a youth-oriented legacy brand. From January 2, 2012, Télévision Tunisienne 2 adopted a stronger regional programming remit, with content devoted to Tunisia’s regions and local communities. Its daily schedule was extended to approximately 17 hours. From January 1, 2013, it moved to continuous 24-hour transmission; during the overnight period until 6:00 a.m. Tunisian time, it rebroadcast programs from its sister channel, El Watania 1. The channel has also carried major national and international events. During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, it broadcast live coverage and a daily program focused on the principal competitions and Tunisian athletes. Today, El Watania 2 remains a public-service television outlet whose programming identity is associated with national coverage, regional representation, cultural and general-interest programming, and event broadcasting.

The history of Télévision Tunisienne 2 is rooted in repeated Tunisian attempts to establish a viable second television service. Discussions with French broadcasting authorities began in the 1960s, when a relay of the second ORTF channel was considered. A later project provided for a French-language Tunisian service, but the agreement was not completed until 1982. RTT 2 officially launched on June 12, 1983, broadcasting from studio 12 at the RTT headquarters. Its schedule was short, its resources were limited, and it depended substantially on programming from French public television and TV5. The service had modest audience penetration and disappeared in 1989 when its transmission network was reassigned to Antenne 2, later France 2. A Maghreb-oriented channel was subsequently proposed in the context of the Arab Maghreb Union, but the project experienced limited audience appeal and restricted terrestrial coverage. Around 1993 it was renamed Tunis 2 and given a more national orientation. That service ended on November 6, 1994, when Canal 21 was created and the studio used by Tunis 2 was reassigned to the new channel. Canal 21 was designed with a youth-oriented identity, the number 21 referring to Tunisia’s Youth Day. Its initial schedule occupied only part of the day, with France 2 using the network during other periods. After the end of the France 2 relay in October 1999, Canal 21 took full control of the second terrestrial network and expanded its hours. Nevertheless, its audience remained limited in the face of private national broadcasters and satellite television. A major repositioning followed in 2007. The channel was renamed Tunisie 21 on November 7 and launched satellite distribution with a revised schedule and presentation. The change broadened its potential audience beyond the earlier terrestrial footprint. In March 2010, it moved into new premises belonging to Tunisian Television. After the political change of January 2011, the channel adopted the name National Tunisian Television 2 in Arabic and Télévision Tunisienne 2 in French. The new identity marked a shift away from the Canal 21 and Tunisie 21 brands and placed the service more directly within the national public-television system. From January 2012, its programming emphasized Tunisia’s regions and local communities, and its daily schedule expanded to around 17 hours. In January 2013, the channel began 24-hour transmission, using overnight hours for rebroadcasts from El Watania 1. It has continued to operate as a public national channel, carrying general-interest, regional, cultural, news, and event programming. Its documented international event coverage includes live broadcasts and a Tunisian-athlete-focused daily program during the 2016 Rio Olympics.

• 2011

  Renamed Télévision Tunisienne 2

  [1]El Watania 2en.wikipedia.org

  The channel adopted its current El Watania 2 and Télévision Tunisienne 2 identity on January 20.

• 2010

  Move to new Tunisian Television premises

  [1]El Watania 2en.wikipedia.org

  Tunisie 21 moved to new premises of Tunisian Television in March.

• 2007

  Tunisie 21 launches as a satellite service

  [1]El Watania 2en.wikipedia.org

  The channel was renamed Tunisie 21 on November 7 and began satellite broadcasting with a new schedule and presentation.

• 1999

  Full use of the second terrestrial network

  [1]El Watania 2en.wikipedia.org

  Canal 21 obtained exclusive use of the second terrestrial network after the France 2 relay ended.

• 1994

  Canal 21 is created

  [1]El Watania 2en.wikipedia.org

  Canal 21 replaced Tunis 2 on November 7 and introduced a youth-oriented channel identity.

• 1989

  RTT 2 disappears from the network

  [1]El Watania 2en.wikipedia.org

  The channel ended after its signal was replaced by the relay of Antenne 2, later France 2.

• 1983

  RTT 2 officially launches

  [1]El Watania 2en.wikipedia.org

  RTT 2 began broadcasting on June 12 from studio 12 at the RTT headquarters.

• 1982

  Agreement provides for a second French-language service

  [1]El Watania 2en.wikipedia.org

  A decree and related agreement established the framework for a second channel responsible for French-language programming design, production, and distribution.

• 1966

  Second-channel proposal is discussed

  [1]El Watania 2en.wikipedia.org

  French and Tunisian authorities explored establishing a relay for the second ORTF channel in Tunisia, but the initial proposal did not proceed.

A Tunisian public-service national channel with a particular emphasis on regional programming, national coverage, cultural content, and broad-access television.

• National public television channel · 2011

  El Watania 2 television service

  The core offering is a public national television service distributed in Tunisia through terrestrial and satellite means. Its programming includes news, general-interest content, cultural material, regional coverage, sports and live-event broadcasts. Since 2012, regional representation has been a defining part of its schedule, while overnight hours have included rebroadcasts from El Watania 1.

• Public-affairs and local programming · 2012

  Regional programming

  Beginning in 2012, the channel shifted its register toward programming focused on Tunisia’s regions. This remit is intended to give local communities and regional issues a more visible place within the national public-broadcasting schedule.

• Sports broadcasting · 2016

  Rio 2016 Olympic coverage

  During the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, El Watania 2 carried live Olympic coverage and a daily program summarizing key competitions and reporting on Tunisian athletes. The documented production was prepared by Rabii Bhouri and presented by Thouraya Majbri.

• 2013

  Transition to 24-hour broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  The channel had already expanded its schedule after adopting a regional public-service orientation.

  Action taken

  From January 1, El Watania 2 began broadcasting continuously, with overnight rebroadcasts from El Watania 1 until 6:00 a.m.

  Aftermath

  The change established a full-day transmission pattern while sharing overnight content with its sister channel.

  Source

• 2012

  Regional programming expansionStrategy

  Background

  The channel sought a clearer public-service role after its post-2011 rebranding.

  Action taken

  From January 2, programming was redirected toward Tunisia’s regions and the schedule was extended to about 17 hours per day.

  Aftermath

  Regional coverage became a principal feature of the channel’s editorial positioning.

  Source

• 2011

  Rebranding as Télévision Tunisienne 2Generation change

  Background

  The change followed the fall of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and the Tunisian revolution.

  Action taken

  Tunisie 21 was renamed National Tunisian Television 2 in Arabic and Télévision Tunisienne 2 in French on January 20.

  Aftermath

  The channel became known in English and French-language references as El Watania 2 and was repositioned within the national public-television structure.

  Source

• 2007

  Conversion from Canal 21 to a satellite-oriented serviceStrategy

  Background

  The terrestrial Canal 21 service faced limited audience reach and competition from private and satellite channels.

  Action taken

  The channel was renamed Tunisie 21, received a revised schedule and presentation, and began satellite broadcasting on November 7.

  Aftermath

  Satellite distribution expanded the potential audience and preceded the later El Watania 2 identity.

  Source

1. 1El Watania 2en.wikipedia.org