BBC Two Northern Ireland

BBC Two Northern Ireland (Irish: BBC Thuaisceart Éireann a Dó) is a Northern Irish free-to-air television channel owned and operated by BBC Northern Ireland as a variation of the BBC Two network. It is broadcast via digital terrestrial transmitters and from the SES Astra 2E satellite (transponder 48) at the 28.2° East orbital position.

BBC Two Northern Ireland
Logo used since 2021.
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaNorthern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
NetworkBBC Two
Programming
Language(s)English (Ulster English)
Irish
Ulster Scots
Picture format576i (16:9 SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Ownership
OwnerBBC Northern Ireland
Sister channelsBBC One Northern Ireland
History
Launched11 June 1966; 58 years ago (1966-06-11)
30 March 2001; 23 years ago (2001-03-30) (digital version)
ReplacedBBC Choice Northern Ireland (digital version)
Closed28 October 2006; 17 years ago (2006-10-28) (digital version)

Presentation

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BBC Two Northern Ireland logo used from 2007 until 2021.

The channel was branded onscreen as 'BBC Two NI' from October 2006 until February 2007, though not referred to as such by continuity announcers. Unique idents for Northern Ireland featuring the robotic figure 2 were used during this time, showing the Giant's Causeway and the feature eating an Ulster Fry.

Programming

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Unlike BBC Two in the rest of the UK, the channel broadcasts regular news and regional weather updates between programmes. Programmes on the service have included the following:

  • The Children's
  • First Stop
  • Hearts and Minds
  • The John Daly Show
  • BBC Sport NI at the Milk Cup
  • Sky High
  • Chasing the Dollar
  • Spotlight

Children's programmes

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Availability

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BBC Two Northern Ireland can be seen on all television platforms on channel 2, or 102 in Northern Ireland, depending on the system and in other areas of the UK via satellite and on some other digital television platforms and in most areas of the Republic of Ireland on satellite, cable and some other digital television receivers. Programming shown on BBC Two Northern Ireland can be watched again across the UK after transmission on the BBC iPlayer service.

Until 28 October 2006, there were two separate services – 'BBC Two Northern Ireland"', an analogue-only service, referred to as "BBC Two", both in idents and continuity, and a digital-only opt-out, 'BBC Two NI', (the successor to BBC Choice Northern Ireland) which carried extra regional programming and continuity between 6pm and midnight. This has all now ended and the two Northern Ireland services have been merged.

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