| KBS 2TV | |
| Picture Format: | 2160p UHDTV (downscaled to 1080i and 480i for the HDTV and SDTV feeds respectively) |
| Network: | Korean Broadcasting System |
| Owner: | Korean Broadcasting System |
| Sister Channels: | KBS1 KBS NEWS 24 |
| Country: | South Korea |
| Language: | Korean |
| Replaced: | TBC TV (1964–1980) |
| Terr Serv 1: | Digital terrestrial television |
| Terr Chan 1: | Channel 7.1 |
| Online Serv 1: | KBS |
| Online Chan 1: | Watch live |
KBS 2TV (ko|KBS 제2텔레비전) is a South Korean free-to-air television channel launched on 1 December 1980 and owned by Korean Broadcasting System. In contrast to KBS1, the channel specializes primarily in entertainment.[1]
KBS2 was created as an effect of the Policy for Merger and Abolition of the Press. The Tongyang Broadcasting Company, set up by Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul, had its license revoked and its operations were absorbed into the Korean Broadcasting System. At the time of the decision, TBC was Korea's second largest radio and television company.[2] [3] On 30 November 1980, TBC made its final broadcast and the following day, KBS2 signed on in Seoul and Busan, where TBC had its television stations. Some of TBC's programs were continued under KBS, including the KBS Music Festival, which started in 1965 on TBC.[4] The initial goal was to complement the two KBS networks, with KBS2 being initially dedicated for cultural and educational programming.[5] The channel started color broadcasts on 22 December 1980, alongside MBC.[6]
Initially commercial-free, the two KBS networks reintroduced commercial advertising on 7 March 1981.[7]
At the start of cable television networks in South Korea in the early 90s, KBS2 was included in the must-carry package, which initially excluded the commercial channels MBC and SBS.[8] The channel adopted green as its signature color in 1993.[9]
Ratings soared for the final episode of First Love on 20 April 1997, at a record 65.8%.[10]
Digital terrestrial broadcasts started in 2001, on LCN 7 at a national scale;[11] analog broadcasts ended in 2012.
Its signal was interrupted for a 20-minute period on the evening of 14 October 2006.[12]
KBS2 was granted a subchannel (7-2) in 2015.[13]
See main article: List of programs broadcast by the Korean Broadcasting System.
Dramas are a pillar of KBS2's schedule. In the last week of April 2024, out of ten dramas broadcast on linear (terrestrial and subscription) and OTT platforms, only two of KBS2's dramas were among the ten-most watched programs of the genre, with viewing figures lower than the ones produced by tvN, JTBC and also streaming services.[14]
The channel also airs news, variety shows and Music Bank.
Analog network (shut down in 2012):[15]
Kebit (케빗) is the channel's mascot, introduced in the summer of 2016. Kebit represents "KBS's light" and is a space lifeform who descended to Earth.[16]
