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BBC 2W
Launched	November 5, 2001
Owned by	British Broadcasting Corporation
Audience share	no data available (Jan '06, [1])
Country	Wales
Sister channel(s)	BBC Two
Website	www.bbc.co.uk/wales/2w
Availability
Terrestrial
Freeview	Channel 2 (Wales only)
Satellite
Sky Digital	Channel 102 (Wales) and 961 BBC UK regional TV on satellite
Cable
Virgin Media	Channel 102 (Wales only)

BBC 2W is a digital television channel run by the British Broadcasting Corporation. It replaces the standard BBC Two broadcast on digital services in Wales — running on weekdays from 2030 to 2200. Launched on November 5, 2001, it had an initial reach of 1.1 million viewers^[1], and currently reaches approximately half of the nation's population. 2W broadcasts in English and is aimed at the English-speaking population, unlike S4C, which broadcasts primarily in Welsh.

The channel name on the Electronic Programme Guide is always BBC 2W although outside its broadcast hours the channel is referred to onscreen as BBC Two Wales, using the BBC Two teal logo.

The channel is unpopular with some viewers because of its policy of broadcasting only Welsh-based programmes (including many repeats) during its opt-out hours^{[citation needed]}– unlike BBC Two Wales which only opts out for live sport and new programming. The first switchoff of analogue television in the UK, for instance, was unsuccessful because viewers in Llansteffan and Ferryside, whose analogue transmitter was due to be switched off, insisted that BBC Two Wales be left broadcasting in analogue.

The channel does however provide a choice to all other viewers. Viewers on Satellite can select a different BBC Two region (but not BBC Two Wales) which will show other programming and viewers on Freeview and Cable can switch back to analogue in order to watch BBC Two Wales. This however means they are unable to watch the programme in widescreen, there is no EPG information and picture quality may arguably be poorer. It also means that Freeview/Cable PVR's are unable to record these programmes.

Originally, the channel's news programme was 2W News & Sport, launching with the channel. In 2005, this was replaced by a bulletin of Wales Today, also shown on BBC One. The bulletin, entitled Wales Today on 2W carries the same titles as that on BBC One and is from the same studio with the same main presenters.

From launch BBC 2W used idents where the green box was revealed to be part of the action. However from 18 February 2007, BBC 2W has simply used the standard BBC Two idents with the 2W box replacing the normal teal box. At crossover (when BBC Two Wales becomes BBC 2W) the boxes alternate between each other during the ident. This alternation also occurs during trailers which advertise programmes during BBC 2W hours.

The idents from launch-February 2007 showed the box to be part of the action rather than overlayed on the film.

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