K2 (TV channel)

K2 is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned by Discovery EMEA for children between 4 and 14 years of age. Its registered office is in Rome. It launched on 1 October 2004 as a syndication managed by the Italian subsidiary of Fox Kids Europe, Fox Kids Italy S.r.l.

K2
Broadcast areaItaly
HeadquartersRome
Programming
Language(s)Italian
Picture format576i SDTV
Ownership
OwnerJetix Italy S.r.l. (Jetix Europe) (2004-2009)
Switchover Media (2009-2013)
Discovery Italia (2013-2022)
Warner Bros. Discovery (2022-present)
Sister channelsNove
DMAX
Food Network
Frisbee
Giallo
HGTV
Motor Trend
Real Time
HTV
History
LaunchedOctober 1, 2004 (2004-10-01) (block)
June 15, 2009 (2009-06-15) (channel)
ReplacedFox Kids (Block)
Former namesK-2 (Block)
Links
Websitewww.k2tv.it
Availability
Terrestrial
DigitalLCN 41

History

K2 was launched on 1 October 2004 as an analogue-based block from 5pm to 7pm, which was syndicated in other Italian regional television stations, replacing Fox Kids in the process during its rebrand into Jetix.[1] In 2009, it was launched as its own digital terrestrial television channel.[2]

Due to Disney's decision to rebrand the Jetix Europe operation under the Disney XD brand umbrella, the Italian subsidiary of Jetix Europe, Jetix Italy S.r.l., bought the Italian Jetix network, renamed itself as Switchover Media, agreed to let the Jetix Italy channel rebrand itself to Disney XD Italy, and purchased K-2 and GXT from Jetix Europe in June 2009.[3][4]

In this period 2 channels popped up, K2 Extra and K2 Plus, however, they were just copies of the original channel and were removed in December 2012

With the acquisition of Switchover Media in January 2013 by Discovery Communications, K2 began to be managed by Discovery EMEA.[5]

Programs

The channel is programmed for 4-14-year-olds, airing mostly children shows like Alvin and the Chipmunks, Oggy and the Cockroaches, Zig & Sharko and Total Dramarama. During 10:00pm and 1:00am along with its sister channel Frisbee it airs a block called Family Club, with educational shows taken from Discovery EMEA's other channels like How It's Made and How Do They Do It?. During the night instead, it airs recent shows taken off from the daily schedule, such as The Daltons and Mr. Magoo. On the weekends it airs Pokémon marathons and Cartoon Network shows like Total Drama Island. Whenever movies are aired (mostly on Mondays), they're repeated on Saturday at 1.00pm and Sunday at 9.00am.

Movies

From 2011 to 2013, the channel broadcast movies from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and DIC Entertainment.

Advertising

The channel's current advertising is managed by PRS Media Group.

References
  1. "Jetix Europe Srl: K-2, la nuova TV dei ragazzi" [Jetix Europe Ltd.: K-2, kids' new TV]. E-Duesse (in Italian). Italy. 24 January 2005.
  2. "TV Channel: K2 (Italy)". MAVISE. European Audiovisual Observatory. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  3. "Jetix Italy bosses buy GXT and K2 channels". digitaltveurope.net. July 16, 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  4. Moody, Annemarie (July 15, 2009). "Jetix Italy Announces Management Buyout". AWN News. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  5. "Discovery buys Italian broadcaster Switchover". January 15, 2013. January 15, 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
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