TVP2

History

Beginnings

The second channel of TVP has undergone many transformations over the years. Upon its launch on 2 October 1970, 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, it 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 Kino wersji oryginalnej ("Cinema in the original version") or, somewhat later, Kino poliglotów ("the Polyglots' cinema"). 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 Dzień Czechosłowacji w TP ("Czechoslovakia Day") and Dzień Jugosławii w TVP ("Yugoslavia Day"), which featured documentaries, feature films and entertainment programmes from those countries. Some Western countries were also featured, including France in Dzień francuski ("French Day") and Austria in Dzień austriacki ("Austrian Day"). During this period, rerun blocks such as Studio Bis and Spotkajmy się raz jeszcze ("Let's Meet Once Again") were also broadcast. In May 1971, the channel held Dni francuskie i japońskie ("French and Japanese Days").

On Christmas, Easter, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, Dwójka prepared special film blocks such as Klasycy literatury na ekranie ("Classics of Literature on Screen"), Adaptacje filmowe literatury światowej ("Film Adaptations of World Literature"), Sylwestrowy cocktail ("New Year's Eve Cocktail") and Noworoczny relaks ("New Year's Relaxation"). It also broadcast programmes dedicated to individual artists, such as Dzień autorski... ("Author's Day..."). Throughout the 1970s, the channel did not yet have a distinct identity separate from Jedynka (Channel One). The same announcers presented both channels, while their graphics and programme styles remained largely similar.

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 were made to establish Dwójka as a channel with a distinct identity and a more diverse programming schedule. Initially, the channel focused mainly on documentary series about prominent artists, particularly writers, including Wielcy pisarze ("Great Writers"), as well as travel series and programmes devoted to major works of world cinema. These included auteur series featuring films by directors such as Woody Allen and Ingmar Bergman, as well as thematic series such as Kino Ameryki Łacińskiej ("Cinema of Latin America").

When Zbigniew Napierała became director of Dwójka, the channel increased its programming devoted to classical music, which at the time accounted for approximately 11% of its broadcasting schedule. Under the direction of Józef Węgrzyn, Dwójka adopted a new programming format that placed greater emphasis on entertainment and current affairs programmes, including Panorama dnia ("Daily Panorama"). A new announcer's studio was also introduced, along with a new team of hosts and presenters. During this period, Iwona Kubicz, Jolanta Fajkowska and Grażyna Torbicka made their debuts on Dwójka. The channel also expanded its programming and scheduled films at times that generally did not overlap with those broadcast 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.

In recent years, Dwójka has broadcast a diverse range of programmes, with entertainment making up a significant part of its schedule alongside cultural programming. In spring 2016, during Maciej Chmiel's tenure as director, the channel introduced several new cultural and educational programmes, including Śniadanie na trawie ("Breakfast on the Grass"), Dzika muzyka ("Wild Music"), and Komediowa Scena Dwójki ("Comedy Stage of Channel Two"), a programme inspired by the tradition of literary cabaret.

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.

Timetable

2 October 1970, 6:55 p.m. – The broadcast of Telewizja Polska's Second Channel began. Dwójka launched with an inaugural speech by the chairman of the Radio and Television Committee, Włodzimierz Sokorski, who declared that Program II was being launched as an expression of "concern for the education and culture of the nation." Immediately after his speech, A Feature from the Future featuring Stanisław Lem was aired. Dwójka was intended as an educational channel, initially broadcasting five days a week with a predominance of educational and scientific programs, including foreign language lessons. It was also meant to popularize achievements in theater, film, and quality entertainment. At first, Dwójka was available only to viewers in Warsaw, Łódź, Katowice, and Kraków, broadcasting five days a week from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

18 March 1971 – After several years of experimental broadcasts, half-hour color programs began airing once a week (every Thursday).

22 July 1971 – The first color theatrical performance was broadcast: an adaptation of Anton Chekhov's On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco (O szkodliwości palenia tytoniu), directed by Jerzy Antczak.

6 December 1971 – Daily color transmissions began, featuring live coverage from the congress of the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR).

1973 – Dwójka began airing Gallery of 33 Million (Galerii 33 milionów), a series on contemporary art created and hosted by Franciszek Kuduk. Each episode focused on a prominent Polish artist, such as Stefan Gierowski, Czesław Rzepiński, Edward Dwurnik, Zdzisław Beksiński, Władysław Hasior, and Mieczysław Wejman. The series was filmed in artists' studios, allowing for direct conversations and art presentations. The show earned high praise from both viewers and critics, greatly contributing to the popularization of visual arts in Poland. It continued for 20 years under various titles, later known as Gallery of 38 Million (Galeria 38 milionów).

4 February 1974 – Program Two began daily broadcasting.

30 November 1974 – The legendary entertainment show Studio 2, conceived by Mariusz Walter, premiered. It was a variety show featuring popular stars and quickly moved to TVP1. After the end of Edward Gierek's era and television's "golden age", Studio 2 returned to Dwójka as a more modest weekend program block.

TVP2 HD

On 31 May 2012, digital terrestrial broadcasting of the TVP2 channel in HD standard under the name TVP2 HD began. However, the official launch date was 1 June 2012 with the coverage of the UEFA Euro 2012., when regular satellite broadcasting and cable television transmission also started. The program schedules of TVP2 and TVP2 HD are identical.

SD broadcasting via satellite (Eutelsat Hot Bird) stopped on 7 April 2017.

Current line-up

Morning show

Pytanie na śniadanie (A question for breakfast) (in 7:30-11:15 CET)

Foreign series

House M.D. - in Polish "Dr House"

Modern Family - in Polish "Współczesna rodzina"

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - in Polish "CSI: Kryminalne Zagadki Las Vegas"

Kurt Seyit ve Şura - in Polish "Imperium miłości"

Scandal - in Polish "Skandal"

Grimm

Lie to Me - in Polish "Magia kłamstwa"

Dirt - in Polish "Intrygi i kłamstwa"

Life - in Polish "Powrót do Życia"

In Plain Sight - in Polish "Na linii strzału"

Castle

Ugly Betty - in Polish "Brzydula Betty"

My Name Is Earl - in Polish "Na imię mi Earl"

Battlestar Galactica

The Closer - in Polish "Podkomisarz Brenda Johnson"

The Knights of Prosperity - in Polish "Obrobić VIP-a"

Twin Peaks - in Polish "Miasteczko Twin Peaks"

M.A.S.H.

Yasak Elma

Bionic Woman - in Polish "Bionic Woman: Agentka Przyszłości"

Junior Eurovision Song Contest - in Polish "Konkurs Piosenki Eurowizji Junior"

Entertainment

The Voice of Poland

The Voice Kids

The Voice Senior

Pink Lady and Jeff (1982-1986, Polish dub, as "Pink Lady i Jeff")

Kocham Cię, Polsko! (I Love My Country)

Familiada (Family Feud)

Koło Fortuny (Wheel of Fortune)

Postaw na milion (The Million Pound Drop Live)

Va banque (Jeopardy!)

Jeden z dziesięciu (Fifteen to One)

Tak to leciało! (Don't Forget the Lyrics!)

Europa da się lubić – nowe pokolenie (Europe's easy to like – Next Generation)

Gabi Drzewiecka zaprasza

Omnibus – szybcy i mądrzy

Sports

UEFA Europa League (Final and Polish teams)

2030 FIFA World Cup

UEFA Euro 2028

IAAF World Championships in Athletics

European Athletics Championships

Documentary series/Lifestyle programs

Sonda 2 - popular science series, hosted by Tomasz Rożek

Wojciech Cejrowski - boso przez świat (Wojciech Cejrowski - Barefoot Around the World) - travel series

Makłowicz w podróźy (Makłowicz traveling) - travel and culinary series

Podróże z historią - history documentary series, hosted by Radosław Kotarski

Culture

Kultura, głupcze (Culture, stupid) - cultural talk show hosted by Kamil Dąbrowa

Kocham Kino (I love movies) - movie magazine hosted by Grażyna Torbicka

WOK - Wszystko o Kulturze (Everything about the culture)

Rozmowy po-szczególne

Primetime schedule

All times are CET.

Early fringe schedule

All times are CET.

NOTE: As of February 2024, Jeopardy! airs at 6:10 and not 6:20 PM. Panorama is moved for that reason.

Previously on TVP2

News shows

Panorama

Polish series

Złotopolscy (The Złotopolskis)

Egzamin z życia (Life Exam)

Kopciuszek (Cinderella)

Licencja na wychowanie (License for education)

Apetyt na życie (Appetite for life)

U Pana Boga w ogródku (In the garden of God)

Ja to mam szczęście (I am lucky enough to)

Głęboka woda (Deep water) - drama series (spring 2011, 2 seasons)

Czas honoru (Time of honor) - war drama series (autumn 2008–2014, 6 seasons)

Foreign series

Seks w wielkim mieście - Sex and the City

Z Archiwum X - The X-Files

Rzym - Rome

Mała Brytania - Little Britain

Dr Quinn - Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

Kochanie, zmniejszyłem dzieciaki - Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show

Nie ma to jak Hotel - The Suite Life of Zack & Cody

Powrót na October Road - October Road

Comedy series

Aida

Wiadomości z drugiej ręki (News on the other hand)

Codzienna 2 m. 3 (Everyday Lane 2/3)

Lokatorzy (Lodgers)

Święta wojna (Holy War)

O mnie się nie martw (Don't Worry About Me)

Pan mama (Mr. Mum)

Entertainment

Duże dzieci (a programme in which young children discuss various topics: from politics to cuisine)

Europa da się lubić (Europe's easy to like)

Fabryka śmiechu (Laughter factory)

Mój pierwszy raz (My first time)

Od przedszkola do Opola (a programme in which young children sing with professionals)

Oto jest pytanie

Gilotyna (Cresus)

Podróże z żartem (Travel with laughter) - a travel talk show

30 ton - lista, lista, lista przebojów - top 30 chart show

Bezludna wyspa (talk show)

Dubidu (music show)

Spotkanie z balladą

Tele PRLe

Tygodnik Moralnego Niepokoju (TV show of Polish cabaret Kabaret Moralnego Niepokoju)

Fort Boyard

Szansa na sukces (Chance for success)

Wideoteka dorosłego człowieka (Human Adult Video Library) - programme about music from 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s

Bitwa na głosy (Clash of the Choirs)

Kabaretowy Klub Dwójki (Twos Comedy Club) - performances of the best Polish cabarets

Documentary/talk shows

Tomasz Lis na żywo (2008-2016)

Kochaj mnie

Warto rozmawiać - controversial talk show, accused of right-wing spinning (since March 2016 on TVP1)

Magazyn Kryminalny 997

Children's shows

Ulica Sezamkowa (Polish Sesame Street)

Anime

Peter Pan: The Animated Series (as Piotruś Pan)

Princess Sara (as Mała Księżniczka)

Logos and identities

The first four identifiers were not used continuously during broadcasts. They appeared only during breaks, idents, and daily program summaries. It was only toward the end of 1991 that the station began test broadcasting with an on-screen logo (the fifth one at the time). During these tests, the size and position of the logo on the screen were adjusted. Regular broadcasts with a permanent on-screen logo (the sixth one) in the upper right corner began in mid-1993 (probably in June).

Additionally, the logo sometimes appeared in the upper left corner of the screen, such as during the quiz show Wielka gra, when a timer counting down the player's response time was shown on the right side, or during sports broadcasts (where the match score appeared on the right). Initially, the logo was also not displayed during news programs.