SABC 2



1981–1985	1981–1985	1985–1992	1985–1992	1985–1992	1990-1992


1992–1996	1996–1998	1998–2002	2002–2013	2013–present

TV2/TV3[]

1981–1985[]

By 1979, the broadcasts covered more than 80% of the white population, and 42% of the black population. There was still only one channel, SABC TV. On 31 December, 1981, the two separate black services were introduced. The existing SABC TV channel was now known as TV1 and continued carrying its prior English and Afrikaans lineup, and the black television service consisted of two services: TV2 for Nguni languages (Zulu and Xhosa) and TV3 for Sotho languages (Sotho, Northern Sotho and Tswana). For the first year, these services were broadcast over one channel, with equal distribution of the 27 hours of weekly transmission time. Unlike the first channel, which was opened with announcements and normal programmes, the black channel was launched with a grand gala opening. The services were structured in such a way that it broadcast to areas where there were bigger concentrations of the different languages, and where there was electricity. On 31 December 1982, the two services were split into two separate regional channels, each broadcasting for 27 hours a week and covering the main Nguni regions (TV2) and Sotho regions (TV3).