TVP2 (TVP Dwa, Telewizja Polska 2, Program Drugi Telewizji Polskiej, "Dwójka") is a Polish public mainstream TV channel operated by TVP. Launched in October 1970, its varied line-up contains a variety of programming (documentary, history, talk-shows, game-shows) although it focuses on entertainment: stand up comedy, comic shows, cabaret, and themed talk shows (for example on travel or foreign cultures). TVP2 is broadcast as part of the nationwide, unencrypted (free-to-air) third multiplex of digital terrestrial television (MUX 3). It is also available on all cable networks and satellite digital platforms in accordance with the so-called must-carry rule—a provision in the Broadcasting and Television Act requiring every television operator to offer seven specific channels: TVP1, TVP2, and TVP3, as well as four commercial ones – TVN, Polsat, TV4, and TV Puls. TVP2 can also be watched for free online through services such as TVP VOD and TVP GO.
History
Beginnings Program Two underwent many transformations over the years. On 2 October 1970, when the second channel of Telewizja Polska began broadcasting, the chairman of the Radio and Television Committee, Włodzimierz Sokorski, declared in a ceremonial speech that the launch of the new program was an expression of "concern for the education and culture of the nation." At first, Dwójka (Channel Two) was an educational channel that mainly aired scientific and educational programs, including foreign language lessons; therefore, it also broadcast foreign films in their original versions as part of series such as Cinema in the Original Version (Kino wersji oryginalnej) or, somewhat later, The Polyglots’ Cinema (Kino poliglotów). The aim was also to promote the achievements of theater, film, and quality entertainment. Dwójka also broadcast thematic programming blocks devoted to countries of the "people’s democracies," such as Czechoslovakia Day (Dzień Czechosłowacji w TP) or Yugoslavia Day (Dzień Jugosławii w TVP), which featured documentaries, feature films, and entertainment programs from those nations. However, some Western countries were also presented, for example, French Day (Dzień francuski) and Austrian Day (Dzień austriacki). During that period, rerun blocks such as Studio Bis and Let’s Meet Once Again (Spotkajmy się raz jeszcze) were also aired. In May 1971, it held the French and Japanese Days. On Christmas, Easter, as well as on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Dwójka prepared special film blocks such as Classics of Literature on Screen (Klasycy literatury na ekranie), Film Adaptations of World Literature (Adaptacje filmowe literatury światowej), New Year’s Eve Cocktail (Sylwestrowy cocktail), New Year’s Relaxation (Noworoczny relaks), and other programs dedicated to the work of a single artist, such as Author’s Day... (Dzień autorski...). Throughout the entire 1970s, the channel did not yet have a distinct identity separate from Jedynka (Channel One). The same announcers presented both channels, and the old graphic design and style of the program were almost identical.
The new face of the channel after martial law After the final lifting of martial law in 1983 and the resumption of regular broadcasting, efforts began to shape Dwójka into a channel with its own, more distinct identity that could significantly diversify the overall programming offer. Initially, the focus was placed mainly on documentary series about prominent artists—especially writers (the Great Writers (Wielcy pisarze) series)—as well as travel series and cycles dedicated to masterpieces of world cinema, both in the form of auteur series (e.g., films by Woody Allen, Ingmar Bergman) and thematic series (e.g., Cinema of Latin America (Kino Ameryki Łacińskiej). When Zbigniew Napierała became the director of Dwójka, more programs devoted to classical music appeared on air, which at that time accounted for as much as 11% of the broadcasting schedule. Dwójka gained a new "face" under the direction of Józef Węgrzyn, who decided to introduce more entertainment and current affairs programs (one of his ideas was Panorama dnia), as well as an original announcer’s studio and a completely new team of hosts-presenters. It was during this period that figures such as Iwona Kubicz, Jolanta Fajkowska, and Grażyna Torbicka made their debuts on Dwójka. More and more interesting programs were broadcast, and films were scheduled so that their airtime would not overlap with those on Jedynka (Channel One).
After 1989 TP2 became TVP2 in 1992, at the time Poland was opening up to capitalism and began adapting international game show formats, such as Koło Fortuny and Familiada. Today, Dwójka is a television channel with a very diverse program lineup. Despite this variety, in recent years entertainment has dominated its schedule, although various cultural programs have also appeared. In the spring of 2016, during the tenure of Maciej Chmiel, Dwójka briefly introduced new cultural programs such as Breakfast on the Grass (Śniadanie na trawie), educational programs like Wild Music (Dzika muzyka), and a show inspired by the traditions of literary cabaret – The Comedy Stage of Channel Two (Komediowa Scena Dwójki). On 7 March 2003, the channel introduced its current logo (the 2 introduced in 2000 was made upright and orange became the channel's signature color). In March 2016, TVP2 aired the premiere episodes of Sonda 2 — a popular science program that continued the cult television series from the 1970s. The host of Sonda 2 was Dr. Tomasz Rożek. The program was moved to TVP1 in the autumn of 2017, where it was broadcast until 2018.
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