TV2 was launched in 1965 as the successor to the former television channels TES-TV (Tesvisio) and Tamvisio and broadcasts public service programming, sports, drama, children's, youth, and music programmes.

Kakkoskanava, or TV Programme 2, originated with the purchase of Tesvisio by Yleisradio in 1964, which was unable to compete with Yle's Suomen Television for viewers and with Mainostelevision for advertising revenue and was running into bankruptcy.

Finland was the first in the Nordic countries to have a second television channel, while in Sweden, SVT2 (then TV2) did not start until four years later, in December 1969.

However, because of regional policy, the Board of Directors of Yle decided to locate the station in Tampere.

In terms of party politics, TV2 was initially under the mandate of the National Coalition Party, whose alternatives for the management of the channel were TV and radio personality Niilo Tarvajärvi [fi] and film director and set designer Hannu Leminen, who was then elected.