<PAGE>

 
                                 UNITED STATES

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                   Form 10-Q


(X)  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934
     For the quarter ended September 30, 1997

                                       OR

(_)  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
     For the transition period from _____ to _____


Commission File No. 2-78751


                         AMERICAN CABLE TV INVESTORS 2
            ------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


     State of California                                84-0904982
--------------------------------                        ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)
 
 
           5619 DTC Parkway
         Englewood, Colorado                             80111
----------------------------------------                ----------
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)


      Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (303) 267-5500

          Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes   X       No 
                                                  -----        -----
<PAGE>
 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION


                         AMERICAN CABLE TV INVESTORS 2
                            (A Limited Partnership)

                                 Balance Sheets
                                  (unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              September 30,   December 31,
                                                   1997           1996
                                              --------------  -------------
Assets                                            amounts in thousands
------                                        
<S>                                           <C>             <C>
Cash and cash equivalents                            $2,089          2,238
                                                     ======          =====
                                              
Liabilities and Partners' Equity              
--------------------------------              
Accounts payable and accrued expenses                $  211             62
                                              
Amounts due to related parties (note 4)                 106            181
                                                     ------          -----
                                              
      Total liabilities                                 317            243
                                                     ------          -----
                                              
Partners' equity (deficit):                   
   General partners                                   1,935          1,991
   Initial limited partner                             (276)          (272)
   Limited partners                                     113            276
                                                     ------          -----
                                              
      Total partners' equity                          1,772          1,995
                                                     ------          -----
                                              
Contingency (note 5)                          
                                              
                                                     $2,089          2,238
                                                     ======          =====
</TABLE>



See accompanying notes to financial statements.


                                      I-1
<PAGE>
 
                         AMERICAN CABLE TV INVESTORS 2
                            (A Limited Partnership)

                            Statements of Operations
                                  (unaudited)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Three months       Nine months
                                                ended             ended
                                            September 30,     September 30,
                                          -----------------  ----------------
                                            1997     1996     1997     1996
                                          --------  -------  -------  -------
<S>                                       <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>
                                                amounts in thousands,
                                                 except unit amounts
                                         
General and administrative expenses      
   (note 5)                               $  (210)     (98)    (277)    (369)
                                         
Interest income                                28       36       54      151
                                          -------   ------   ------   ------
                                         
    Net loss                              $  (182)     (62)    (223)    (218)
                                          =======   ======   ======   ======
                                         
Loss per limited partnership unit        
   (note 2)                               $ (4.32)   (1.47)   (5.29)   (5.17)
                                          =======   ======   ======   ======
                                         
Limited partnership units outstanding      30,772   30,772   30,772   30,772
                                          =======   ======   ======   ======
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to financial statements.


                                      I-2
<PAGE>
 
                         AMERICAN CABLE TV INVESTORS 2
                            (A Limited Partnership)

                         Statement of Partners' Equity

                      Nine months ended September 30, 1997
                                  (unaudited)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Initial
                                      General   limited    Limited
                                     partners   partner   partners   Total
                                     ---------  --------  ---------  ------
<S>                                  <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>
                                             amounts in thousands
                                 
Balance at January 1, 1997             $1,991      (272)       276   1,995
                                 
 Net loss                                 (56)       (4)      (163)   (223)
                                       ------    ------     ------  ------
                                 
Balance at September 30, 1997          $1,935      (276)       113   1,772
                                       ======    ======     ======  ======
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.


                                      I-3
<PAGE>
 
                         AMERICAN CABLE TV INVESTORS 2
                            (A Limited Partnership)

                            Statements of Cash Flows
                                  (unaudited)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  Nine months ended
                                                                                    September 30,
                                                                          ------------------------------
                                                                              1997              1996
                                                                          ------------      ------------
<S>                                                                       <C>               <C>
                                                                                amounts in thousands
                                                                                    (see note 3)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 Net loss                                                                 $    (223)            (218)
 Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
  activities:
     Change in receivables                                                       --               (9)
     Change in accounts payable, accrued expenses 
       and amounts due to related parties                                        74             (401)
                                                                          ------------      ------------
       Net cash used in operating activities                                   (149)            (628)
                                                                          ------------      ------------
Cash flows from investing activities -
 Distribution to minority owner of Redlands                                      --             (210)
                                                                          ------------      ------------
Cash flows from financing activities                                             --               --
                                                                          ------------      ------------
       Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                               (149)            (838)
 
       Cash and cash equivalents:
         Beginning of period                                                  2,238            3,045
                                                                          ------------      ------------
         End of period                                                    $   2,089            2,207
                                                                          ============      ============
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to financial statements.


                                      I-4
<PAGE>
 
                         AMERICAN CABLE TV INVESTORS 2
                            (A Limited Partnership)

                         Notes to Financial Statements

                               September 30, 1997
                                  (unaudited)


(1)  Basis of Financial Statement Preparation
     ----------------------------------------
     The accompanying unaudited financial statements include the accounts of
     American Cable TV Investors 2 ("ACT 2" or the "Partnership"). Through
     December 31, 1995, ACT 2 had a 65% ownership interest in Redlands, a joint
     venture which was formed to acquire, develop and operate cable television
     systems in and around Redlands, California. American Cable TV Investors 3
     ("ACT 3"), an affiliate, owned the 35% minority interest in Redlands. In
     connection with a dissolution, indemnification and contribution agreement
     (the "Dissolution Agreement"), Redlands was dissolved as of January 1,
     1996. In accordance with the terms of the Dissolution Agreement, Redlands'
     net assets were distributed to ACT 2 and ACT 3 based on their respective
     ownership interests.

     TCI Cablevision Associates, Inc. ("Cablevision"), an indirect subsidiary of
     Tele-Communications, Inc. ("TCI"), is the managing agent of ACT 2.

     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
     accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
     assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at
     the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
     and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from
     those estimates.

     The accompanying financial statements of the Partnership are unaudited. In
     the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal
     recurring accruals) have been made which are necessary to present fairly
     the financial position of the Partnership as of September 30, 1997 and the
     results of its operations for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and
     1996. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily
     indicative of the results for the entire year.

     These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial
     statements and related notes thereto included in the Partnership's December
     31, 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(2)  Allocation of Net Earnings and Net Losses
     -----------------------------------------
     Pursuant to ACT 2's limited partnership agreement (the "Partnership
     Agreement"), net earnings and net losses of ACT 2 are to be allocated 1% to
     the general partners, 2% to the initial limited partner and 97% to the
     limited partners until the limited partners have received cumulative
     distributions equal to their original capital contributions ("Payback").
     After the limited partners have received distributions equal to Payback,
     the allocations of net earnings and net losses shall be 25% to the general
     partners, 2% to the initial limited partner and 73% to the limited
     partners.

                                                                     (continued)


                                      I-5
<PAGE>
 
                         AMERICAN CABLE TV INVESTORS 2
                            (A Limited Partnership)

                         Notes to Financial Statements


     Net loss per limited partnership unit is calculated by dividing the net
     loss attributable to the limited partners by the number of limited
     partnership units outstanding during the period.  The limited partners
     achieved Payback in 1994.  Accordingly, the Partnership's losses for the
     nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 have been allocated using the
     post-Payback percentages set forth above.

(3)  Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
     ------------------------------------------------
     ACT 2 considers investments with initial maturities of six months or less
     to be cash equivalents. At September 30, 1997, $2,056,000 of money market
     funds were included in cash and cash equivalents. ACT 2 is exposed to
     credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other parties to such
     financial instruments. However, ACT 2 does not anticipate non-performance
     by the other parties.

(4)  Transactions with Related Parties
     ---------------------------------
     ACT 2 reimburses Cablevision for direct out-of-pocket and indirect
     expenses allocable to ACT 2 and for certain personnel employed on a full-
     or part-time basis to perform accounting or other services.  Such
     reimbursements amounted to $27,000 for both the nine month periods ended
     September 30, 1997 and 1996.

     Amounts due to related parties represent non-interest-bearing payables to
     TCI and its affiliates consisting of (i) the net effect of cash advances
     and certain expense allocations and (ii) the advancement of legal and other
     fees and expenses associated with the litigation described in note 5.

(5)  Litigation
     ----------
     On September 30, 1994, a limited partner of ACT 2 filed suit in United
     States District Court for the District of Colorado (the "District Court")
     against the managing general partner of ACT 2.  A similar suit was filed
     against the managing general partner of ACT 3.  The lawsuit, as amended,
     also names certain affiliates of the managing general partner as
     defendants.  The lawsuit, as amended, alleges that the defendants violated
     disclosure requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that
     certain defendants breached a fiduciary duty to the plaintiffs in
     connection with the sale of the Redlands, California cable television
     system.

                                                                     (continued)


                                      I-6
<PAGE>
 
                         AMERICAN CABLE TV INVESTORS 2
                            (A Limited Partnership)

                         Notes to Financial Statements


     On November 3, 1995, the District Court granted the plaintiff's motion
     for certification of this case as a class action.  The class has been
     defined to include all persons who were limited partners of ACT 2 as of the
     close of business on October 1, 1993, excluding, however, the defendants,
     their parent corporations, subsidiaries, and affiliates.  On January 7,
     1997, the District Court issued an order consolidating this case with a
     similar case filed against the managing general partner of ACT 3 (the
     "Consolidated Cases").

     On or about October 27, 1997, the defendants entered into a preliminary
     settlement agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") in connection with the
     Consolidated Cases. On November 5, 1997, the District Court approved the
     form of notice to be transmitted to the class members relative to the
     proposed settlement, and scheduled a hearing before the District Court (the
     "Settlement Hearing") for January 7, 1998 at 3 p.m., to determine whether
     the Settlement Agreement should be approved and whether a final judgment
     should be entered in connection with the Settlement Agreement. Counsel for
     the class members will endeavor to mail to class members a notice of the
     Settlement Hearing along with the plan for distributing the settlement
     amount as set forth in the Settlement Agreement.

     Section 21 of the Partnership Agreement provides that the general
     partners and their affiliates, subject to certain conditions set forth in
     more detail in the Partnership Agreement, are entitled to be indemnified
     for any liability or loss incurred by them by reason of any act performed
     or omitted to be performed by them in connection with the business of ACT
     2, provided that the general partners determine, in good faith, that such
     course of conduct was in the best interests of ACT 2 and did not constitute
     proven fraud, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty or misconduct.

     Through September 30, 1997, ACT 2 and ACT 3 have received requests from
     the general partners and certain of their affiliates for the advancement of
     legal and other fees and expenses associated with the above-described
     lawsuit totaling $2.3 million.  Consistent with the terms of the
     Partnership Agreement, this amount has been advanced by ACT 2 and ACT 3.
     ACT 2's 50% share of such fees and expenses for the nine months ended
     September 30, 1997 and 1996, which total $206,000 and $313,000,
     respectively, has been included in general and administrative expenses in
     the accompanying financial statements.  


                                      I-7
<PAGE>
 
                         AMERICAN CABLE TV INVESTORS 2
                            (A Limited Partnership)


Management's Discussion and Analysis of
---------------------------------------
 Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 ---------------------------------------------

     Material Changes in Results of Operations
     -----------------------------------------

     ACT 2 is no longer engaged in the cable television business and is
currently seeking to make a final determination of its liabilities so that
liquidating distributions can be made in connection with its dissolution.
Accordingly, the Partnership's results of operations for the three and nine
month periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 include (i) the advancement of
legal and other fees and expenses associated with the litigation described in
note 5 to the accompanying financial statements, (ii) costs associated with the
administration of the Partnership and (iii) interest income earned on the
Partnership's invested cash and cash equivalents.  Interest income for the nine
month period ended September 30, 1997, has been decreased by $28,000 to reverse
the overaccrual of interest income in prior periods.

     Material Changes in Financial Condition
     ---------------------------------------

     ACT 2 anticipates that it will make liquidating distributions in connection
with its dissolution as soon as possible following the final determination and
satisfaction of ACT 2's liabilities.  In this regard, as described in note 5 to
the accompanying financial statements, a Settlement Agreement has been entered
into in connection with the Consolidated Cases.  Liquidating distributions will
be made as soon as practicable upon approval of the Settlement Agreement and
entry of final judgment.



                                      I-8
<PAGE>
 
                         AMERICAN CABLE TV INVESTORS 2
                            (A Limited Partnership)


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.      Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
-------      --------------------------------

      (a)    Exhibits:

             (27)  Financial Data Schedule

      (b)    Reports on Form 8-K filed during the quarter ended September 30,
             1997 - none




                                     II-1
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                           AMERICAN CABLE TV INVESTORS 2
                                              (A Limited Partnership)
                          
                                      By:  IR-TCI PARTNERS II,
                                           Its Managing General Partner
                          
                                      By:  TCI VENTURES, INC.,
                                           A General Partner
                          
                          
                          
Date:  November 10, 1997              By:  /s/ Gary K. Bracken
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Gary K. Bracken
                                           Vice President and Controller
                                           (Principal Accounting Officer)




                                     II-2