IRIB TV2

IRIB TV2, also known in Persian as Shabakeh-ye Do or Channel Two, is one of Iran’s national television channels operated by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. The service is headquartered in Tehran and broadcasts primarily in Persian to audiences in Iran and Persian-speaking communities elsewhere in the Middle East. It is a general-interest public television network whose programming has included scripted series, comedies, children’s programs, talk shows, cultural content, educational material, news, and television films. The channel developed from Iran’s second television service. The Iranian government established a cabinet-level initiative for educational television in 1963, and the resulting service reached an operational stage in 1966. Experimental broadcasts began in October 1966, followed by official broadcasting on 19 October 1967. The educational service was subsequently incorporated into National Iranian Radio and Television as its second channel. Color transmission began in early 1977 using the French SECAM standard. At that stage, color coverage was concentrated in Tehran, although nationwide expansion was being planned. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting assumed the operations of the former National Iranian Radio and Television. The educational expertise and output associated with the former second network continued in the replacement service. During the 1980s, the channel carried several hours of educational programming each day, alongside a substantial cultural schedule. Over time, it broadened into a general national service with a mix of entertainment, drama, children’s programming, lifestyle features, and current-affairs content. In 2009, IRIB TV2 was repositioned more explicitly as a network for children and families. This positioning did not eliminate general programming: the channel has continued to show domestic miniseries, situation comedies, talk shows, cultural programs, news bulletins, and original television films. Its schedule has also included acquired international programs, including dubbed drama and children’s animation. Examples cited in reference material include Dae Jang Geum, Road to Avonlea, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, SpongeBob SquarePants, Blue’s Clues, Oggy and the Cockroaches, and a range of later imported children’s series. A major programming-structure change took place under IRIB policies announced on 6 March 2022. Several news programs formerly broadcast by IRIB TV2 were transferred to the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, commonly known as IRINN. The affected TV2 bulletins included the 08:00, 14:00, 19:00, and 21:00 news editions, as well as special news discussion programming. The change formed part of a broader effort to consolidate news output across IRIB services, although some news programming, including the 20:30 bulletin cited in the reference material, continued to appear on TV2. IRIB TV2’s role is therefore best understood as a national public-service television brand combining family-oriented entertainment, cultural and educational output, domestic fiction, children’s content, and selected news programming. Its identity has changed from an educational second channel into a broad general-interest network while retaining a family-and-life orientation within the wider IRIB portfolio.

IRIB TV2 traces its institutional origins to Iran’s effort to establish educational television. In 1963, the Iranian government created a cabinet initiative responsible for developing educational broadcasting. Experimental transmissions began in October 1966, and official broadcasts started on 19 October 1967. The educational service was later absorbed into National Iranian Radio and Television and became that organization’s second television channel. The network introduced color broadcasting in early 1977 using the French SECAM system. Early color service was limited largely to Tehran, but plans were made to extend the signal nationally. The channel’s initial educational mission gave it a distinctive role within Iran’s developing television system, combining instructional output with cultural programming. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting took over the functions of National Iranian Radio and Television. The second channel continued to draw on the former service’s educational capacity and programming traditions. During the 1980s, its daily schedule reportedly included approximately three to five hours of educational material and about two hours of cultural content. This period established the channel as more than a conventional entertainment outlet and connected it to IRIB’s broader public-service and cultural responsibilities. As Iran’s television system expanded, IRIB TV2 developed a mixed schedule that included domestic fiction, comedy, talk shows, children’s programs, educational features, cultural broadcasts, television films, and news. In 2009, IRIB repositioned the channel as a network focused on children and families. The repositioning emphasized family viewing and lifestyle themes while leaving room for general-interest programming and major domestic productions. The channel has broadcast a substantial number of Iranian series and programs. Examples listed in reference material include Pedar Salar, Hamsaran, Saate Khosh, Dar Panahe To, Khane Sabz, The Forbidden Fruit, Dasdasi, Good, Bad, Ugly, Hidden Government, Hanieh, Kimia, Eight and a Half Minutes, Fitile Jome Tatile, Sandali Dagh, Varzeshe 2, and Mr. Judge. It has also acquired and dubbed foreign drama and children’s content, including Dae Jang Geum, Road to Avonlea, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, SpongeBob SquarePants, Blue’s Clues, Oggy and the Cockroaches, and other animated or live-action programs. On 6 March 2022, IRIB implemented a news reorganization that moved a number of TV2 bulletins to IRINN. The transferred output included the 08:00, 14:00, 19:00, and 21:00 news programs, along with special news discussion content. The policy was described as part of a broader transfer of news programming from multiple IRIB channels. Some news content continued on TV2, including the 20:30 bulletin cited in the reference material. Today, IRIB TV2 remains an active national channel within the IRIB portfolio. Its historical development reflects a shift from an educational second service to a broad family-oriented public television network, while its schedule continues to combine domestic production, acquired programming, children’s content, and cultural or lifestyle material.

• 2022

  News output reorganized

  [1]IRIB TV2en.wikipedia.org

  Several scheduled news editions and special news programs moved from TV2 to IRINN under IRIB’s revised programming policy.

• 2009

  Repositioned toward children and families

  [1]IRIB TV2en.wikipedia.org

  IRIB repositioned TV2 as a channel focused more explicitly on children and family audiences.

• 1979

  IRIB assumes control after the revolution

  [1]IRIB TV2en.wikipedia.org

  Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting took over the former National Iranian Radio and Television operations, including the second-channel service.

• 1977

  Color broadcasting introduced

  [1]IRIB TV2en.wikipedia.org

  The channel began color broadcasts using the French SECAM standard, initially with coverage concentrated in Tehran.

• 1967

  Official television service launched

  [1]IRIB TV2en.wikipedia.org

  Official broadcasting began on 19 October, creating the service that later became the second channel of National Iranian Radio and Television.

• 1966

  Experimental broadcasts begin

  [1]IRIB TV2en.wikipedia.org

  The educational television service began experimental transmissions in October.

• 1963

  Educational television initiative established

  [1]IRIB TV2en.wikipedia.org

  The Iranian government created a cabinet initiative to develop educational television, laying the institutional foundation for the future second channel.

Iranian public-service television network with a family, children, lifestyle, cultural, and general-entertainment focus.

• Television programming

  Domestic drama and comedy series

  IRIB TV2 has carried Iranian miniseries, serial dramas, situation comedies, and television films. Reference examples include Pedar Salar, Hamsaran, Saate Khosh, Dar Panahe To, Khane Sabz, The Forbidden Fruit, Dasdasi, Good, Bad, Ugly, Hanieh, Kimia, and Eight and a Half Minutes. These productions support the channel’s role as a general-interest network while remaining compatible with its family-oriented positioning.

• Television programming

  Children's programming

  Children’s television is a central part of the channel’s post-2009 identity. Its schedule has included domestically produced children’s shows as well as acquired and dubbed animation and live-action programs such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Blue’s Clues, Oggy and the Cockroaches, WordGirl, Donkey Hodie, Thomas & Friends, Curious George, and other international series listed in the reference material.

• Public-service broadcasting

  Educational and cultural programming

  Educational and cultural output is part of the channel’s historical inheritance from Iran’s original educational television service. During the 1980s, TV2 carried several daily hours of educational content and additional cultural programming. Contemporary schedules continue to include cultural, lifestyle, and informational formats alongside entertainment.

• News broadcasting

  News and current affairs

  IRIB TV2 historically carried multiple daily news editions and special news discussion programs. In 2022, several of these broadcasts were transferred to IRINN as part of IRIB’s wider news consolidation policy. Some news output, including the 20:30 bulletin mentioned in the reference material, continued to air on TV2.

• 2022

  Transfer of news programming to IRINNStrategy

  Background

  IRIB introduced a policy to consolidate news programming from different television channels within the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network.

  Action taken

  The 08:00, 14:00, 19:00, and 21:00 TV2 news programs, together with special news discussion programming, were transferred to IRINN.

  Aftermath

  TV2’s news presence was reduced and reorganized, although the reference material states that some output, including the 20:30 news, continued on the channel.

  Source

• 2009

  Family-and-children repositioningStrategy

  Background

  IRIB TV2 had developed from an educational second channel into a broad mixed-format service. IRIB subsequently sought to give it a clearer audience identity within the national channel portfolio.

  Action taken

  The channel was repositioned as a network centered on children and families while retaining drama, comedy, cultural, lifestyle, and general-entertainment programming.

  Aftermath

  The family-and-life orientation became a defining description of TV2, and children’s programming remained a prominent component of its schedule.

  Source

1. 1IRIB TV2en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official IRIB TV2 websitetv2.ir