Armenia 2

Armenia 2, also known as H2, is a private Armenian television company and broadcast channel. It operates from studios and offices in Yerevan's Ajapnyak district and has historically served viewers in Armenia and Artsakh. The channel is associated with the continuation and privatization of television capacity that originally developed under the Soviet Armenian state broadcasting system. The frequencies later used by Armenia 2 were originally assigned to state television. A 1973 issue of the Armenian SSR media publication Yerevan is On Air reported on the introduction of programming on television channel 11. By 1978, at least half of the programming on both Armenian television channels was broadcast in color. After Armenia's post-Soviet media restructuring, the service was separated from the state system in 1996 and operated under the name Nork, with Robert Mavisakalyan appointed director. Nork later ceased operations and its broadcasting capacity and personnel were transferred to the private company Prometheus. Programming under the new private operation began on cable in 1999 and expanded to terrestrial transmission in 2001. Armenia 2 has operated as a broad-based television service rather than as a narrowly specialized channel. Its schedule has included news and general programming, with the main news block branded Lraber, an Armenian word meaning Herald. Lraber maintains reporters across Armenia and Artsakh, giving the channel a domestic reporting network. For international coverage, the channel has relied in part on material and cooperation connected with Germany's Deutsche Welle television service. It has also cooperated with Russian broadcasters including Russia-1 and NTV, as well as with other foreign television outlets. Reference material describes the channel as broadcasting for approximately 18 hours per day and reaching roughly 95 percent of television viewers in Armenia and Artsakh during the period covered by that material. The company has been described as employing approximately 250 people. Samvel Mayrapetyan has been identified as the channel's president and director, placing him at the center of its corporate and editorial management. A major regulatory change occurred in January 2021. During the allocation of frequencies for Armenia's digital terrestrial network, the Radio and Television Commission removed Armenia 2's terrestrial coverage because the channel did not hold the rights required to operate nationally; its authorization was described as limited to cable distribution. The channel challenged the decision in court, arguing that it was invalid because the number of available slots had been reduced from six to five. This dispute marked an important change in Armenia 2's distribution position, moving it away from its previous terrestrial reach and toward a more restricted distribution model. The available reference material does not establish the final outcome of the lawsuit or provide enough information to determine the channel's current terrestrial status.

Armenia 2 developed from television infrastructure whose origins lie in the Soviet Armenian broadcasting system. The frequencies later associated with the channel were initially assigned to state television. In 1973, the Armenian SSR media publication Yerevan is On Air discussed the new service in an article encouraging viewers to tune to channel 11. By 1978, color programming accounted for at least half of the output on both Armenian television channels, reflecting the modernization of the local broadcast system. The service underwent institutional change after the end of Soviet rule. In 1996, it was separated under new management and adopted the name Nork. Robert Mavisakalyan was appointed director of Nork during this phase. Nork subsequently closed, and its broadcasting operation was transferred to the private company Prometheus. The new owners absorbed employees from the former service, preserving part of the institutional and technical continuity of the channel. Broadcasting under the private operation began on cable in 1999 and expanded to terrestrial transmission in 2001. The service later became known as Armenia 2 and H2. It established itself as a general-interest channel serving Armenia and Artsakh, with a schedule reported to run for approximately 18 hours each day. Reference material indicates that the channel could be viewed by about 95 percent of television viewers in Armenia and Artsakh during the period of its broad terrestrial distribution. The company has also been described as employing approximately 250 people. News became a central part of the channel's identity through Lraber, the Armenian-language news block whose name translates as Herald. Lraber operates with reporters throughout Armenia and Artsakh. Armenia 2's international news coverage has drawn on the German Deutsche Welle television service, while the company has also cooperated with Russia-1, NTV, and other foreign broadcasters. These relationships enabled the channel to combine domestic reporting with externally sourced international coverage. Samvel Mayrapetyan has been identified as the channel's president and director. The company's offices and studios are located in Yerevan's Ajapnyak district, making the capital the operational center of its production and management activities. The channel's distribution model faced a significant challenge in 2021. On 15 January, the Radio and Television Commission removed Armenia 2's terrestrial coverage during the attribution of slots for Armenia's digital terrestrial network. The stated issue was that Armenia 2 did not possess the rights to operate at a national level and was limited to cable distribution. Armenia 2 contested the decision in court, claiming that the process was invalid because the number of available slots had been reduced from six to five. The available reference material does not report the final judicial result, nor does it provide sufficient current information to establish whether the channel later regained terrestrial coverage. Armenia 2 nevertheless remains identified as an active private television brand and company.

• 2021

  Terrestrial coverage removed

  [1]Armenia 2en.wikipedia.org

  The Radio and Television Commission removed Armenia 2 from terrestrial coverage during digital terrestrial network slot allocation.

• 2001

  Terrestrial broadcasting begins under the private operation

  [1]Armenia 2en.wikipedia.org

  The channel expanded from cable to terrestrial transmission.

• 1999

  Private broadcasting begins on cable

  [1]Armenia 2en.wikipedia.org

  Following the transfer of the former service to Prometheus, broadcasting under the private operation began on cable.

• 1996

  Service reorganized as Nork

  [1]Armenia 2en.wikipedia.org

  The service was separated under new management and operated as Nork, with Robert Mavisakalyan appointed director.

• 1978

  Color programming expands

  [1]Armenia 2en.wikipedia.org

  At least half of the programming on both Armenian television channels was reported to be in color.

• 1973

  Channel 11 discussed in Armenian SSR media

  [1]Armenia 2en.wikipedia.org

  Yerevan is On Air published an article about the emerging television service, directing viewers to tune to channel 11.

A private Armenian general-interest television broadcaster with a strong domestic news identity, regional reach, and programming relationships with international and Russian television partners.

• General-interest television channel

  Armenia 2

  The core Armenia 2 television service is a private Armenian general-interest channel. Its schedule has historically combined news with broader entertainment and informational programming and has been reported to broadcast for approximately 18 hours per day. The channel has served audiences in Armenia and Artsakh through cable and, historically, terrestrial distribution. Reference material describes it as having broad reach before the 2021 change to its terrestrial authorization.

• Television news program

  Lraber

  Lraber is Armenia 2's principal news block. Its name means Herald in Armenian. The program is supported by reporters located throughout Armenia and Artsakh, giving the channel a domestic news-gathering operation. International coverage has been supplemented through material associated with Deutsche Welle and cooperation with other foreign broadcasters.

• 2021

  Challenge to removal from terrestrial digital-network slotsOther

  Background

  During the allocation of slots for Armenia's digital terrestrial television network, the Radio and Television Commission determined that Armenia 2 lacked the rights to operate nationally and treated it as a cable-limited channel.

  Action taken

  The commission removed Armenia 2's terrestrial coverage on 15 January 2021. Armenia 2 filed a lawsuit contesting the decision and argued that the reduction of available slots from six to five made the process invalid.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material does not state the final result of the litigation or confirm whether terrestrial coverage was subsequently restored.

  Source

1. 1Armenia 2en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Armenia 2 official websitetv.am