France 2

Overview

France 2 is the flagship television channel of France Télévisions, the French public broadcasting group. As the country’s principal public generalist network, it offers a full-spectrum schedule of news, current affairs, entertainment, drama, documentaries, films and live events, serving as the main public-service counterweight to the commercial leader TF1 in the French ratings.

History

The channel began broadcasting on 21 April 1963 as France’s second television network, initially part of the state broadcaster RTF and then ORTF. When ORTF was dismantled in 1975 the channel became Antenne 2, an autonomous public company, and in 1992 it was renamed France 2 as part of the creation of a unified public television group with France 3. That group evolved into France Télévisions, which today operates France 2 alongside its sister public channels. Throughout these transformations the channel has remained the centrepiece of French public television.

Programming

France 2’s schedule is anchored by its national news service, including the prominent 8pm newscast, and by respected current affairs and investigation strands such as Envoyé spécial. The channel broadcasts flagship entertainment shows, cultural talk programmes, French drama and comedy, documentaries and cinema, as well as the long-running game show Fort Boyard. It carries major national and international live events, including significant sporting competitions and France’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, reflecting its role as the nation’s principal public broadcaster.

Significance

As the flagship of France Télévisions, France 2 embodies the French public-service broadcasting mission: independent news, support for French and European creation, cultural programming and universal access. Its newscasts and political programmes play an important role in French democratic life, while its drama and entertainment output contributes substantially to the domestic production industry. The channel reaches audiences nationwide free-to-air on the TNT digital terrestrial platform, via satellite, cable and IPTV, and through the group’s streaming platform france.tv, which brings its programmes to on-demand viewers.