ORF 2

ORF 2, also known as ORF zwei and formerly FS 2, is one of the principal public television channels operated by Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), Austria's public-service broadcaster. The channel began on 11 September 1961 as a three-day-per-week technical test service using UHF frequencies. Its initial designation, Technisches Versuchsprogramm, reflected the experimental nature of the transmission rather than a fully developed national channel. In 1967 it became FS 2, or Fernsehprogramm 2, expanded to five broadcasting days per week, and began daily transmission on 1 September 1970. The channel was renamed ORF 2 on 26 October 1992. Its editorial identity developed in parallel with the broader public-service mission of ORF: whereas ORF 1 has generally carried a stronger emphasis on international entertainment, imported series, films, and sport, ORF 2 has been positioned around Austrian news, regional reporting, cultural programming, documentaries, public affairs, and general-interest entertainment. This distinction is especially visible in the channel's daily news structure. Zeit im Bild, ORF's principal news brand, is broadcast repeatedly throughout the day, with the main evening bulletin scheduled at 7:30 p.m. It is preceded at 7:00 p.m. by Bundesland heute, a set of nine regional news windows serving Austria's federal states. In the Tyrol and South Tyrol area, Südtirol heute provides a related regional service on weekday evenings. ORF 2's programming portfolio also includes cultural and event television, international acquisitions, long-running drama and crime series, and music or youth-oriented European public-service productions. Examples associated with the channel include Eurovision Choir, Eurovision Young Musicians, Tatort, and selected imported series such as Gomorrah, Outlander, Seinfeld, and Murder, She Wrote. The exact schedule changes over time, but the channel's core proposition remains a combination of national news authority, regional relevance, and broad public-service programming. The channel is financed through ORF's mixed funding model, which combines television licence-fee income with advertising. Its domestic satellite distribution is encrypted and requires an ORF viewing card associated with licence-fee eligibility. This differs from the usual free-to-air satellite availability of many German public channels. ORF 2 is also distributed terrestrially in Austria via DVB-T, with viewers receiving the regional feed associated with their federal state and, in some cases, a neighbouring regional feed. An unencrypted international service, ORF 2 Europe, has been available by satellite in Europe since July 2004. Rights restrictions may require some domestic programmes to be replaced internationally by a teletext video feed accompanied by Ö1 audio. Selected ORF 2 news programmes are also carried or repeated by 3sat. Brand development has been closely tied to the visual identity of ORF. Earlier on-air presentation used the red ORF eye alongside stylised versions of the number 2. A yellow cube identity, designed by Neville Brody, was introduced in 1992 and subsequently evolved into a rotating cube treatment in 2000. In 2005, the on-screen presentation shifted from red-and-yellow to red-and-white, partly to reduce the risk of image retention on plasma displays. A proposed 2011 change to the name ORF zwei was announced but was not adopted as the channel's principal public name. A major redesign in January 2012 introduced a vertical navigation bar and a red-and-white visual system intended to express a clear, contemporary, and distinctly Austrian identity. ORF 2 remains an active public television service and an important platform for Austrian national and regional information. Its combination of central news, nine-state regional windows, cultural content, and general entertainment differentiates it within the ORF channel portfolio.

ORF 2 traces its origin to a technical test service launched on 11 September 1961. The service initially broadcast three days per week on UHF frequencies under the name Technisches Versuchsprogramm. Its schedule expanded in 1967, when the service was renamed FS 2 and increased to five broadcasting days per week. Daily broadcasting began on 1 September 1970, marking the transition from an experimental operation toward a full television service. The channel adopted the name ORF 2 on 26 October 1992. The new name aligned it directly with Österreichischer Rundfunk and established the identity it retains today. During this period, ORF 2 increasingly occupied a complementary role within the ORF television portfolio. ORF 1 was associated more strongly with international series, films, and sport, while ORF 2 developed a distinctive focus on Austrian news, regional reporting, culture, documentaries, and general-interest programming. A major editorial milestone came on 2 May 1988, when Bundesland heute was introduced. The service created regional news windows for each of Austria's nine federal states and became a key part of the channel's daily schedule. The regional broadcasts are placed immediately before the main evening edition of Zeit im Bild, creating a national-to-regional information sequence at the centre of ORF 2's schedule. In the Tyrol and South Tyrol area, Südtirol heute provides additional regional coverage and is produced through ORF's regional operations in cooperation with its South Tyrol presence. ORF 2's distribution has developed across several platforms. Since October 2006, the channel has been available terrestrially through DVB-T in Austria, with the relevant state feed and, in some locations, a neighbouring state's feed. Its satellite regional feeds are encrypted and available to eligible viewers through an ORF viewing card connected with the public broadcasting licence system. ORF launched the international ORF 2 Europe service in July 2004 as an unencrypted satellite offering for audiences elsewhere in Europe. Because programme rights are not always cleared outside Austria, some content on the international service is replaced by a visual teletext service with Ö1 audio. Selected ORF 2 programmes, particularly news bulletins, are also made available through 3sat. The channel's visual identity has changed repeatedly. From the late 1960s until the 1992 renaming, on-air presentation commonly combined the red ORF eye with different stylisations of the number 2. The first yellow cube version of the ORF 2 logo appeared in 1992 and was associated with design work by Neville Brody. A further update in 2000 presented the cube as a rotating object moving toward and away from the centre of the screen. In 2005, ORF revised the on-screen treatment from red-and-yellow to red-and-white, in part to reduce the possibility of logo burn-in on plasma television displays. ORF announced a possible rebranding as ORF zwei for 2011, but that change was not used as the channel's main identity. On 9 January 2012, ORF 2 introduced a comprehensive design refresh. A vertical navigation bar became a recurring element across programme credits, station identifications, promotions, and advertising-break transitions. The red-and-white palette was intended to create a clear relationship with ORF 1 while emphasizing the channel's Austrian character. Through these editorial, distribution, and design changes, ORF 2 evolved from a technical test programme into a national public-service channel with a strong regional and cultural role.

• 2012

  Major visual redesign

  [1]ORF 2en.wikipedia.org

  A new on-air design launches on 9 January, using a vertical navigation bar and a red-and-white visual system to strengthen the channel's relationship with ORF and its Austrian identity.

• 2006

  DVB-T distribution begins

  [1]ORF 2en.wikipedia.org

  ORF 2 becomes available terrestrially in Austria through DVB-T from October, with regional feeds determined by the viewer's location.

• 2005

  On-screen design changes to red and white

  [1]ORF 2en.wikipedia.org

  ORF revises the channel's on-screen design from red-and-yellow to red-and-white, partly to address plasma-screen image-retention concerns.

• 2004

  ORF 2 Europe begins

  [1]ORF 2en.wikipedia.org

  An unencrypted international version, ORF 2 Europe, begins satellite broadcasting in Europe in July.

• 2000

  Rotating cube identity introduced

  [1]ORF 2en.wikipedia.org

  The channel's cube logo receives a further animated treatment in which the cube rotates and moves toward the centre of the screen.

• 1992

  FS 2 becomes ORF 2

  [1]ORF 2en.wikipedia.org

  The channel is renamed ORF 2 on 26 October, and its first yellow cube identity is introduced during the same broader branding period.

• 1988

  Bundesland heute launches

  [1]ORF 2en.wikipedia.org

  Nine regional news windows, one for each Austrian federal state, are introduced on 2 May.

• 1970

  Daily broadcasting begins

  [1]ORF 2en.wikipedia.org

  FS 2 starts broadcasting every day from 1 September.

• 1967

  Renamed FS 2

  [1]ORF 2en.wikipedia.org

  The technical service is renamed FS 2, short for Fernsehprogramm 2, and its broadcasting schedule expands to five days per week.

• 1961

  Technical test service begins

  [1]ORF 2en.wikipedia.org

  The channel begins broadcasting on 11 September as a three-day-per-week technical test programme on UHF frequencies.

Austrian public-service television centered on national news, regional reporting, culture, and broad general-interest programming.

• Television news

  Zeit im Bild

  ORF's principal news brand and a central component of ORF 2's schedule. It is broadcast several times daily, with the main evening bulletin scheduled at 7:30 p.m. The programme provides national and international news and functions as the channel's primary information flagship.

• Regional television news · 1988

  Bundesland heute

  A group of nine regional news windows serving Austria's federal states. Introduced in 1988, the programmes are broadcast before the main evening edition of Zeit im Bild and provide locally focused reporting within ORF 2's national schedule.

• Regional television news

  Südtirol heute

  A weekday regional news programme for the Tyrol and South Tyrol area. It is produced through ORF's regional structure and extends ORF 2's regional information role to audiences in the Austrian-Italian border region.

• International television service · 2004

  ORF 2 Europe

  The international satellite version of ORF 2, broadcast unencrypted in Europe since July 2004. Rights limitations can result in some domestic programmes being replaced by a teletext video feed accompanied by audio from ORF's Ö1 service.

• Crime drama series

  Tatort

  A long-running German-language crime drama franchise carried by ORF 2, including Austrian-linked episodes and broadcasts. It is listed among the channel's continuing series programming.

• Music competition and cultural event

  Eurovision Young Musicians

  A European young-musicians event associated with ORF 2's cultural and public-service entertainment offering.

• Television music competition · 2017

  Eurovision Choir

  A European choral music competition carried among ORF 2's event and cultural programming.

• 2012

  Comprehensive on-air design refreshStrategy

  Background

  ORF sought a clearer visual system for its television channels and a stronger expression of ORF 2's Austrian public-service character.

  Action taken

  On 9 January, ORF 2 introduced a vertical navigation bar across idents, programme credits, promotions, and commercial-break presentation, supported by a red-and-white design.

  Aftermath

  The redesign created a more consistent channel identity and emphasized the station's relationship with ORF 1 while retaining a distinct Austrian positioning.

  Source

• 2011

  Proposed ORF zwei rebrandingStrategy

  Background

  ORF announced a possible change to the channel's public-facing name as part of a broader identity discussion.

  Action taken

  A rebranding as ORF zwei was announced for 2011, but the proposed name was not adopted as the channel's principal identity.

  Aftermath

  ORF 2 remained the established channel name.

  Source

• 1992

  Adoption of the ORF 2 nameStrategy

  Background

  The former FS 2 service needed an identity directly connected to Österreichischer Rundfunk and its public-service channel portfolio.

  Action taken

  The channel was renamed ORF 2 on 26 October.

  Aftermath

  The ORF 2 name became the channel's established identity, while later visual systems continued to develop its connection to the wider ORF brand.

  Source

1. 1ORF 2en.wikipedia.org