TVR 2
The second television channel of Romania's public broadcaster, TVR.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
TVR 2, also known as Televiziunea Română 2, is a Romanian public television channel operated by Televiziunea Română, the country's public broadcaster. It is the broadcaster's second national television service and has historically complemented the flagship TVR 1 by carrying cultural, educational, entertainment, documentary, film, news, and occasional sports programming. The service began broadcasting on 2 May 1968 under the name Programul 2. Its initial schedule was limited: it broadcast once a week on Thursdays, then expanded to Sundays in June and Saturdays in July of the same year. In 1972, the channel moved to daily broadcasting and reached an estimated 15% to 20% of the Romanian population. Like the rest of Romania's television system, it operated during the communist period under a centrally controlled broadcasting environment. TVR 2 was suspended in January 1985 as part of the severe reductions imposed on Romanian television during the final years of Nicolae Ceaușescu's rule. Following the collapse of the dictatorship in December 1989, technicians associated with TVR's Studio 6 worked on restoring the service. The channel returned on 19 February 1990, initially broadcasting from approximately 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. It was briefly taken off the air around Romania's first post-communist democratic elections in May 1990 so that TVR could concentrate resources on election coverage. During the 1990s and 2000s, TVR 2 gradually expanded its terrestrial coverage. Its reach increased substantially from 1992, and by the 2004 rebranding period its terrestrial availability was reported at about 90% of the country. The channel introduced continuous, 24-hour broadcasting in 2001. A change in terrestrial frequencies followed the closure of the Bucharest VHF transmitter using channel 2 in 2005, after which the service was carried on UHF channel 51 in the capital. Until 2009, TVR 2 also carried regional programming through time-sharing arrangements; the later creation of TVR 3 brought those arrangements to an end. From 2003, TVR 2 was described as a market-leading service in Romania, with programs including Tonomatul DP2 and imported programming such as the British science-fiction series Doctor Who. Its programming profile later shifted. Since 2015, TVR 2 has increasingly presented itself as a general arts and culture channel, with a schedule built around cultural programs, documentaries, films, public-interest content, and selected entertainment. The channel has also carried news programs, including Ora de știri and Telejurnal, although the relative prominence and scheduling of those programs have changed over time. Among programs associated with the channel are Câștigă România, a quiz show later moved to TVR 1, Drag de România mea, a folk-music and entertainment program hosted by Paul Ciprian Surugiu, Pescar Hoinar, a fishing program, and Ferma, a program concerning farm animals and rural life. TVR 2 launched a high-definition simulcast on 3 November 2019 alongside TVR 1. It remains a national Romanian public-service television brand whose role is centered on culture, information, entertainment, and programming that supplements the broadcaster's main channel.
History
TVR 2 was established as Romania's second television service on 2 May 1968, initially using the name Programul 2. Its early schedule was limited to one weekly broadcast on Thursdays. The service expanded to Sundays in June 1968 and Saturdays in July, before becoming a daily channel in 1972. At that stage it reached an estimated 15% to 20% of the Romanian population. The channel's development was interrupted by the austerity and broadcasting restrictions of the late communist period. TVR 2 was taken off the air in January 1985. Following the Romanian Revolution and the fall of the communist government in December 1989, technicians from TVR's Studio 6 prepared the service for restoration. Broadcasting resumed on 19 February 1990, initially with an evening schedule running from around 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The channel was temporarily suspended for several days around the democratic elections held in May 1990, as TVR focused its resources on election coverage. TVR 2's terrestrial reach expanded from 1992. It began round-the-clock broadcasting in 2001, and its reported terrestrial reach was approximately 90% around a 2004 rebranding. In Bucharest, the former VHF transmitter on channel 2 was closed in 2005 and replaced by UHF channel 51. Regional programming was carried through time-sharing arrangements until 2009; the launch of TVR 3 subsequently removed the need for TVR 2 to carry that regional role. The channel became particularly visible in the Romanian television market during the 2000s. From 2003, it was described as a market leader and carried popular programs such as Tonomatul DP2, as well as international acquisitions including Doctor Who. Over time, however, its identity moved toward cultural and arts programming. Since 2015, TVR 2 has generally been characterized as a general arts and culture channel, while retaining news, films, documentaries, entertainment, and limited sports coverage. Its news output has included Ora de știri, a daily news program, and Telejurnal, which was formerly the channel's principal news bulletin. Its entertainment and factual schedule has included Drag de România mea, Pescar Hoinar, Ferma, and Câștigă România. The latter was transferred to TVR 1 in 2022. On 3 November 2019, TVR 2 entered the high-definition era with an HD simulcast launched alongside TVR 1. The service continues as a Romanian national public television channel operated within the TVR portfolio.
- 2022
Câștigă România transferred to TVR 1
[1]The quiz program moved from TVR 2 to the flagship TVR 1 channel.
- 2019
HD simulcast launched
[1]A high-definition simulcast began on 3 November alongside TVR 1.
- 2015
Shift toward arts and culture
[1]TVR 2 increasingly adopted a general arts and culture identity after the closure of TVR Cultural.
- 2005
Bucharest terrestrial frequency changed
[1]The VHF transmitter carrying the service on channel 2 in Bucharest was shut down, with transmission moved to UHF channel 51.
- 2003
Market-leading period
[1]The channel entered a period described as market-leading, supported by popular entertainment and acquired programming.
- 2001
24-hour broadcasting introduced
[1]TVR 2 began operating continuously around the clock.
- 1992
Terrestrial coverage expands
[1]The channel began a period of broader terrestrial distribution across Romania.
- 1990
Service relaunched
[1]TVR 2 resumed broadcasting on 19 February after technical staff prepared its return following the Romanian Revolution.
- 1985
Broadcasting suspended
[1]The channel was suspended in January during the final period of communist rule in Romania.
- 1972
Daily broadcasting begins
[1]Programul 2 became a daily channel and reached an estimated 15% to 20% of the population.
Products and positioning
Romanian public television channel with a strong arts, culture, documentary, information, and general-entertainment profile.
Television channel · 1968
TVR 2 standard-definition television service
The core TVR 2 service is a Romanian national public television channel. Its schedule combines news, arts and culture, documentaries, films, entertainment, and occasional sports. The channel historically served as a complementary service to TVR 1 and has carried both original Romanian programs and acquired international content.
HD television simulcast · 2019
TVR 2 HD
TVR 2 HD is the high-definition simulcast of the channel. It launched on 3 November 2019 together with the HD simulcast of TVR 1, extending the broadcaster's television offering into high-definition distribution while retaining the TVR 2 schedule and editorial identity.
News program
Ora de știri
Ora de știri is a daily TVR 2 news program and one of the channel's principal current-affairs offerings. It forms part of the information component of a schedule otherwise strongly associated with culture, documentaries, films, and general entertainment.
News program
Telejurnal
Telejurnal is a TVR news bulletin that has aired on TVR 2. It formerly served as the channel's main news program before changes to the schedule made Ora de știri the more prominent TVR 2 news offering.
Music and entertainment program
Drag de România mea
Drag de România mea is a folk-music and entertainment program associated with TVR 2. It is presented by Paul Ciprian Surugiu and reflects the channel's focus on Romanian cultural expression and accessible general entertainment.
Factual program
Pescar Hoinar
Pescar Hoinar is a factual program centered on fishing and outdoor activity. Its format follows two men engaged in fishing, fitting TVR 2's broader mix of specialist interests, leisure programming, and documentary-style content.
Agriculture and rural-life program
Ferma
Ferma is a TVR 2 program dealing with farm animals and rural life. It represents the channel's public-interest and countryside-oriented programming alongside its cultural, documentary, and entertainment output.
Quiz show
Câștigă România
Câștigă România is a quiz program that became one of the shows associated with TVR 2. In 2022, it was moved to TVR 1, illustrating the broadcaster's ability to shift successful formats between its national channels.
Entertainment program
Tonomatul DP2
Tonomatul DP2 was one of the programs associated with TVR 2 during the channel's prominent market period from the early 2000s. It contributed to the service's entertainment profile before the channel became more strongly identified with arts and culture.
Brand decisions
2022
Transfer of Câștigă România to TVR 1StrategyBackground
Câștigă România had been identified with TVR 2 as one of its popular programs.
Action taken
The broadcaster moved the quiz show to its flagship TVR 1 service.
Aftermath
The move reduced the number of prominent entertainment formats specifically associated with TVR 2 and reinforced the division of programming roles between the two channels.
2019
Launch of TVR 2 HDProduct launchBackground
TVR expanded its technical offering as high-definition television became standard across the Romanian television market.
Action taken
TVR 2 launched an HD simulcast on 3 November 2019 alongside TVR 1.
Aftermath
The channel became available in a high-definition version without changing its core editorial identity.
2015
Repositioning toward arts and cultureStrategyBackground
Following the shutdown of TVR Cultural, TVR 2 assumed a stronger role for arts and culture content within the public broadcaster's channel portfolio.
Action taken
The channel developed a general arts and culture profile while continuing to carry news, films, documentaries, and entertainment.
Aftermath
TVR 2 became more clearly differentiated as a culture-oriented public television service rather than relying primarily on general entertainment.
2001
Move to continuous broadcastingStrategyBackground
After the expansion of its terrestrial coverage during the 1990s, TVR 2 increased the amount of programming available to viewers.
Action taken
The channel introduced 24-hour broadcasting.
Aftermath
TVR 2 became a continuously available national television service within the TVR portfolio.
1990
Relaunch after the communist-era suspensionStrategyBackground
TVR 2 had been off the air since January 1985. Following the Romanian Revolution, TVR technicians worked to restore the second channel while the broadcaster adjusted to the country's political transition.
Action taken
The service resumed broadcasting on 19 February 1990 with a restricted evening schedule of approximately five hours per day.
Aftermath
The relaunch restored TVR's second national television service, although it was temporarily suspended around the May 1990 elections so resources could be concentrated on election coverage.
Sources2 sources
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