View source for RTÉ2

{{short description|Irish television station}}
{{For|the RTÉ radio station|RTÉ 2fm}}
{{redirect|RTÉ Two|the channel's sister service|RTÉ One|highways called Route 2|List of highways numbered 2}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Lead too short|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = RTÉ2
| logo = RTÉ2 logo.svg
| logo_size = 220px
| logo_caption = Logo used Since 2014
| launch_date = 2 November 1978
| picture_format = {{ubl|[[1080i]] [[HDTV]]|([[SDTV]] feed shut down on 22 April 2024)}}
| network = 
| owner = [[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]]
| country = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| language = {{ubl|[[English language|English]]|[[Irish language|Irish]]}}
| area = {{ubl|[[Republic of Ireland]]|[[Northern Ireland]]|Worldwide ''(online with restricted and unrestricted programming)''}}
| affiliates = 
| headquarters = [[Donnybrook, Dublin|Donnybrook]], [[Dublin]]
| former_names = {{ubl|''RTÉ 2'' (1978–1988)|''Network 2'' (1988–1997)|''N2'' (1997–2004)|''RTÉ Two'' (2004–2014)}}
| replaced = 
| replaced_by = 
| sister_channels = {{ubl|[[RTÉ One]]|[[RTÉjr]]|[[RTÉ News (TV channel)|RTÉ News]]|[[RTÉ Kids]]}}
| timeshift_service = RTÉ2 +1
| website = {{URL|rte.ie/tv}}
| terr_serv_1 = [[Saorview]]
| terr_chan_1 = {{url|Channel 2 (HD)|Channel 12 (+1)}}
| terr_serv_2 = [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] (Northern Ireland only)
| terr_chan_2 = Channel 55
| sat_radio_serv_1 = 
| sat_radio_chan_1 = 
| online_serv_1 = Virgin TV Anywhere
| online_chan_1 = [https://www.virginmediatv.ie/en/tv/channel-asset.html/954956327242/location/6651943228.html Watch live] (Ireland only)
| online_serv_2 = RTÉ Player
| online_chan_2 = [https://www.rte.ie/player/onnow/66546216064 Watch live] (available depending on the laws and rights in applicable location)
| online_serv_3 = Sky Go
| online_chan_3 = [https://www.sky.com/watch/sky-go/ Watch live] (Ireland only)
}}
'''RTÉ2''' (formerly known as '''Network 2''', '''N2''' and '''RTÉ Two''') is an [[Television in the Republic of Ireland|Irish]] [[free-to-air]] [[television channel]] owned and operated by [[RTÉ]]. It was launched on 2 November 1978 as Ireland's second television channel, at which point the pre-existing channel was renamed RTÉ 1 (currently [[RTÉ One]]).
The channel airs content aimed at 16-45 year-olds.

==History==
In the 1970s, the Irish government considered three options for the introduction of a second television service: the re-transmission of [[BBC One Northern Ireland|BBC1 Northern Ireland]]; authorization of an independent commercial service; or charging RTÉ with the establishment of a second national channel. It was the last of these that was finally chosen.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 April 2006 |title=Features |url=http://www.rte.ie/laweb/brc/brc_1970s.html |work=RTÉ News}}</ref>

After a period of test transmissions in the late summer and autumn the channel began scheduled broadcasting at 20:00 on 2 November 1978, opening with a broadcast of a gala ceremony from [[Cork Opera House]]. Owing to a technical error, audio from [[BBC Two|BBC2]] was played during the countdown instead of the proper soundtrack. When the channel commenced programmes, there was no audio for the initial 15 seconds.

The opening night's line up was as follows:

* 20:00 – RTÉ 2 presenters [[Bernadette Ní Ghallchóir]], Roisin Harkin and Raymond Maxwell introduce viewers to Ireland's second national television channel. The [[Amhrán na bhFiann|National Anthem]] followed.
* 20.05 – The President of Ireland, [[Patrick Hillery]] introduces the new service.
* 20.06 – ''First Night'', a gala performance aired live from the Cork Opera House in Cork City, hosted by Mike Murphy. Guest stars included [[The Chieftains]], [[Gemma Craven]], [[Val Doonican]], The George May Dancers, The Irish Ballet Company, The Montford Singers, [[John O'Connor (musician)|John O'Connor]], [[Maureen Potter]], [[Colm Wilkinson|Colm C.T. Wilkinson]] and [[Lena Zavaroni|Lena Zavoroni]]. There were specially recorded inserts from British and American stars such as [[Bruce Forsyth]], [[Ronnie Barker]], [[Liberace]], [[Sammy Davis Jr.|Sammy Davis Jr]], [[Michael Parkinson]], [[Andy Williams]], [[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]] and [[Eamonn Andrews]].
* 21.30 – The first movie to be shown on RTÉ 2, ''[[Bullitt]]'', starring [[Steve McQueen]], [[Robert Vaughn|Robert Vaughan]] and [[Jacqueline Bisset]].
* 23.30 – ''Newsnight'', a late night summary of the national and international news headlines. 
* 23.35 – The channel closed down, ending the first night on air.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listings |url=https://thetvroom.com/ark/listings/listing-3332.html |website=thetvroom.com}}</ref>

===RTÉ 2 (1978–1988)===
Up to 60% of the Republic of Ireland could receive UK channels via spillover or via cable. Cable in the republic was only permitted in areas of spillover up to the mid-1980s, to provide viewers with better reception of channels they could already receive over the air. Hence RTÉ 2 was aimed at those that did not have the UK channels. To this end one of their main remits was the re-broadcasting of UK programming to Irish audiences, that would not otherwise be seen on RTÉ 1.

The official opening on RTE 2 outlined the promised content of the new channel, with presenter Róisín Harkin stating: "from ten to seven [i.e. 6:50 p.m.] each weekday, three o'clock on Saturdays and six o'clock on Sundays, RTÉ 2 will be bringing you the best of BBC, ITV and other first rate programming."<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--N/A--> |date={{date|2013-11-01}} |title=RTÉ 2 Opening Night (1978) |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2013/1031/483860-rt-2-launches-1978/ |access-date={{date|2024-07-18}} |website=[[RTÉ Archives]] |publisher=[[RTÉ]]}}</ref> In the first two years of the channel, it would normally open at 6pm and close down for the night at 11.30pm.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6RFrkSKyw |title=Ireland gets a second TV channel {{!}} 2 November 1978 |date=2 November 2012 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

British soap drama ''[[Coronation Street]]'' aired on the channel simultaneously with ITV's broadcasts of the programme (this continued until 1992 when it was put on RTÉ 1 due to the [[Olympic Games]] coverage). It broadcast much live programming from the [[BBC]] and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] including ''[[Top of the Pops]]''. However, the channel in its initial format was not considered a success. It was on air from 18:00 until 23:30 during the week, with an earlier start around 15:30 at weekends.

However, by 1987, RTÉ 2 rebranded as part of RTÉ's 25th celebrations relaunched with a new corporate logo and TV idents, this would be the first time that the RTÉ corporate logo would be seen on RTÉ2. While the rebrand was a small success for the channel it was felt that RTÉ 2 and RTÉ 1 needed more specific audiences. RTÉ 2 at this stage was becoming more and more associated with youth orientated programming and sports programming (especially as UK and other international channels were becoming more and more available across the country). In 1988, the majority of sporting and children's programming was moved to Network 2, the new name for RTÉ 2.

===Network 2 (1988–1997)===
{{Redirect|Network 2|the early partial Unix distribution|Net/2}}
In September 1988, RTÉ 2 was given a major revamp and became Network Two.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=McCaughren |first=Samantha |date=20 July 2004 |title=Fall in ratings sparks rush to rebrand RTE Network 2 |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/fall-in-ratings-sparks-rush-to-rebrand-rte-network-2/25906911.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref> In addition to the launch of a new vivid red, blue, and green logo, the channel now came on air at 14:30. ''[[The Den (Ireland)|The Den]]'' was moved to the channel, along with most youth and children's programming. ''[[Jo Maxi]]'' was launched as the youth strand. ''Sports Stadium'' took up the entire Saturday afternoon schedule, and all sports programming was aired on the channel, along with [[Irish language]] programming. A late night news bulletin, ''[[RTÉ News on Two|Network News]]'', was followed by the controversial but highly successful chat show / soap opera ''[[Nighthawks (TV series)|Nighthawks]]'' presented by [[Shay Healy]], and produced by David Blake-Knox.

This relaunch was a big success, and Network Two remained stable until the mid-1990s. A new logo – referring to the channel as RTÉ Network 2 (though the "RTÉ" part was not referred to by announcers) – was launched with the new RTÉ logo in 1995. By this time, RTÉ Network 2 broadcast from mid-morning onwards, with educational programmes during the day. Also during this era, the channel experimented with late night broadcasts at weekends, under ''[[The End (Irish TV programme)|The End]]'' brand, anchored by [[Barry Murphy (comedian)|Barry Murphy]] and [[Sean Moncrieff]]. Broadcast hours were extended to 03:00 every day with a new service called The Night Shift.

=== N2 (1997–2004) ===
[[Image:Network 2 (Ireland) 1997 – 2004 logo.svg|thumb|The N2 logo]]
There was another major revamp in November 1997, and the channel was visually rebranded as "N2", though announcers continued to refer to "Network 2".<ref name=":0" /> N2 brought about perhaps as big a change as the original relaunch, RTÉ branding was dropped from the station almost completely, with home produced programmes now being referred to as "N2 Productions" (foreign imports were "N2 Presentations"). A futuristic logo along with a series of unusual graphical [[television ident|idents]] were developed. In-vision announcing returned. More importantly, the channel's line-up was completely refreshed. The late night schedule was completely revamped, with the launch of ''News 2''—a tailored bulletin for young people—followed by a talk show, ''[[Later On 2]]''. Monday nights became comedy nights, with the launch of home-produced comedy such as ''[[Don't Feed The Gondolas]]''. Elsewhere theme nights became a regular fixture, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays. ''The Den'' was now broadcast all day until 18:00 and was renamed ''Den 2''.

RTE 1 and N2 had separate Weather forecasts (November 1997- January 13, 2002). On Monday January 14, RTE 1 and N2 weather forecasts were remerged. 

Not all the changes were universally welcomed, with the "N2" era, RTÉ cancelled its long-running Saturday sports programme, ''[[Sports Stadium]]'' in 1997. 

Many of the innovations of the N2 era had faded out by 2003: Simpler creations replaced the idents and the in-vision continuity was scrapped again. ''[[Later On 2]]'' had more-or-less ended (one of the strands later continued as ''[[The View (Irish TV programme)|The View]]'' on [[RTÉ One]]). In September 2003, News 2 reverted to the regular [[RTÉ News]] format (as ''[[RTÉ News on Two]]'').

From September 2003, continuity announcers and trailers began to refer to the channel by the fuller title of "RTÉ Network Two", in line with a new RTÉ initiative to promote the corporate branding. The main channel [[television ident|idents]] never changed and said merely "N2" (although a newly introduced on-screen [[Digital On-screen Graphics|DOG]] said "RTÉ N2".) and finally in 2004 Network 2 was relaunched as RTÉ Two, in line with its sister channel RTÉ One.

===RTÉ Two (2004–2014)===
RTÉ decided the channel needed another revamp to keep it fresh. The channel's name reverted to RTÉ Two on the morning of 2 October 2004, with a themed evening of programmes called "Farewell Network 2" beginning at 20:00, featuring [[Podge and Rodge]]. The new logo is similar in style to the current [[RTÉ One]] logo. The new branding is designed to promote the Irishness of the station, green is the dominant colour. New strands were developed. In particular, the number of Irish made programmes has increased, though some of this is made up of a new strand of early evening repeats. The idents from this time were based on a Green Room theme.

The latest change has been a complete rebrand and relaunch of ''[[The Den (Ireland)|The Den]]'', on Saturday 17 September 2005, with the ''id Two'' strand becoming ''TTV'' on the following Monday. In September 2009, ''TTV'' relaunched as ''Two Tube''.

RTÉ Two got a new look on 17 September 2009. The new idents were created by RTÉ Graphic Design.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 July 2009 |title=Introduction: RTÉ Two's New Look |url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/ident_rtetwo.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092436/http://www.rte.ie/tv/ident_rtetwo.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |work=RTÉ News}}</ref> Programme cutbacks saw the end of 24-hour broadcasting on the channel, with [[Euronews]] filling the down-time. Teleshopping was also introduced for the first time.

Continuing with the corporate branding of RTÉ radio and Television stations RTÉ Two's iconic children's brand ''The Den'' ended on 20 September 2010. ''The Den'' was replaced by [[TRTÉ]], while ''Den Tots'' was replaced by [[RTÉjr]]; this was due mainly to the onset of digital TV on which RTÉjr is available as a separate channel. ''Two Tube'' remains as the teenage block of programming.

===RTÉ2 (2014–2017)===
From 22 September 2014 RTÉ Two became RTÉ2 and presented a new schedule of programming.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 September 2014 |title=Watch! RTÉ2 launches new season |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2014/0911/642985-watch-rt2-launches-new-season/ |via=rte.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Harrison |first=Bernice |date=11 September 2014 |title='Connected' and 'Drunk': RTÉ Two looks to become 'Irish voice' aimed at under-35s |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/connected-and-drunk-rt%C3%A9-two-looks-to-become-irish-voice-aimed-at-under-35s-1.1924001 |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 August 2021 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> The channel established itself as the "voice for the under 35s"<ref name="tvmediasales.rte.ie">{{Cite web |title=RTÉ2 gets real in exciting new line-up |url=http://tvmediasales.rte.ie/rte-2-launch-new-season-content/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140911165900/http://tvmediasales.rte.ie/rte-2-launch-new-season-content/ |archive-date=11 September 2014 |access-date=2014-09-11}}</ref> where the new schedule continued with new seasons of ''[[New Girl]]'', ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'', ''[[Brooklyn Nine-Nine]]'', ''[[Masters of Sex]]'', ''[[Devious Maids]]'', ''[[The Americans]]'', ''[[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]'' and the final season run of ''[[Mad Men]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 September 2014 |title=RTE2 autumn schedule – Eoghan McDermott, Darren Kennedy, and Jennifer Maguire dominate with two shows each |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/rte2-autumn-schedule-eoghan-mcdermott-darren-kennedy-and-jennifer-maguire-dominate-with-two-shows-each-30580224.html |website=Irish Independent}}</ref> Brand new imported shows included ''[[Outlander (TV series)|Outlander]]'', ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'', ''[[Resurrection (American TV series)|Resurrection]]'', ''[[iZombie (TV series)|iZombie]]'' and ''[[CSI Cyber]]''. RTÉ2 confirmed it had secured broadcasting rights for two Danish drama series [[1864 (TV series)|1864]] and ''[[The Heavy Water War|The Saboteurs: The Heavy Water War]]'', both broadcasting in 2015. In terms of home-produced Irish programming RTÉ2 confirmed the return of ''[[Other Voices (Irish TV series)|Other Voices]]'' (Season 13), [[Maia Dunphy]]'s ''What Women Want'' (Season 2), ''[[Second Captains Live]]'', '''[[The Savage Eye (TV series)|The Savage Eye]]'' (final series), ''[[The Republic of Telly]]'', ''[[Damo & Ivor]]'', ''The Fear'' and the newly created youth orientated news service ''News Feed''. RTÉ2 also confirmed new Irish reality programmes including ''Holding Out for a Hero'', ''Connected'', ''Full Frontal'', ''Bressie's Teenage Kicks'', and ''Drunk and #Trending''.

RTÉ2 continued to focus on major sporting events and the channel will showcase Irish films in association with the [[Irish Film Board]].<ref name="tvmediasales.rte.ie" /> [[TRTÉ]] will play a major role in the daytime schedule on the channel. [[Two Tube]] will continue to air from 17:30 until 19:00. It is proposed by RTÉ to launch RTÉ2+1 in efforts to raise much needed revenue.

By 2015, RTÉ2 began to focus on imported programming from Denmark, Iceland and Germany. The channel increased its output of Irish themed reality series.

=== RTÉ2 (since 2018) ===
On 3 November 2018, RTÉ2 celebrated its 40th anniversary and began to offer vintage clips of shows from RTÉ2 on the RTÉ archives website.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2018 |title=RTÉ2 Celebrates 40th Anniversary |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/republicofirelandnews/2018/11/03/news/rte-2-celebrates-40-years-on-air-1475702/ |website=irishnews.com}}</ref>

Much of the innovation and local programming on RTÉ2 has been cut by RTÉ. Outside of sports programming RTÉ2 programming includes the Irish version of ''[[First Dates (Irish TV series)|First Dates]]'' and a DIY show called ''Home Rescue''. Some innovations remain such as ''[[Other Voices (Irish TV series)|Other Voices]]'' and highlights from the RTÉ [[Choice Music Prize]].

With children's content now starting at 08:15 in the morning with RTÉjr, following a simulcast of [[Euronews]], and finishing at 4:30.

===RTÉ2 HD===
{{advert|section|date=September 2018}}
[[File:Rte2hdlogo.png|thumb|RTÉ2 HD logo since 2014]]
The HD channel launched on [[Saorview]] on 27 May 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Television Channels and Services |url=http://www.saorview.ie/channels-services/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827181419/http://www.saorview.ie/channels-services/ |archive-date=27 August 2011 |access-date=30 August 2013 |publisher=Saorview}}</ref> The service broadcasts sports, documentaries, movies and American, Canadian, and Australian programming in a [[High-definition television|high-definition]] [[1080i]] format.

On 15 March 2012, RTÉ2 HD was added to [[Virgin Media Ireland|UPC Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2012 |title=UPC forges ahead with new content from RTÉ |url=http://www.upc.ie/pdf/rte.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108135004/http://www.upc.ie/pdf/rte.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2012 |access-date=15 March 2012 |publisher=UPC Ireland}}</ref>

RTÉ2 HD was added to [[Sky Ireland|Sky]] on 16 May 2012. RTÉ2 HD was due to launch on Sky on 14 May 2012, but was delayed by two days due to technical problems.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 May 2012 |title=RTÉ2 HD to launch on Sky Platform |url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0513/rte.html |publisher=RTÉ}}</ref> On 22 April 2024, RTÉ2 SD was shut down on Sky, marking the end of the [[Standard-definition television|standard-definition]] feed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2024 |title=Changes to the Sky TV Guide - April 2024 |url=https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/What-s-On/Changes-to-the-Sky-TV-Guide-April-2024/m-p/4600061}}</ref>

====Format====
* The channel [[simulcast]]s content from RTÉ2 SD and [[Video scaler|upscales]] SD content into HD.<ref name="DCENRPubConn2010">{{Cite web |title=PVT Consultation Document |url=http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/C13536EC-C703-4110-9A07-2A5DB4107DE3/0/PVTConsultationDocument.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721124921/http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/C13536EC-C703-4110-9A07-2A5DB4107DE3/0/PVTConsultationDocument.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 |access-date=7 December 2010 |publisher=Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Ireland) |page=8}}</ref> All other content on the channel is made available entirely in HD, this includes [[Gaelic Athletic Association]], [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]], [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]], [[Olympic Games]], [[Pro14]] sporting content, USA television series and movies.

===RTÉ2 +1===
[[File:RTE2plus1.jpg|thumb|RTÉ2 +1 logo since 2019]]
RTÉ2 +1 launched on 19 February 2019,<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/YZ288stELmM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200428123145/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ288stELmM&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |title=RTÉ 2+1 Launching 19th February On Saorview | date=18 February 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ288stELmM |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and it broadcasts daily from 19:00 until 02:00 Monday to Friday and 12:00 until 02:00 Saturday and Sunday. The channel launched only on [[Saorview]] and it will eventually roll out onto other platforms such as [[Sky Ireland]] and [[Virgin Media Ireland]].

The development of RTÉ2 +1 has been a long process however in May 2018, it was reported by [[The Irish Times]] that RTÉ have requested permission from the [[Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment|Department of Communications]] to launch RTÉ2 +1.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Slattery |first=Laura |title=RTÉ plans plus-one channel for RTÉ2 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/rt%C3%A9-plans-plus-one-channel-for-rt%C3%A92-1.3485996 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>

====Astra 2F (Sky)====
On 13 December 2018, RTÉ2 +1 began test broadcasts on [[Astra 2F]] under the label 5493 using frequency 11914 H 27500 5/6 DVB-S QPSK. Testing included showing Sky Sports channels and a previously aired weather forecast on repeat.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2018 |title=Channels testing on Sky |url=https://www.tvchannellists.com/index.php?title=Channels_testing_on_Sky&oldid=50594 |via=tvchannellists.com}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2021}}</ref> This frequency is the same used by RTÉ One SD, RTÉ One +1, RTÉ2 SD and others. Astra 2F is a satellite that Sky and Freesat (in the UK) use.

On 19 February 2019, RTÉ2 +1 launched on Saorsat (and Saorview) only. From 19 February to 20 July 2019, RTÉ2 +1 broadcast the same on Astra 2F as on Saorsat and Saorview. On 20 July 2019, RTÉ2 +1 stopped broadcasting on Astra 2F showing a "No signal" message.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 July 2019 |title=Channels testing on Sky |url=https://www.tvchannellists.com/index.php?title=Channels_testing_on_Sky&oldid=56187 |via=tvchannellists.com}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2021}}</ref>

On 24 February 2021, RTÉ2 +1 reappeared on Astra 2F on the same frequency as before using the same label (5493).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Additional and defunct channels on Sky (UK & Ireland) |url=https://www.tvchannellists.com/index.php?title=Additional_and_defunct_channels_on_Sky_(UK_%26_Ireland)&oldid=84461 |via=tvchannellists.com}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2021}}</ref>

On Wednesday 10 March 2021, RTÉ2 +1 was added to Sky on channel 202.<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of line-up changes on Sky (UK and Ireland) in 2021 |url=https://www.tvchannellists.com/w/List_of_line-up_changes_on_Sky_(UK_and_Ireland)_in_2021#March |access-date=2021-03-05 |via=tvchannellists.com}}</ref>

==Budget==
The following figures were issued by RTÉ as part of their annual reports in 2008<ref>{{Cite news |title=Annual Report 2008 |url=http://www.rte.ie/about/pdfs/annual_report_2008_eng.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508055715/https://www.rte.ie/about/pdfs/annual_report_2008_eng.pdf |archive-date=8 May 2010 |work=RTÉ News}}</ref> and 2012:<ref>{{Cite news |title=Annual Report & Group Financial Statements 2012 |url=http://static.rasset.ie/documents/about/2012-english-annual-report-for-the-web.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205122955/https://static.rasset.ie/documents/about/2012-english-annual-report-for-the-web.pdf |archive-date=5 December 2013 |work=RTÉ News}}</ref>

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="width:50%; border:1px solid #aaa;"
|+Income
|-
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|Income type
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|2008
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|2012

|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
||''Licence fee''
||€49,126,000
||€53,456,000
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
|| ''Commercial income''
||€48,791,000
||€30,007,000
|- align=center
||''Total income''
||€97,917,000
||€83,463,000
|}

Total costs 
{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="width:50%; border:1px solid #aaa;"
|-
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|Cost type
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|2008
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|2012

|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
||''Network and other related costs''
||€17,776,000
||€14,193,000
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
|| ''Sales costs''
||€2,271,000
||not given
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
|| ''Acquired programming''
||€11,172,000
||€11,116,000
|- align=center
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
|| ''Irish productions''
||€88,673,000
||€66,004,000
|- align=center
||''Total costs''
||€119,892,000
||€91,313,000
|}

Profit and loss

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="width:50%; border:1px solid #aaa;"
|-
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|2008
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|2012
|- align=center
||(€21,975,000)
||(€7,850,000)
|}

Breakdown of Irish productions
{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="width:50%; border:1px solid #aaa;"
|-
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|Production house
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|2008
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|2012

|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
||''RTÉ''
||€70,226,000
||€56,626,000
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
|| ''Independent producers''
||€18,447,000
||€9,378,000
|- align=center
||''Total''
||€88,673,000
||€66,004,000
|}

The table below outlines RTÉ2's total in-house and commissioned programming by genre in 2008 and 2012:

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="width:50%; border:1px solid #aaa;"
|-
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|Genre
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|2008
!  style="width:33%; background:silver;"|2012

|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
||''Factual''
||€2,082,000
||€2,332,000
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
|| ''[[Drama]]''
||€4,739,000
||€102,000
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
||''[[Entertainment]]''
||€8,698,000
||€7,033,000
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
||''[[Music]]''
||€1,000,000
||€1,375,000
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
||''[[News]], current affairs and [[weather]]''
||€3,024,000
||€2,294,000
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
||''[[Sport]]''
||€53,820,000
||€46,461,000
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#a4f49e;"
||''Young people's programming''
||€14,935,000
||€7,527,000
|- align=center
||''Total''
||€88,673,000
||€66,004,000
|}

==Programming==
{{See also|List of programmes broadcast by RTÉ2|l1=List of programmes broadcast by RTÉ2}}

RTÉ2 provides a broad range of programming which is mainly targeted towards young people up to 45-year-olds. Between 08:00 to 16:30 kids and teens programming is served by RTÉjr (separate to the channel) and the teenage strands [[TRTÉ]] and [[Two Tube]]. From 19:00 onwards, RTÉ2 provides a wide range of programming from Irish produced content, sports, comedy, dramas, films and acquisitions from North America, Australia, the UK and Central Europe. RTÉ2 has a strong tradition of broadcasting many US TV shows prior to other European broadcasters, though this has slightly changed in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 May 2004 |title=Network 2 must find new Friends |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/05/30/story762232538.asp# |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802151149/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/05/30/story762232538.asp |archive-date=2 August 2009 |access-date=28 April 2009 |website=Sunday Business Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Steven |date=5 January 2009 |title=Channel 6 rebranded by owner TV3 as 3e |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/channel-6-rebranded-by-owner-tv3-as-3e-1.1232107 |access-date=13 October 2024 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>

Films are also regularly aired on the channel especially Irish-European cinema and International cinema. Until September 2014, RTÉ2 had stands such as ''Two Wild'' (nature documentaries), ''Two Extreme'' (extreme sports/adventure documentaries), and ''RTÉ Sport on Two'', these strands were axed in 2014 but the strands contents play an important role in the current schedule.

===RTÉ 2 Controller===
Dick Hill was RTÉ 2's first controller<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Browne |first=Vincent |date=1 June 1978 |title=RTE 2 ...promises, promises |url=https://magill.ie/archive/rte-2-promises-promises |access-date=13 October 2024 |website=magill.ie}}</ref> until 1994.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024|reason=Source needed for when he stopped}}

During the time of the 1997 rebrand of the channel as N2 they had placed the Head of Schedule as "controller" of the channel. Up until then, the channel was run side by side RTÉ One under RTÉ Television.  In October 1988 RTÉ 2 was repositioned as Network 2,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014 |title=RTÉ 2, Network 2, RTÉ Two And RTÉ 2 Again |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2014/0924/645888-rte-2-network-two-rte-two-is-now-rte-2/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=RTÉ Archives}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> with a full relaunch of the channel as 'N2' in November 1997.<ref name=":0" />

Andrew Fitzpatrick was poached to take control of RTÉ scheduling from TV3; however, N2 basically reverted to being part of the overall RTÉ Television structure.

With no dedicated channel controller until then, in May 2011 it was announced by RTÉ that Eddie Doyle had been given the position of [[commissioning editor]] at RTÉ Two. Eddie Doyle was RTÉ Commission Editor of Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2011 |title=Eddie Doyle is New Commission Editor for RTÉ Two |url=http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4283909&tpl=archnews&force=1 |access-date=25 May 2011 |publisher=IFTN.ie}}</ref>

In May 2013 RTÉ announced Bill Malone as RTÉ Two's controller.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RTÉ Announces Appointment of Channel Controllers for RTÉ One and RTÉ Two &#124; RTÉ Presspack |url=https://presspack.rte.ie/2013/03/15/rte-announces-appointment-of-channel-controllers-for-rte-one-and-rte-two/ |website=presspack.rte.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Barry |first=Aoife |date=15 March 2013 |title=New controllers appointed to RTÉ One and RTÉ Two |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/rte-controllers-834189-Mar2013/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=The Journal}}</ref> Eddie Doyle became Head of Comedy, Talent Development and Music at RTÉ.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rabbitte |first=Eimear |date=21 June 2013 |title=RTE hopes to raise a laugh with new comedy chief |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/rte-hopes-to-raise-a-laugh-with-new-comedy-chief/29362768.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref>

In July 2016 Bill Malone moved to rival channel TV3 (now Virgin Media Television) as Head of Programming.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Slattery |first=Laura |date=21 July 2016 |title=TV3 poaches RTÉ's Bill Malone as director of programming |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/tv3-poaches-rt%C3%A9-s-bill-malone-as-director-of-programming-1.2729574?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fbusiness%2Fmedia-and-marketing%2Ftv3-poaches-rt%25C3%25A9-s-bill-malone-as-director-of-programming-1.2729574 |access-date=22 July 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> Channel Control at RTÉ One, Adrian Lynch, took over the role at RTÉ2 and eventual became Director of Channels and Marketing at the broadcaster in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Slattery |first=Laura |date=28 August 2017 |title=RTÉ appoints Adrian Lynch and Frances Abeton to executive board |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/rt%C3%A9-appoints-adrian-lynch-and-frances-abeton-to-executive-board-1.3200883 |access-date=22 July 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>

===Imported programming===

====1978–1988====
RTÉ 2 was original set up to provide Irish viewers with retransmission of BBC and ITV programming. In 1978 it introduced a simulcast of many British programmes including ''[[Top of the Pops]]''. Other UK shows included ''[[Coronation Street]]'' (which began simulcasting from 1983), ''[[Porridge (1974 TV series)|Porridge]]'', ''[[Mastermind (TV series)|Mastermind]]'', ''[[Never the Twain]]'', ''[[Treasure Hunt (British game show)|Treasure Hunt]]'' and ''[[Wogan]]'' and American shows such as ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]'', ''[[Tales of the Unexpected (TV series)|Tales of the Unexpected]]'', ''[[My Friend Rabbit]]'', ''[[Still Crazy Like a Fox|Crazy Like a Fox]]'' and ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]''. They also broadcast the Australian soap opera ''[[A Country Practice]]''. In 1988 RTÉ did a major revamp of the service, focusing more on Sports, Children's TV, Irish Programming as RTÉ 2 was still behind both [[UTV (TV channel)|UTV]] and [[BBC One Northern Ireland|BBC One NI]] in the ratings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=The TV Room |title=RTÉ Two TV Listings |url=http://tvlistings.thetvroomplus.com/?id=6:ca |access-date=22 April 2010 |page=12}}</ref>

====1988–1993====
As Network 2 the service still focused strongly on imported programming, RTÉ would now look to have first runs of US programming before other European networks. In the early years Network 2 broadcast US sit-coms Monday to Friday at 21:00 such as ''[[The Golden Girls]]'', ''[[Cheers]]'', ''[[The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd]]'', ''[[Check it Out! (Canadian TV series)|Check It Out]]'' and ''[[Murphy Brown]]''. They also broadcast ''[[Knots Landing]]'' and  ''[[Falcon Crest]]''. They also began broadcasting the long running Australian soap opera ''[[Home and Away]]'', while ''[[A Country Practice]]'' moved to RTÉ One. In 1992 ''Coronation Street'' moved to RTÉ One. Other US shows at this time included ''[[Head of the Class]]'', ''[[Ferris Bueller]]'' and ''[[Eerie Indiana]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=The TV Room |title=RTÉ Network Two TV Listings |url=http://tvlistings.thetvroomplus.com/?id=6:ca |access-date=22 April 2010 |page=4}}</ref>

====1993–1997====
During the 1990s Network 2 began to expand it schedule to cover morning and late night television. Imports still played a major part of the schedule with first showings of popular 1990s TV such as ''[[Friends]]'', ''[[The X-Files]]'', ''[[Nowhere Man (American TV series)|Nowhere Man]]'', ''[[My So-Called Life]]'', but also Late Night and Daytime repeats of ''[[Yes Minister]]'', ''[[The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin]]'', ''[[Cheers]]'', ''[[The Beverly Hillbillies]]'', ''[[Peyton Place (TV series)|Peyton Place]]'', ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'', ''[[MacGyver (1985 TV series)|MacGyver]]'' and also the morning strand of ''[[Open University]]''. At 18:00 they began showing many US teen sitcoms such as ''[[California Dreams]]'', ''[[Saved by the Bell]]'' and ''[[Harry and the Hendersons]]'', and ''[[The Fashion Show (American TV series)|The Fashion Show]]''.

====1997–2004====
During the late 1990s the schedules began to increase in size again. All of the daytime repeat programmes were replaced by Children's television while Late Night TV was extended until 2&nbsp;am each morning with shows like, ''[[Profiler (TV series)|Profiler]]'', ''[[Millennium (TV series)|Millennium]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' (only airing the first season), ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' and some Australian serials including ''[[Water Rats (TV series)|Water Rats]]'' and ''[[Murder Call]]''. In 2001 they began broadcasting the Australian soap ''[[Neighbours]]''. Popular prime time US programmes included  ''[[Friends]]'', ''[[The Parkers]]'', ''[[Ally McBeal]]'', ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'', ''[[Dawson's Creek]]'', ''[[Smallville]]'', ''[[Jessie (2011 TV series)|Jessie]]'', ''[[Frasier]]'' and ''[[Boston Public]]''. In 2000 Network 2 broadcast all episodes of the cult favourite ''[[Freaks and Geeks]]'' and finished the series before [[NBC]] did in the US. During this time they also began airing ''[[The Simpsons]]'' (also airing on [[Sky1]]) which had not been seen on the channel since ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'' in the late 1980s.

====2004–2013====
Renamed in 2004 as RTÉ Two, the channel still had a heavy emphasis on imported programming. Its late night schedule contained imports including ''[[Rules of Engagement (TV series)|Rules of Engagement]],'' ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'', ''[[Rescue Me (American TV series)|Rescue Me]]'' and ''[[Smallville]]''. During this time, the channel also shown ''[[Cougar Town]]'', ''[[Flash Forward]]'', ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'', ''[[The Good Wife (TV series)|The Good Wife]]'', ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|CSI]]'', ''[[Criminal Minds]]'', ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'', ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'', ''[[Sons of Anarchy]]'', ''[[Life with Boys]]'' and ''[[Mr. Young]]''.

RTÉ2 also airs American programmes such as ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[90210 (TV series)|90210]]'', ''[[Revenge (TV series)|Revenge]]'', ''[[Law & Order]]'', ''[[Criminal Minds]]'', ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', ''[[Young Sheldon]]'', ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'', ''[[Worst Week]]'' and ''[[Private Practice (TV series)|Private Practice]]''. Australian soaps ''[[Neighbours]]'' and ''[[Home and Away]]'' air along with Irish programmes such as ''[[Katherine Lynch's Wonderwomen]]'', ''[[The Podge and Rodge Show]]''. Other well known US shows on RTÉ2 include ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'', ''[[Ugly Betty]]'', ''[[Prison Break]]'', ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'', ''[[CSI: Miami]]'', ''[[CSI: NY]]'', ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'', ''[[The Americans]]'', ''[[New Girl]]'' and ''[[2 Broke Girls]]''. It also airs ''[[Smallville]]'', ''[[Sons of Anarchy]]'', ''[[Eli Stone]]'', ''[[Mr. Sunshine (2011 TV series)|Mr. Sunshine]]'' after midnight on weekends, and British shows such as ''[[Shameless (British TV series)|Shameless]]'' and ''[[The Thick of It]]''.

It has also aired Seasons 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' and also Season 2 of ''[[Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series)|Hawaii Five-0]]''. It is currently showing NCIS Season 10 on Saturdays at midnight and Hawaii Five-0 Season 3 on Sunday nights. ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]'', ''[[Under the Dome (TV series)|Under The Dome]]'' and ''[[Person of Interest (TV series)|Person of Interest]]'' are other US shows added to the channel's schedule.

It continued to air the critically acclaimed music series ''[[Other Voices (Irish TV series)|Other Voices]]'' for an eleventh season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fitzgerald |first=Eric |date=13 May 2013 |title=Limerick's Bleeding Heart Pigeons on Other Voices |url=https://www.limerickpost.ie/2013/05/13/limericks-bleeding-heart-pigeons-on-other-voices/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Limerick Post}}</ref>

====2014–2016====

In 2014, RTÉ Two began to focus more on Irish music programming for the first time in its history the annual ''[[Choice Music Prize]]'' was aired on television, previously only available on radio.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 February 2014 |title=Watch live stream of Choice Music Prize |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2014/0227/507026-watch-live-stream-of-choice-music-prize/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=RTÉ}}</ref> In August 2014, RTÉ Two televised over 8 hours of ''[[Electric Picnic]]'' coverage from [[Stradbally]], [[County Laois]], this was the first time that the channel aired the annual music festival.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Laura |date=2 September 2014 |title=104,000 viewers tune in to RTE to watch Electric Picnic, more than double the crowd at Stradbally |url=https://www.independent.ie/ca/entertainment/television/tv-news/104000-viewers-tune-in-to-rte-to-watch-electric-picnic-more-than-double-the-crowd-at-stradbally-30554884.html |access-date=3 April 2019 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref> On 2 September 2014, RTÉ began to air new comedy series ''[[Mom (TV series)|Mom]]'' as part of their Autumn schedule. Additional shows to begin airing in 2014 include ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 June 2014 |title=Watch! Look into the eyes of Gotham's villains |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2014/0619/624952-watch-look-into-the-eyes-of-gothams-villains/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=RTÉ}}</ref> A new fashion and entertainment series produced in-house by RTÉ called ''#Trending'' will be hosted by [[Darren Kennedy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=RTÉ announces #Trending, its new fashion show for autum |url=https://presspack.rte.ie/2014/08/26/rte-announces-trending-its-new-fashion-show-for-autumn/ |website=RTÉ Press Centre}}</ref>

''[[Vikings (2013 TV series)|Vikings]]'' premiered on the channel in early January 2014,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelleher |first=Lynne |date=30 January 2014 |title=Bjorn to be a Viking: Meath teen in dramatic makeover for hit TV series |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20256988.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Irish Examiner}}</ref> and series 2 aired from October 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |year=2014 |title=RTE2 launches Autumn schedule and a whole new identity.... yep. |url=https://entertainment.ie/tv/tv-news/rte2-launches-autumn-schedule-and-a-whole-new-identity-yep-217949/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Entertainment.ie}}</ref> In 2015, RTÉ2 returned to broadcasting non-English speaking content; these included Nordic dramas ''[[The Heavy Water War|The Saboteurs]]'' and ''[[1864 (TV series)|1864]]''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=9 June 2015 |title=RTE summer schedule - homegrown docs, US and Scandi-dramas, and the return of Winning Streak |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/rte-summer-schedule-homegrown-docs-us-and-scandi-dramas-and-the-return-of-winning-streak/31289036.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=RTÉ}}</ref> American series ''[[American Odyssey]]'' and [[Selfie (TV series)|Selfie]] were also added to the summer 2015 line-up.<ref name=":1" /> New shows included ''[[CSI Cyber]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Arlene |date=8 January 2015 |title=Meet the Irish woman who inspired the new CSI show |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20305711.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Irish Examiner}}</ref> Season 3 of ''[[The Americans]]'' was added to the summer schedule also.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 July 2015 |title=Spy drama The Americans returns for season 3 |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2015/0706/712985-spy-drama-the-americans-returns-for-season-3/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=RTÉ}}</ref> Other non-English speaking programming were added to the RTÉ2 schedule in late 2015, including the critically acclaimed German drama ''[[Deutschland 83]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boland |first=John |date=6 December 2015 |title=East meets west in German spy drama |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/east-meets-west-in-german-spy-drama/34257282.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref>

====2016–present====
The summer 2016 schedule was largely made up of sports programming such as [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]], [[Euro 2016]] and [[Summer Olympics 2016]].

In early 2016, the broadcaster confirmed it would air the mini-series ''[[The X-Files (season 10)|The X-Files]]'', which began airing on 26 January.<ref name="rte.ie">{{Cite news |date=7 September 2016 |title=Dramas to watch on Irish TV in 2016 |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2016/0107/758318-the-good-wife-returns-and-other-new-year-tv-news/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=RTÉ}}</ref> ''[[IZombie (TV series)|iZombie]]'' was another addition to their schedule, along with Icelandic crime drama ''[[Trapped (Icelandic TV series)|Trapped]]''.<ref name="rte.ie" /> In Spring 2016, the channel debuted [[First Dates (Ireland)|First Dates Ireland]] to positive reception.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGrath |first=Meadhbh |date=21 April 2016 |title=Six reasons to watch First Dates Ireland tonight (from someone who's seen the first episode) |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/six-reasons-to-watch-first-dates-ireland-tonight-from-someone-whos-seen-the-first-episode/34647949.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Notaro |first=Vicki |date=26 May 2016 |title=Chats about tea, Taytos and being a garda - First Dates Ireland finale was probably the most Irish ever |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/chats-about-tea-taytos-and-being-a-garda-first-dates-ireland-finale-was-probably-the-most-irish-ever/34750525.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref>

==Irish-produced programming==

===Reality TV===
The 2000s like many other broadcasters RTÉ2 have had several reality based TV shows.

In 2003, Network 2 set out to find their news TV presenter in a reality show called ''[[The Selection Box]]''; the eventual winner was [[Caroline Morahan]].

RTÉ2 also produced two series of the employment reality show ''No Experience Required'', three prospective candidates are evaluated over the course of a week for a vacant position in a top company, the show follows them through interview stages and tasks set out by their prospective employees.<ref>{{Cite news |title=No Experience Required Series 2 |url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/noexperiencerequired/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324225849/https://www.rte.ie/tv/noexperiencerequired/ |archive-date=24 March 2017 |work=RTÉ News}}</ref>

In 2008, RTÉ Two broadcast ''[[Hollywood Trials]]''. It follow a group of young actors travelling to make it big in LA. The actors where selected by Hollywood acting guru [[Margie Haber]]. Those selected to travel with Margie to LA included [[Chris Newman (actor)|Chris Newman]] from the RTÉ Two drama ''Love is the Drug'', [[George McMahon (actor)|George McMahon]] from RTÉ One soap opera ''[[Fair City]]'' and [[Michael Graham (singer)|Michael Graham]] of [[Boyzone]] fame.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Original Cast |url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/hollywoodtrials/cast.html |work=RTÉ News}}</ref>

''Hollywood Trials'' was then followed by ''[[The Model Scouts|The Model Agent]]''. The model agent in question was Fiona Ellis and with help of [[Erin O'Connor]] as the girls mentor she picked Carrie-Anne Burton for a contract with [[Independent Models]], one of the world's leading modelling agencies and a cover for [[Image magazine (Ireland)|Image magazine]], one of the Ireland's most high profile and respected fashion titles.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nolan |first=Lorna |date=9 April 2009 |title=The 12 beauties battling to be a supermodel |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/the-12-beauties-battling-to-be-a-supermodel/27907549.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref>

''Do the Right Thing'', another reality series, began in September 2010 and was presented by [[Lucy Kennedy]] and [[Baz Ashmawy]], in search of Ireland's ultimate [[Volunteering|volunteer]] and to win a year-long volunteering trip abroad.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rabbitte |first=Eimear |date=28 March 2014 |title=We fell in love on RTE ... now we're getting married |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/we-fell-in-love-on-rte-now-were-getting-married/30135013.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 September 2010 |title=Tensions rising in Do The Right Thing |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2010/0928/424840-dotherightthing/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=RTÉ}}</ref>

In 2011 ''[[Masterchef Ireland]]'' began airing on the channel.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 September 2011 |title=MasterChef Ireland |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2011/0909/432164-masterchefireland/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=RTÉ}}</ref>

RTÉ2 also ran spin-off serials to RTÉ One's reality shows, such as ''[[You're a Star]] Uncut'', ''[[Cabin Fever (TV series)|Cabin Fever]]'', and ''[[Treasure Island]] Uncovered''.

[[First Dates (Irish TV series)|First Dates Ireland]] began broadcasting in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 December 2016 |title=Irish First Dates stars set for international stardom as episodes broadcast on networks all over the world |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/irish-first-dates-stars-set-for-international-stardom-as-episodes-broadcast-on-networks-all-over-the-world/35303318.html |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref>

===Drama===
In the first two decades of RTÉ2, little original drama was produced for the channel; often RTÉ would just repeat their dramas on the channel such as ''[[Fair City]]'' and ''[[Glenroe]]''. RTÉ did place some emphasis on [[short film]] in the RTÉ series ''Short Cuts''. Short films remain on RTÉ2 most Monday nights at 11:30; these shorts are not just taken from RTÉ co-financed productions but also from independent producers around the world.

RTÉ2's most successful drama was a drama/comedy/chat show entitled ''[[Nighthawks (TV series)|Nighthawks]]'' presented by Shay Healy. This was produced as a [[pseudo-documentary]] about the behind the scenes of the television production, it featured many well known Irish comedians, however unlike the [[mockumentary]] ''[[The Larry Sanders Show]]'', ''Nighthawks'' featured real interviews and was created by David Blake Knox, who went on to be controller of Network 2 until 1998. Gerry Ryan had a similar format show called ''Gerry Ryan Tonight'' during the 1990s.

====2000–2008====

From 2000 to 2008, RTÉ were committed to providing new and original drama on RTÉ2 each Monday night each autumn. The dramas had mixed reviews but they included ''[[Paths to Freedom]]'' (2000), ''[[Bachelors Walk (TV series)|Bachelors Walk]]'' (2001–2003), ''The Big Bow Wow'' (2003), ''[[Pure Mule]]'' (2004), ''Love is the Drug'' (2004) and ''[[Prosperity (Irish TV series)|Prosperity]]'' (2007). ''[[Raw (TV series)|Raw]]'' was RTÉ2's last Monday night drama; it received mixed reviews but it reached on average 250,000 viewers each week against RTÉ One's ''[[Prime Time (Irish TV programme)|Prime Time Investigates]]'' and TV3's ''[[The Apprentice (Irish TV series)|The Apprentice]]''; Raw's second series ran on [[RTÉ One]]. Most of RTÉ2's drama output was aimed at a younger audience than that of RTÉ One's and it often contained bad language and sex scenes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Horan |first=Niamh |date=14 September 2008 |title=Raw's racy sex scenes failing to rattle viewers |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/raws-racy-sex-scenes-failing-to-rattle-viewers-1475229.html |access-date=11 May 2010 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Flanagan |first=Pat |date=20 January 2005 |title=STAY OUT OF MY CHURCH; Priest bans Love Is The Drug actors after RTE 'disgrace'. |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/STAY+OUT+OF+MY+CHURCH;+Priest+bans+Love+Is+The+Drug+actors+after+RTE...-a0127331056 |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=The Mirror |via=Thefreelibrary.com}}</ref>

RTÉ ended their RTÉ2 drama's in 2008 with the first series of ''Raw'', choosing to air its second series on RTÉ One. RTÉ are not currently looking for drama specifically for RTÉ2 which brings to an end a significant amount of work brought to the channel from RTÉ's drama department and independent producers. Many of the dramas of this era on RTÉ were seen as experimental but also highly modern and innovative.

===Comedy===
Monday night was comedy night on RTÉ2 from 1997 to 2006. Many US sitcoms were intermixed with live Irish comedy such as ''[[Don't Feed The Gondolas]] (DFTG)'', ''[[The Panel (Irish TV series)|The Panel]]'', ''[[The Podge and Rodge Show]]'', ''[[A Scare at Bedtime]] with Podge and Rodge'', ''@LastTV'', ''The Liffey Laughs'', ''[[The Blizzard of Odd]]'', ''[[The Byrne Ultimatum]]'' and ''[[This Is Nightlive|Night Live]]''.

===RTÉ Young Peoples===
{{See also|RTÉ Young People's Programmes}}

RTÉ Young People's department oversees programming for under-5s, 5- to 12-year-olds and teenage audiences. As part of RTÉ2's redevelopment in 1988 as Network 2, most of [[RTÉ]]'s young people's programming moved from RTÉ One to Network 2.

====Children's television====
''Dempsey's Den'' was hosted by [[Ian Dempsey|Ian]], [[Zig and Zag (puppets)|Zig and Zag]] and [[Zuppy]]. It moved to Network 2 from RTÉ One, and broadcasting for an extra hour from 15:00 to 18:00. Network 2 would start the day 14:30 with ''[[Bosco (TV series)|Bosco]]'' a pre-school television show. All children's television moved to Network 2 when it rebranded in 1988. When [[Ian Dempsey]] left Dempsey's Den the show was renamed ''[[The Den (TV programme)|The Den]]'', with a new presenter, [[Ray D'Arcy]]. D'Arcy presented the show from 1990 to 1997 when the strand began to expand it schedule into the early hours of the morning. From 1997 to 2010 ''The Den'' ran for 10 hours a day starting at 07:00 to 17:00 followed by a strand which was given various titles and targeted at a teenage audience. When RTÉ rebranded their children's strands in 2010, this effectively axed the country's longest-running children's TV show.

Saturday programming came from [[RTÉ Cork]] from the mid-1990s to the late-2000s, starting with ''The Swamp'' which took the place of classic Irish children's TV such as ''Pajo's Junkbox'', ''Scratch Saturday'' and ''[[Anything Goes (Irish TV series)|Anything Goes]]'' (which broadcast on RTÉ One). ''Satitude'' was RTÉ Cork's main TV show for children and was broadcast on [[The Den (Ireland)|The Den]] on RTÉ2 on Saturday mornings. ''Satitude'' was cancelled in 2009.

Den Tots was The Den's pre-school strand. It has been replaced by RTÉjr; RTÉ do not advertise during these selected hours.

====Teenage television====

Shows for young people in the 1970s and 1980s included:

* ''[[MT-USA|MT USA]]'', a pop video music programming presented from New York by pioneering Irish radio DJ and television presenter [[Vincent Hanley]]
* ''Youthline'', a series which looked at new and upcoming artists such as [[U2]]

In the late 1980s, RTÉ began simulcasting ''[[The Beatbox]]'' with 2FM as a replacement for ''MT USA''. Presenters included Barry Lang, Electric Eddie (Doug Murray), Simon Young, Peter Collins, [[Ian Dempsey]]. It was replaced in 1995 with [[Dave Fanning]]'s ''[[2TV (TV programme)|2TV]]''. ''2TV'' spawned several spin offs: late night videos hosted by Jon Slattery, and RTÉ's only attempt at a morning show in 1999 with Bianka Luykx.

In 1988, ''[[Jo Maxi]]'' appeared for the first time until 1993, a daily teen show airing at 18:00, which was later replaced by Echo Island and in the early 2000s by ''ID'', followed by ''ID2'', ''TTV'' and ''Two Tube''. Within the programming block, contained such shows as ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', ''[[Neighbours]]'' (repeated from RTÉ One), ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and ''[[Home and Away]]''. This block of programming finished in 2016.

Space Station Video's – Late 1985/1986 – music video show presented by people from the world of music, sport & entertainment, including Chris de Burgh & Phil Lynnot – Set on a space station – time on – unknown.

===News and current affairs===
{{See also|RTÉ News}}

Since January 2017 RTÉ2 provides no regular prime time news or current affairs programme. Children's news programme [[News2day]] remains part of their line up, however this programme only airs until the end of May, with it finishing up in Mid-March in 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

From 1978 to 2014, RTÉ2 provided late night news. The first such news programme was called ''NewsNight''.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/IbUG4WpUYUM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150708104427/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbUG4WpUYUM Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |title=RTE 2 NEWSNIGHT. 1988. | date=11 April 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbUG4WpUYUM |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The programme was a wide international news service which provided news stories from US and UK broadcasters the show also included a national news bulletin, the final late night news on the channel was called ''[[RTÉ News on Two]]''.

As part of the relaunch of RTÉ Two as Network 2 in 1988 the news was renamed ''Network News''.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Kq-sg5FhFLA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151221144207/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq-sg5FhFLA Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |title=NETWORK NEWS. 1992 | date=25 May 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq-sg5FhFLA |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The news was now similar in style to the newly launched ''Six One'' news and ''Nine News'' on RTÉ One.

In 1997, with the possibility of competition from a new local broadcaster Network 2 relaunch again known on screen as N2. Late night news was renamed ''News2'' and was hosted by [[Sharon Ní Bheoláin]] and [[Anthony Murnane]] and aimed at a much younger audience. Its content was customised for a younger audience, and presenters and journalists tend to use more informal language on the programme.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Uc2US--htRQ Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150710100128/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc2US--htRQ Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |title=RTÉ News 2 – 14 August 2001 | date=14 August 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc2US--htRQ |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2004 following another relaunch back to the name of back to RTÉ TWO, the programme was renamed ''[[RTÉ News on Two]].'' It was the final [[RTÉ]] late evening [[news programme]] to air on the channel. The program was broadcast Monday-Thursday. It did not have a regular time slot, but was usually broadcast at some point between 22:45 and 23:30. In October 2006 Eileen Whelan became the main presenter for the programme, following the departure of Anthony Murnane who was with the programme since 1997. John O'Driscoll was the programme Editor. When RTÉ launched their mid-breakfast programme, ''Morning Edition,'' on RTÉ One ''RTÉ News on Two was'' reduced to a 10-minute bulletin, until its demise in 2014.

In March 2007 until September 2014 it was available as [[streamed]] [[live television|live]] on the RTÉ [[website]]. On Fridays an extended late summary on [[RTÉ One]] was broadcast instead of RTÉ News on Two.

On 22 September 2014 it was dropped in favour of two bulletins at 18:55 and 19:55 called ''News Feed,'' it was cancelled in January 2017.

RTÉ2 no longer cover current affairs. Current affairs programming on the channel included ''Market Place'' a business news show and ''Later on 2.'' On Budget Day, RTÉ broadcast Opposition speeches on RTÉ2, while both RTÉ One and RTÉ News Now covered analysis of the budget. In 2018 due to an Irish Soccer match on the same night the Budget speeches moved to the RTÉ News channel, where they have since remained.

===Sport===
In 2019 it was announced that RTÉ planned to move all major sporting events to RTÉ One.

RTÉ2 broadcasts the majority of RTÉ's sports content. Since RTÉ own rights to several competitions any fixtures clashing with RTÉ2's schedule will often be provided on RTÉ One, however RTÉ One rarely provides sporting events on weekdays hence most [[soccer]] matches are shown on RTÉ2. These include [[UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions league]] and the [[League of Ireland]] and competitive Ireland National Football Team matches. [[George Hamilton (commentator)|George Hamilton]] is the station's main [[sports commentator]]. RTÉ2 also covers some smaller sports such as [[sport of athletics|athletics]], [[cycle sport|cycling]], [[extreme sports]], [[golf]], [[field hockey]], [[racquet sports]], [[scuba diving]], [[target shooting]], [[triathlon]], and [[water sports]]. RTÉ2 also covers the [[Olympic Games]].

RTÉ used to cover [[basketball]] which has moved to TG4, [[combat sports]], snooker, pool and used to cover the annual International Rules Series between Ireland and Australia; however, this has moved to TG4. RTÉ also used to cover Wimbledon and the Tour de France which is now on TG4.

RTÉ main sporting rights are UEFA Champions League Live & Highlights, Ireland International qualifying matches Live & Highlights, League of Ireland Live & Highlights, FIFA World Cup Live & Highlights, European Championship Live & Highlights, FAI Cup Live & Highlights, Women's FAI Cup Live & Highlights, 6 Nations Championship Live & Highlights, Ireland Autumn Internationals Live & Highlights, Women's 6 Nations Live & Highlights, Olympic Games, GAA Championship Live & Highlights, GAA League Highlights, Grand National, The Derby, Galway Races, Punchentown and the Cheltenham Festival which take commentary and coverage from Channel 4 with RTÉ's own presenter and analysis.

RTÉ2's sports coverage is its most popular programming strand, it often tops RTÉ2's most watch shows, significantly out doing other all other programming. RTÉ plan to provide most sporting events in High Definition on RTÉ2.<ref name="Clover">{{Cite web |last=Clover |first=Julian |date=15 July 2010 |title=RTÉ details new DTT proposals |url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/07/15/rte-details-new-dtt-proposals/ |access-date=15 July 2010 |publisher=Broadband TV News}}</ref>

====GAA====
RTÉ2 provides most of the [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] championship coverage for hurling and football, in 2008, RTÉ lost its monopoly on the championship games to TV3 for the first time in its 10-year history took an interest in the games having mainly bought in soccer and bought live rights for 10 of the matches for three seasons, this forced the Sunday Game Live off air some weekends with live coverage only on TV3 however TV3 lost these rights to Sky Sports for Summer 2014 therefore Sky have 14 live exclusive matches and share semi-finals and finals of the All Ireland Series with RTÉ, RTÉ continue to show the Sunday Game at 9:30&nbsp;pm on RTÉ2 throughout these month.

The main GAA show is called ''[[The Sunday Game]]'' it is a review of the weekend's action and it is presented by Michael Lyster and Des Cahill, ''The Sunday Game Live'' is broadcast earlier in the day. While ''The Saturday Game Live'' only provides live coverage of the games. [[Setanta Sports]] also holds rights for the GAA Championships however these are delayed rights as Setanta Sports is a pay television service. RTÉ2 also provides live coverage of the [[Camogie]] All-Ireland finals. RTÉ was one of three sponsors for the Hurling Championships.

====Soccer====
League of Ireland rights are owned by RTÉ and [[Eir Sport]]. They each take turns on showing live matches each Friday night. RTÉ also show [[FAI Cup]] games and the final in HD. Every Monday at 7&nbsp;pm, RTÉ produce a domestic soccer show called ''[[Monday Night Soccer]]'' (MNS) presented by Peter Collins which provides a roundup of the weekend of League of Ireland and international team news with regular guests, this was axed in 2014 and replaced by Soccer Republic which airs around 11&nbsp;pm every Monday night. RTÉ have held rights to the 15:00 [[Premier League]] match from the English league between 2004 and 2007, this was hosted by Bill O'Herlihy, Darragh Maloney, Michael Lyster and Des Cahill with commentary by George Hamilton, Peter Collins and Darragh Maloney, however these are now owned by Setanta Sports. In June 2013, RTÉ decided not to renew their highlights package for the Premier League as part of cost-cutting measures and to concentrate on national sporting interests and live sporting rights. This package has been since taken up by [[eir Sport]]. The currently have the rights to the [[UEFA Euro 2016|2016 UEFA European championship]] and [[2018 FIFA World Cup]]. They currently hold the rights to Wednesday nights soccer from the [[UEFA Champions League]] with both Setanta and TV3 all other hold rights and signed a new deal in December 2014 to continue broadcasting Champions League to 2018. They also broadcast games of the [[Republic of Ireland national football team]] competitive matches in qualifying for European Championships and World Cups and matches in these tournaments should they qualify, though the games were formerly broadcast by [[RTÉ One]]. After successfully broadcasting the men's tournament a year ago, in 2019 RTÉ also aired the [[2019 FIFA Women's World Cup|FIFA Women's World Cup]] with [[TG4]]. RTÉ broadcasts 23 of 52 matches in English and TG4 with 29 of 52 matches in Irish respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-16 |title=RTE and TG4 to show every match of FIFA Women's World Cup this summer |url=https://extra.ie/2019/04/16/sport/soccernews/womens-world-cup-tv |access-date=2019-06-26 |website=Extra.ie |language=en-GB}}</ref> The presenter for big matches such as the Champions League and Ireland matches is Darragh Maloney who is usually joined by Eamonn Dunphy, John Giles and Liam Brady while commentary comes from [[George Hamilton (broadcaster)|George Hamilton]] and [[Jim Beglin]] or [[Ray Houghton]].  Other pundits used by RTÉ are [[Kenny Cunningham]], [[Richard Sadlier|Richie Sadlier]] and [[Ronnie Whelan]]. Other commentators are Adrian Eames, Stephen Alkin and Peter Collins.

=====Men's and Women's World Cup coverage=====

RTÉ have had exclusive rights to the World Cup tournament; coverage is on RTÉ2 while rte.ie provides coverage of clashing games. Having been the only national service until the arrival of [[TG4]] and [[TV3 (Ireland)|TV3]] in the mid-1990s. In 1990 RTÉ made a major investment into the coverage of the tournament which coincided with Ireland's successful campaign under the management of [[Jack Charlton]]. The main panel of pundits appeared for the first time consisting of presenter [[Bill O'Herlihy]] and pundits [[Johnny Giles|John Giles]] and [[Eamon Dunphy]]. For their coverage of 1998 World Cup, RTÉ introduced the comedy ''[[Apres Match]]'', a mock of the panel of pundits. The ''Apres Match'' pundits first appeared on RTÉ's late night comedy show ''[[The End (Irish TV programme)|The End]]'' with [[Barry Murphy (comedian)|Barry Murphy]]. In 1998 the ''Apres Match'' pundits for the first time took control of the punditry of the third place play-off and in 2006 surprised themselves and audiences when [[Barry Murphy (comedian)|Barry Murphy]] playing the part of [[Liam Brady]] accurately guess the result – Germany 3 and Portugal 1.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2006 |title=Apres Match – 3rd Place Play-off (Are You An Avon Lady?) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjfbHf19Z5A |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104131546/http://www.youtube.com//watch?v=CjfbHf19Z5A |archive-date=2011-01-04 |access-date=13 July 2010 |publisher=RTÉ/YouTube}}</ref> In 2006 RTÉ also introduced [[Graeme Souness]] as a panellist. Other panellists include Ronnie Whelan, Richie Sadlier, [[Liam Brady]] and [[Denis Irwin]]. In 2010 [[Ossie Ardiles]], [[Dietmar Hamann|Dietmar (Didi) Hamann]] and [[Kevin Kilbane]] joined the team of panellists. [[Darragh Maloney]], [[Peter Collins (broadcaster)|Peter Collins]] and [[Con Murphy (RTÉ)|Con Murphy]] also present live matches and highlights of the games each night. The matches commentary is provided by George Hamilton, Ray Houghton, [[Gabriel Egan]], [[Trevor Steven]], [[Stephen Alkin]], [[Damian Richardson]], [[Adrian Eames]], [[Matt Holland]] and [[Jimmy Magee]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 June 2010 |title=RTÉ to broadcast over 200 hours of World Cup Coverage |url=http://www.rte.ie/about/pressreleases/2010/0601/sportworldcup01062010.html |access-date=13 July 2010 |publisher=RTÉ}}</ref>

2014 was Bill O'Herlihy's final World Cup for RTÉ and he has been replaced by Darragh Maloney who was number 2 during the World Cup.  Guest pundits used for the World Cup in 2014 were Ossie Ardilles, Didi Hamann, Neil Lennon, Brad Friedel, Paul Clement and Michael O'Neill alongside the existing RTÉ Team of Dunphy, Brady, Giles, Sadlier, Cunningham and Whelan. Commentators were George Hamilton, Stephen Alkin, Peter Collins and Adrian Eames while co-commentators were Ray Houghton, Jim Beglin, Trevor Steven and Brian Kerr.

====Rugby====
RTÉ currently holds the rights to the [[Six Nations Championship|RBS Six Nations Championship]] until 2017. They previously held the rights to all Ireland games in the tournament until 1998, when [[BSkyB]] had the rights to home England games until 2003. Since 2003 the tournament has been broadcast in its entirety live on RTÉ2, since 2010 RTÉ have been host broadcaster for Ireland home games. Ireland's Autumn International Series is also broadcast live on RTÉ, with the station holding the rights until 2017.

RTÉ had shown every [[Rugby World Cup]] until 2007 when Setanta Ireland secured the full rights to the 2007 and 2011 editions. With Ireland games at the tournament an A listed event, terrestrial rights went to TV3 for the 2007 edition, the 2011 tournament returned to RTÉ with the station broadcasting 11 games live, including the opening match, all Ireland's games and every game from the quarter finals on. RTÉ and [[Setanta Sports]] lost the rights to RWC in 2015 to [[TV3 (Ireland)|TV3]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=TV3 Group Wins Rights to Rugby World Cup 2015 – TV3 Xposé Entertainment |url=http://www.tv3.ie/entertainment_article.php?locID=1.803.813&article=131882 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419223558/http://www.tv3.ie/entertainment_article.php?locID=1.803.813&article=131882 |archive-date=2014-04-19}}</ref>

The [[Heineken Cup]] was broadcast live on RTÉ from its inception until 2006. In 2006, BSkyB secured the exclusive Irish broadcast rights, highlights remained on RTÉ until the 2011/12 season when TG4 obtained the highlights package in a three-year deal. The Rabo Direct Pro 12 has been broadcast on RTÉ since 2010, previously coverage was on TG4 and Setanta Ireland.  Ireland continues to cover Ireland Autumn Internationals signing a deal alongside Sky Sports from 2014 to 2018, Sky replaced BBC as the Nationwide broadcaster for Irish Autumn Internationals.

RTÉ presenter for Rugby is Tom McGurk who usually hosts alongside George Hook, Brent Pope and Conor O'Shea. Other presenters used by RTÉ are Joanne Cantwell and Daire O'Briain while other pundits include Shane Horgan, Ronan O'Gara, Alan Quinlan, Frankie Sheahan, Bernard Jackman, Scott Hastings and Ben Kay. RTÉ's main commentator is Ryle Nugent while George Hamilton and Hugh Cahill also work on the 6 Nations. Co-commentators include Donal Lenihan, Ralph Keyes and Tony Ward.

===Entertainment===

RTÉ2's entertainment content is generally aimed at a young audience to that of its sister channel RTÉ One. Since 1988 RTÉ2 has been successful with a number of entertainment shows aimed at the 15- to 35-year-old age group.

In the early years of RTÉ2 music shows on the channel consisted of ''Music TV USA'' every Friday night, which was then repeated on Sunday afternoons at 3&nbsp;pm. In the mid-1980s this was replaced by ''[[The Beatbox]]'' presented by Ian Dempsey. From 1995, Dave Fanning presented a near identical programme under the new name of ''[[2TV (TV programme)|2TV]]''. ''The Beatbox'' and ''2TV'' were both broadcast on [[2FM]] RTÉ's popular music radio station.

''[[No Disco]]'' was an alternative music show for late night TV from 1993 to 2003, it was hosted by initially by [[Donal Dineen]] who left to present radio on Radio Ireland in 1997. [[Uaneen Fitzsimons]] took his place on the show, seen as a major upcoming television talent. Fitzsimons died in a road accident in 2000. She had made a significant name for herself on the show, and her knowledge of the music industry, her love of the music and her respect for her guests was apparent throughout the show.

''When Under Ether'' is a music magazine show launched in 2009 and focuses on alternative, indie and electronica music.

In 1997, ''[[Later On 2]]'', aired on Tuesday nights, was the arts review show presented by [[John Kelly (Irish broadcaster)|John Kelly]] who later presented a similar show on RTÉ One called ''[[The View (Irish TV programme)|The View]]''.  Also in 1997, RTÉ introduced a set of comedy television shows on the newly re-launched N2 service. ''[[Don't Feed the Gondolas]]'' or ''DFTG'' was presented by [[Seán Moncrieff|Seán Moncreiff]] and later by [[Brendan O'Connor (journalist)|Brendan O'Connor]]. In the initial years Brendan O'Connor was one of the main team captains, during the final season Brendan O'Connor became the main host with only three guests. Other shows to begin that year included ''[[A Scare at Bedtime|Podge and Rodge: A Scare at Bedtime]]'' and ''@LastTV'', a fast-paced review show with interviews, comedy sketches and music.

In 2009, RTÉ2 revamped its entertainment season with critics and fans still undecided about new titles which included ''The Byrne Ultimatum'', ''Maeve Higgins' Fancy Vittles'', ''[[Republic of Telly]]'' and ''[[The Podge and Rodge Show#Podge and Rodge's Stickit Inn|Podge & Rodge's Stickit Inn]]''.

===Cláracha Gaeilge===

As part of RTÉ Two's re-brand to Network 2 some emphasizes was put on [[Irish language]] programming including a daily current affairs show called ''Cursaí''. The series ran from 1988 to 1996 at 19:00 Monday to Friday. The series was later moved around both RTÉ channels. RTÉ retained the arts spin-off programme, ''Cursaí Ealaíona'', into the late 1990s on RTÉ One. RTÉ also broadcast a daily news service in Irish at 20:00 each night, this later moved to RTÉ One.

RTÉ provides Irish language children's programming on both RTÉjr and TRTÉ, much of its Irish language programming has moved to either RTÉ One or TG4. In the early 1990s RTÉ suggested using RTÉ Two's evening schedule for Irish Language programming, rather than starting a new service.

Other Irish language programming on RTÉ Two included school's quiz ''Eureka'' and light entertainment show ''Seán Bán in a Shuí''.

==References in media==
* ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' has mentioned this station on two occasions:
** The recurring sketch "Top O'The Morning" hosted by two barflies Patrick Fitzwilliam ([[Jimmy Fallon]]) and William Fitzpatrick ([[Seth Meyers]]) is said to have broadcast on RTÉ2.
** A one-off sketch parodying reality shows that focus on remodelling houses called "You Call This A House, Do Ya?" is also said to have broadcast on RTÉ2.

==See also==
* [[List of programmes broadcast by Telefís Éireann]]
* [[RTÉ One]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official|http://www.rte.ie/tv/rte2.html}}

{{RTÉ Television}}
{{Irish_Television_Channels}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:RTE2}}
[[Category:RTÉ television channels|2]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1978]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in Ireland]]