SRF Zwei

SRF zwei is a Swiss German-language public television channel operated by Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), a business unit of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, known in Switzerland as SRG SSR. It is one of the national German-language television services in Switzerland and functions as the second channel alongside SRF 1 and SRF info. The channel is distributed free to air and is primarily intended for audiences seeking entertainment, fiction, films and sport, with a programming profile that has generally been more youth-oriented than that of its sister channel SRF 1. The service originated in the restructuring of Swiss public television's second-channel offering. It launched in 1997 under the name SF 2, replacing the nationwide second public channel that had previously operated as Schweiz 4. That service had itself developed from S Plus, launched in 1993 and renamed Schweiz 4 in 1995. The creation of SF 2 gave the German-speaking part of Switzerland a dedicated second national channel within the public broadcasting system. The channel's programming strategy has emphasized television series, feature films and live sporting events. Sports coverage is a major part of its schedule and includes live-event broadcasting, daily sports news and weekly magazine programming. The channel also carries entertainment and imported fiction, including programmes that may be shown in German dubbing and, where available, in their original soundtrack. Its programming mix has often been compared with that of ORF 1 in Austria because of the combination of younger-skewing entertainment, series, cinema and sport. SF 2 was renamed SF zwei on 5 December 2005. The change was intended to create clearer differentiation from the sister service SF 1 while retaining the relationship between the two channels. Following the broader transition of Swiss public broadcasting brands from SF to SRF, the channel became known as SRF zwei. An HD version was introduced on 29 February 2012, reflecting the wider migration of Swiss television distribution toward high-definition broadcasting. Children's programming has also formed part of the channel's history. From 1998 to 2003, weekday daytime schedules included a Nickelodeon-branded block combining animated programmes, Swiss productions and interactive live elements. A Junior-branded block was also shown on weekend mornings and later expanded to weekdays in September 2003. The Junior service ended in December 2006 and was replaced by SF tubii, which was later renamed Zambo in 2010. In the 2012 schedule reform, Zambo was shortened and moved to SRF 1, partly because sports programming on SRF zwei frequently interrupted the children's schedule. The 2012 overhaul also changed the channel's entertainment schedule. The Simpsons was removed from its early-evening slot after weak ratings and replaced by internally produced programmes. The overall profile consequently became more concentrated around sport, films, series, entertainment and magazine formats. SRF zwei remains part of Switzerland's publicly financed national broadcasting framework and serves the German-speaking market rather than operating as a global commercial television brand.

SRF zwei traces its institutional history to the development of Switzerland's second nationwide public television service. S Plus launched in 1993 as a second public channel and was renamed Schweiz 4 in 1995. In 1997, the German-language public broadcasting system replaced that service with SF 2. The new channel became the second national German-language television outlet in Switzerland, complementing SF 1 and the later information-oriented service SF info. From its beginning as SF 2, the channel developed a profile centered on entertainment and programming aimed at younger viewers. Its schedule placed substantial emphasis on feature films, television series and sport, distinguishing it from the broader general-service role associated with its sister channel. Fiction was often available in German-dubbed form as well as through original-soundtrack options. Sport became particularly important because live events and related coverage could occupy substantial portions of the schedule. The channel also experimented with branded programming blocks. Between 1998 and 2003, weekday daytime hours included a Nickelodeon-branded block featuring animated series, Swiss productions and interactive live broadcasts. A separate Junior block appeared on weekend mornings and was extended to weekdays in September 2003. The Junior block ended in December 2006 and was replaced by SF tubii, which took the name Zambo in 2010. On 5 December 2005, SF 2 changed its name to SF zwei. The rebranding was intended to make the relationship between the two SF channels clearer while giving the second channel a more distinct identity. As the public broadcaster later consolidated its television identity under the SRF name, the service became SRF zwei. A major technical and editorial transition occurred on 29 February 2012, when an HD version was launched and the schedule was substantially revised. The children's Zambo block was shortened and moved to SRF 1 because sports broadcasts on SRF zwei regularly disrupted its continuity. The channel also removed The Simpsons from its early-evening slot after poor ratings and replaced it with a series of in-house productions. These changes reinforced the channel's concentration on sport, entertainment, films, series and magazine formats. SRF zwei operates as part of SRF and SRG SSR's public broadcasting structure. Its principal service area is German-speaking Switzerland, where it remains one of the country's national German-language television channels. Its continuing identity is built around a complementary role within the SRF channel portfolio: SRF 1 provides a broad general-service offer, while SRF zwei has traditionally carried a stronger mix of youth-oriented entertainment, fiction, cinema and sport.

• 2012

  HD service and schedule overhaul

  [1]SRF zweien.wikipedia.org

  An HD version launches on 29 February, alongside a major programming reform that changes the children's schedule and early-evening entertainment lineup.

• 2010

  SF tubii is renamed Zambo

  [1]SRF zweien.wikipedia.org

  The children's programming identity SF tubii is renamed Zambo.

• 2006

  SF tubii replaces Junior

  [1]SRF zweien.wikipedia.org

  The Junior-branded block ends in December and is replaced by SF tubii.

• 2005

  SF 2 becomes SF zwei

  [1]SRF zweien.wikipedia.org

  The channel adopts the SF zwei name on 5 December to differentiate it from SF 1.

• 2003

  Junior block expands to weekdays

  [1]SRF zweien.wikipedia.org

  The Junior children's block, previously shown on weekend mornings, expands to weekdays in September.

• 1998

  Nickelodeon programming block begins

  [1]SRF zweien.wikipedia.org

  A weekday Nickelodeon-branded daytime block begins on SF 2.

• 1997

  SF 2 launches

  [1]SRF zweien.wikipedia.org

  SF 2 launches as the German-speaking replacement for Schweiz 4 and becomes Switzerland's second national German-language public channel.

• 1995

  S Plus becomes Schweiz 4

  [1]SRF zweien.wikipedia.org

  The second public television service is renamed Schweiz 4.

• 1993

  S Plus launches

  [1]SRF zweien.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor to the later second-channel service begins operating as S Plus within Swiss public television.

A German-language public television channel with a younger-skewing entertainment profile, combining films, television series, live sport, sports journalism and selected magazine programming.

• Free-to-air television channel · 1997

  SRF zwei television service

  The core offering is a national German-language free-to-air television channel serving Switzerland. It operates within SRF's public-service portfolio and provides a complementary schedule to SRF 1, with particular emphasis on entertainment, fiction, cinema and sport.

• Sports broadcasting

  Live sports programming

  SRF zwei carries live sporting events and related coverage. Sports programming is a defining part of the channel's identity and has influenced scheduling decisions, including the relocation of children's programming because live events could interrupt the regular daytime timetable.

• Sports news

  sport aktuell

  A daily sports-news magazine associated with the channel's sports offering, providing regular reporting and updates within the SRF television schedule.

• Sports magazine

  sportpanorama

  A weekly sports magazine offering more extensive discussion and coverage than the channel's daily sports-news format.

• Magazine programming

  PresseTV

  A group of magazine programmes produced by print-media organizations and carried within the channel's broader information and entertainment schedule.

• Children's programming block · 2010

  Zambo

  A children's programming identity that followed SF tubii in 2010. The block was later shortened and moved to SRF 1 during the 2012 programme reform.

• 2012

  Launch an HD versionProduct launch

  Background

  Swiss public television was moving toward high-definition distribution.

  Action taken

  An HD version of the channel launched on 29 February 2012.

  Aftermath

  SRF zwei became available in high definition as part of the channel's technical modernization.

  Source

• 2012

  Reform the programming scheduleStrategy

  Background

  The Zambo children's block was frequently interrupted by sports broadcasts, and The Simpsons had performed poorly in its early-evening slot.

  Action taken

  The children's block was shortened and transferred to SRF 1, while The Simpsons was removed from the early-evening schedule and replaced with in-house productions.

  Aftermath

  The reform strengthened SRF zwei's concentration on sport, films, series, entertainment and magazine programming.

  Source

• 2005

  Rename SF 2 as SF zweiStrategy

  Background

  The channel's original SF 2 identity was considered insufficiently differentiated from the sister channel SF 1.

  Action taken

  The service was renamed SF zwei on 5 December 2005.

  Aftermath

  The new name gave the second channel a more distinct identity while preserving its connection to the SF television family.

  Source

1. 1SRF zweien.wikipedia.org
2. 2SRF television websitesrf.ch