Sky2

Sky2 is a British television channel originally launched on 2 December 2002 as Sky One Mix. Sky2 is now available on Sky, Virgin Media, Smallworld Cable and TalkTalk TV platforms in the UK. It is also available in the Ireland on the UPC Ireland platform.

Original channel
Sky2 is a British television channel originally launched on 1 September 1996 as a sister channel to Sky One, as part of a new bouquet of Sky channels including The Computer Channel and Sky Scottish. While the channel was still being broadcast, Sky One was branded as “Sky 1″. Unlike the later Sky One spin-off, Sky One Mix, the channel showed exclusive first-run television shows rather than the same programming as its parent. Prominent shows on its schedule included Xena: Warrior Princess, Profit, TekWar and Melrose Place. It eventually closed on 1 September 1997.

On 2 December 2002 the channel come back on air as Sky One Mix, but was rebranded as Sky Mix in 2004. This branded-name was short lived, because in 2005, it was rebranded as Sky Two, effectively reviving the Sky 2 brand. It was rebranded as Sky2 in 31 August 2008, when Sky's entertainment channels rebranded into the solids, liquids and particles theme

On 1 February 2011, Sky refreshed the presentation on many of its channels. Sky2's idents follow the same themes as Sky1's new idents, but feature a smaller metal '2' icon, and the action is in close-up. Sky2 is now available on Sky, Virgin Media, Smallworld Cable and TalkTalk TV platforms in the UK. It is also available in the Republic of Ireland on the UPC Ireland platform.

Resurrection
Sky One's sister channel, Sky One Mix was rebranded as Sky Mix in 2004. This branded-name was short lived, because in 2005, it was rebranded as Sky Two, effectively reviving the Sky 2 brand. It was rebranded as Sky2 in 31 August 2008, when Sky's entertainment channels rebranded into the solids, liquids and particles theme. On 1 February 2011, Sky refreshed the presentation on many of its channels. Sky2's idents follow the same themes as Sky1's new idents, but feature a smaller metal '2' icon, and the action is in close-up.

Programming
Sky2 carries some programming from Sky Travel and Sky Vegas. Sky2's programming mostly features sci-fi programming such as Futurama, the Stargate franchise and Star Trek Enterprise. However, other Sky1 drama shows such as Bones, documentary strands such as Road Wars, Street Wars, Hello Goodbye also form the Sky2 schedule.

Like Sky3, (now Pick TV) Sky2 did not feature repeat episodes of The Simpsons, until recently where it has started to air at 8pm daily.

Sky2 is essentially a "catch-up" service for Sky's main entertainment channel Sky1, broadcasting popular Sky1 shows a few days after their original airing. Doing so, Sky2 is described as a timeshuffle channel, so called to distinguish it from timeshift channels such as E4+1 and Living+1 which simply broadcast E4 and Living respectively, delayed by one hour. Sky currently broadcast a timeshifted version of one of their entertainment channels, Sky3, (now Pick TV) which took over the Freeview EPG slot which Sky Sports News occupied, however do not currently offer a timeshifted version of Sky1 or Sky2.

Sky2's programming showcases the best of Sky1's content and a mix of sci-fi, action and factual programmes targeting young men.

Virgin Media dispute
On Thursday 1 March 2007, Virgin Media removed Sky's basic channels, including Sky1, Sky2, Sky News, Sky Sports News, Sky Travel and Sky Travel Extra, from their television services after a dispute between Virgin Media and BSkyB caused by the expiry of their carriage agreement and their inability to reach a new deal. At midnight, Sky Two was removed, and the name of the station in the electronic programming guide was changed to "Old Sky Two Try Living" on the analogue cable service. On 13 November 2008, Sky2 along with Sky1, Sky News and Sky Sports News were returned to Virgin Media's television service along with four more Sky channels: Sky Arts 1, Sky Arts 2, Sky Real Lives and Sky Real Lives 2.

1996-1997
Sky 2: 1996-1997, at TV Live The original 'Sky 2' channel used the same ident as the recently renamed 'Sky 1' with the numeral changed.

2005-2008
Sky Two: 2005-2008, at TV Live The first presentation used by the new Sky Two channel in 2005, after being renamed from 'Sky Mix' (originally 'Sky One Mix'), at the same time Sky Three launched.

2008
Sky Two: 2008, at TV Live Skys One-Three received a short live presentation update in 2008 that acted as a stopgap in preparation for a brand new identity for all three channels later in the year.

2008-2011
Sky2: 2008-2011, at TV Live The new presentation package for all three channels, featuring the same idents but with the different numerals and colours, as well as an element assigned to each channel. Blue and solid for Sky1, green and liquid for Sky2, and pink and gas for Sky3. At the same time the channels names were changed from Sky One-Three to Sky1-3.

2011-present
Sky2: 2011-p=resent, at TV Live All Sky channels received a unified look in 2011. Sky2 was reassigned to become more clearly associated with Sky1, as Sky3 was renamed Pick TV shortly afterwards. The idents are unique to the channel. They feature similar locations to the Sky1 idents, such as the swimming pool and roller skating, but instead show ground shots with a small chrome '2' compared to the large chrome '1' on the Sky1 idents.

Sky1 timeshift experiment
From 10 May 2010, Sky2 carried an hour timeshift of programming on Sky1. Sky2 will however, remain a standalone offering. A Sky spokesperson said: "We are experimenting with different channel schedules to bring maximum value to our customers."

Particular programmes which weren't shown an hour later included the premier of Sky1's Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, the station's latest adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. Also not seen on a timeshift basis was the final ever episode of Lost which was aired at 5am, as it was simultaneously being broadcast in the US. The last ever episodes of 24 (Sky showed it as a two-part finale) also weren't shown an hour later on Sky2.

Terry Pratchett's Going Postal would be shown later in the week with both Lost and 24 being shown on Sky2 after the final credits rolled on Sky1. Again, alternative programmes filled the gaps.

The trial concluded on 9 August 2010, with the channel reverting to its previous scheduling pattern.