CSA Recommends DVB-T2
The French regulator has recommended to switch to DVB-T2 by 2020 at the latest. A mandatory switch to MPEG 4 and later HEVC compression is also recommended.

Source: CSA (in French)
Date: 4 Feb 2013

Arcep allocates 800MHz Digital Dividend spectrum
French telecom regulator Arcep has allocated the 800MHz “Digital dividend” spectrum for 4G mobile services to operators Bouygues Telecom, Orange France and SFR.
SFR won two blocks B&C of the 800MHz spectrum.
Orange France, won block D, and Bouygues Telecom, won Block A. Each block is a 10 MHz duplex.
Arcep will deliver authorisations to use the 800MHz frequencies in early January.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 27th December 2011 




Four operators bid for 800MHz “Digital Dividend” spectrum
French telecommunication regulator Arcep has received four applications for LTE licences in the 800MHz band. The authority already awarded 2.6GHz LTE licences to the same bidders, Orange France, Free Mobile, SFR and Bouygues Telecom, for EUR 936 million, in mid-October. The new allocation of 800MHz spectrum, which came from the 'digital dividend', is a separate procedure for which the application deadline was 15 December. Arcep said it will examine the applications and will announce the results of the procedure in the coming weeks.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 19th December 2011 



Report suggests up to 40 HD/DTT services by 2020
The Ministry of Industry has issued a report on future spectrum needs. The report was prepared by Tera Consultants on behalf of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Communications.
According to the report, the needs of the mobile broadband industry will double by 2020. In addition, progress with compression technology will allow broadcasters to provide 30 to 40 HD services on the DTT platform by 2020 using half of the frequencies currently allocated to them.
As part of its digital dividend, the government is planning to auction frequencies in the 800 MHz band in December with the hope of raising up to €1.5 billion.
Lobbying has now begun for a second digital dividend with telecom operators interested in a further 150 MHz.
Source: Le Figaro
Item added: 12th December 2011



CSA publishes Q2 2011 digital TV penetration survey
France’s Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) has published figures on the penetration of digital TV in French households.
At the end of June 2011, 62.6% of households had chosen digital terrestrial as their method of digital TV reception, up 2.4 percentage points since the end of 2010.
The proportion of households with pay satellite went down by 2.0% during the first half of the year.
France has now completed its analogue switch off.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 12th December 2011



Analogue switch off completed
France switched off its last analogue transmitters in the Languedoc-Roussillon mainland areas and in overseas France French Guyana, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Mayotte, during the night of the 28-29th November. This brings an end to SECAM transmissions.
The ASO process began in October 2009 and in 2010 had covered 35% of the French population in 10 regions. By 2011 14 regions covering 65% of the population had achieved ASO. Coverage has now reached 97.3% of the population and those unable to receive terrestrial TV can view the free-to-air channels via satellite using a subscription-free smart card.
Source: Broadband TV News and L'Express
Item added: 5th December 2011 



France 5 in HD on DTT
The public service broadcaster France Télévision is reported to be in discussion with the French government for the allocation of frequencies to use for the provision of its service France 5 in HD on the DTT platform.
France Télévision would like to automatically receive one of licences that the broadcast regulator CSA has opened for tender and is prepared to launch France 5 HD by the end of Autumn 2012.
Currently, France 5 is available in standard-definition on the country’s free-to-air DTT platform.
Source: DigiTAG attributed to Les Echos
Item added: 28th November 2011 




CSA agrees DVB-T2 tests in Rennes
The French media authority the CSA has authorised the broadcast transmitter company TDF to carry out DVB-T2 tests in the city of Rennes.
The pilot started on the 20th October, but the CSA has only just published its decision.
The tests are being carried out on UHF channel 43 from two transmitter sites, Rennes- Cesson Sevigne and Rennes-January, for a period of six months.
One of the aims of the tests seems to be to test single frequency networks.
Abertis Telecom has also launched another DVB-T2 pilot in Barcelona which will also study the implementation of DVB-T2 single frequency networks as well as DVB-T2 Lite.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 28th November 2011 




Bids submitted for new DTT channels
Several French broadcasters have already submitted bids to the CSA's for the six new DTT channels, according to AFP.
Televista, which operates the Vivolta women's channel, has proposed a lifestyle channel. NextRadioTV proposed a free sports channel called RMC Sport. Ensemble TV (IDTF1) and L'Equipe and Allocine also submitted entries.
Candidates still have until the 10th January 2012 to submit bids.
The CSA is due to announce the tender winners in the middle of March and issue licences before the end of May.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 29th October 2011 




LTE tests suspended for a weekend to avoid DTT interference
French audiovisual regulator the CSA asked operators to suspend their LTE tests in Laval over the weekend of the 15-16th October to avoid interference with DTT signals during the semi-finals of the rugby world cup and for  the announcement of the socialist party candidate for next year's presidential election.
The CSA technology director Franck Lebeugle wrote to operators and equipment makers telling them that some equipment had caused interference at a dozen buildings housing 300-400 people.
 The LTE tests are being run by Orange France, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, Alcatel-Lucent and TDF.
Hugues Martinet, director of TV operations at Towercast, which was not chosen for the tests in Laval, told Les Echos that the company was informed by users of significant interference, including freezing the image and even blocking reception altogether. The signal from the regions TV transmitters is said to be too weak relative to the LTE base stations operating next to homes, he added.
CSA refused to comment until the end of the ongoing tests.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 24th October 2011



CSA opens call for 6 HD channels
The Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) has launched a call for applications for six HD channels to broadcast on the French DTT system.
The channels will broadcast in DVB-T/MPEG-4 over the R7 and R8 multiplexes.
The deadline for applications is the 3rd January 2012 with the candidates selected in mid-March.
The formal licensing process will be completed at the end of May 2012.
In a statement the CSA said it would look favourably on channels planning to be on-air in the autumn of 2012 with coverage of 25% of the French mainland.
The two new networks will be deployed by 2014 to achieve a coverage equivalent to that of R1, R2, R4 and R6.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th October 2011 



DVB-T2 in 2015/16
The government has committed to using DVB-T2 in the future according to the CSA.
Michel Boyon, the president of the CSA said that there is no timetable for the launch of DVB-T2 in France but hinted that this could be at the end of 2015, beginning of 2016.
DVB-T2 would be used to modernise TNT (DTT) to allow the spread of high definition and a more efficient use of broadcast frequencies.
The six new DTT channels recently announced will soon be offered for tender and will come on air using DVB-T, probably by the second half of 2012.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th October 2011 



TDF share of DTT infrastructure 84.7%
TDF the main DTT transmission and mast provider in France had an 84.7% share of the infrastructure market at the end of Q2 2011 according to Arcep. It also had a 71.5% share of the available DTT spectrum at the end of the same period.
The market is progressively being opened up putting former monopoly TDF in competition with other operators which include TowerCast, Onecast and Itas TIM.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 10th October 2011



More Free-to Air DTT channel
Six more free-to-air TV channels may soon be launched in France according to Le Figaro.
The matter is scheduled to be pursued at a cabinet meeting this week. If agreed, the government will ask media authority CSA to launch a tender.
This approach is expected to satisfy all players.
TF1, M6 and Canal Plus would bid with their bonus channels, TV Breizh, M6 Famille and Canal20. NRJ and Nextratio TV, which also seek a second channel, could go ahead with their Cherie HD and RMC Sport projects.
There are currently 19 free DTT channels using the DVB-T standard in France.
The CSA has called for all future channels to use DVB-T2.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 10th October 2011



LTE operators to bear the cost of DTT interference
France's mobile operators will bear the cost of any interference with DTT services, according to the 2012 budget bill presented on the 28th September, Les Echos reports. The additional spectrum to be auctioned for LTE services in December is in the 800MHz “digital dividend” frequency band, very close to the one used for DTT. The draft law states that "in case of interference, operators will take the necessary measures to enable the resumption of TV service reception by any appropriate means".
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 3rd October 2011


Planning for the future of DTT in France
The DTT platform in France has generated much attention in the past month. Most notably, the head of the CSA, Michel Boyon, issued his recommendations to the Prime Minister on the future of the DTT platform calling for the introduction of DVB-T2. In addition, the pay broadcaster Canal+ announced its plans to enter the free-to-air DTT market. And early reports about the release of the European Commission’s formal opinion on the attribution of the so-called bonus channels on the DTT platform indicate opposition from the European Commission.
A full report on the current position is available on the Digitag website in the latest Web Letter for September
Item added: 3rd October 2011 



€1bn for 4G mobile licences
Fourteen frequency lots for 4G services have been allocated by the regulatory body ARCEP. The successful bidders were Orange, Free, SFR and Bouygues who will pay a total of €936m between them for the 20 year licences.
The recent allocation did not include the 800MHz “digital dividend” frequencies which are expected to be allocated on the 15th December. The lowest guide price for this round is said to be €1.8bn.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 26th September 2011 




CSA recommends DVB-T2 for new DTT channels
France's TV and radio regulator the CSA, has proposed the immediate adoption of the DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 standards for all new DTT channels.
DVB-T2 will allow broadcasters to air four or more HD channels over a single multiplex and together with MPEG-4 will favour the development of HD, which is expected to be supported by 95% of French TV sets by 2015.
Once the government decides on the standard, the CSA will be able to launch a tender for the new DTT channels.
On the related issue of bonus channels for historic broadcasters, the head of the CSA said the European Commission is due to announce its decision by the end of September.
CSA’s report on the DVB-T2 proposal can be downloaded by clicking on the following link:- SUR L’AVENIR DE LA TELEVISION NUMERIQUE TERRESTRE
Main source: Telecompaper
Item added: 13th September 2011



DTT dominates in France, Italy and Spain
A recent DTT market released by NPA Conseil, has found that digital terrestrial television dominates the market in France, Italy and Spain.
In these countries, DTT has a coverage rate of 90%, 81% and 98% respectively and has a penetration rate of 62% in France, 71% in Italy and 79% in Spain.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 13th September 2011 


ASO for TMC in Monaco
The French state has signed an agreement with the government of the Principality of Monaco to shut down the analogue TV transmitters of TMC, Tele Monte Carlo.
TMC is a private commercial broadcaster operating under a Monegasque licence. Originally, its transmitters were only situated in the Principality so as to improve reception in the surrounding area.
Under the agreement, TMC will close down all its remaining analogue transmitters on the 29th November 2011 which is the date that all the remaining French analogue TV transmitters will be switched off.
TMC is already available nationwide as a free-to-air channel on the DTT network in France.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 5th September 2011 



French government confirms plans for DVB-T2 launch
The French government confirmed plans to move the country to DVB-T2. The new digital broadcasting standard will be used for the so-called “bonus channels”, to be offered to the largest broadcast groups TF1, M6 and Canal+, promised in compensation for the erosion of their market shares since the introduction of digital terrestrial TV. These channels should be allocated in November, and the government has notified the European Commission of its plans, the industry ministry confirmed to AFP. The new digital standard probably won't be used until 2013, as it requires consumers to upgrade their decoders. However the bonus channels may face opposition from the EC, which already warned France in November 2010 about the proposal. Brussels is expected to respond to the new government proposal by the end of November.
Sources: Telecompaper and La Tribune
Item added: 29th August 2011 



Local DTT attracts viewers
According to Médiamétrie’s latest audience survey nearly 700,000 viewers are watching a local channel each day in France.
The survey looked at viewing figures for 18 channels such as Alsace 20, Normandie TV, Télénantes, Tébéo and TV SUD Montpellier. Two of the channels IDF1 and NRJ Paris are in the Paris region and 16 are based in other French regions.
The report covers the period from September 2010 to June 2011 and found that 694,000 people spend at least 36 minutes each day watching local DTT TV.
It was also found that 21.4 million people aged 15 and above can receive at least one DTT local channel on their TV set.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 11th July 2011  



CSA gives opinion on frequencies in overseas territories
The CSA recently gave its opinion on the use of TV frequencies in the French overseas territories following the switch to DTT.
The CSA takes not of the Governments wish to use frequencies vacated by the cessation of analogue services for mobile services and high speed Internet broadband. The council stated that it had considered these requirements when it made provision for two DTT multiplexes in the various departments and overseas territories but that it would still consider, where appropriate the allocation of frequencies for the establishment of additional multiplexes based on available resources and the needs of other users in a public consultation at a later date.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 4th July 2011



Telecom operator objects to costs of interference to DTT
French operator Bouygues Telecom has asked the country's highest administrative court, the Council of State, to rule on a piece of legislation requiring mobile operators to bear the costs of resolving any interference from the 4G bands (digital dividend 800MHz channels) on digital terrestrial broadcasting. The clause was included in a piece of legislation to transpose the EU telecom package. However, Bouygues estimates the cost could be as much as €500 million to €1.7 billion, with interference affecting up to 20% of households.
Bouygues said that operators will be unable to participate in the 4G auction due to uncertainty about the possible costs associated with winning frequency rights. The Ministry of Industry downplayed the risk, saying other countries already using the bands have found interference to be limited and the costs much lower for resolving the issue. In addition, the government has priced the one lot of spectrum posing the greatest risk at a lower price. The Council of State is expected to rule by the 15th July, while the first applications to participate in the auction are due by mid-September.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 4th July 2011



New programme on Pay-DTT
A new TV programme service called CFoot is to launch on the Pay-DTT platform on the 28Th July.
It is owned by the French Football League and will offer matches, daily talk shows and a sports magazines focusing on football.
The subscription to CFoot will cost viewers €3.99 per month.
CFoot forecasts 700,000 subscribers on the Pay-DTT platform by 2014.
Initially the channel will be available exclusively on DTT.
Source: Le Figaro
Item added: 4th July 2011 



Consultation on DTT platform evolution
The CSA has opened a consultation on the evolution of the DTT platform seeking answers to 9 specific questions. It also asks for any additional market study information that might be relevant.
The questions cover topics such as the launch of new services; the inclusion of more TV services; the transition to more efficient transmission technologies such as DVB-T2 and MPEG-4; H.264. AVCoding; 3DTV; HDTV and the “bonus” channels allocated to existing broadcasters.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 20th June 2011



ASO in Rhône-Alpes region
Analogue Switch Over (ASO) started on the 14/15th June in the Rhône-Alpes, on a department by department basis. ASO began in Ain and will be continued in the Ardèche, most of the Drôme, the Loire, the Rhône and the Northern part of Isère. ASO in Drôme will be completed in July.
In September, Savoie, Haute-Savoie, and the Southern part of Isère will follow, completing the ASO in this region of France.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 20th June 2011



Order for LTE nominations signed
Eric Besson, the Minister of Industry, Energy and the Digital economy has signed an order which officially launches the call for nominations for the Fourth Generation mobile service (4G also known as LTE)). The signing follows the recommendations of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP) which were passed to the government on the 31st May.
The order covers the “Digital Dividend” frequencies otherwise known as the 800MHz band. These frequencies will be used for mobile and broadband services with bit rates of more than 100 Mbits/sec according the Ministry bulletin which went on to say that the system would bring more quality of service, with instant Internet browsing and an infinity of new services.
Source: Ministry website
Item added: 6th June 2011



CSA chooses SELECTV VOD for pay DTT line-up
The French TV and radio regulator the CSA has chosen SELECTV for a licence to deliver VOD (video on demand) services over DTT.
The TV Numéric subsidiary will offer subscribers a range of audiovisual content, including a variety of HD films and one 3D film every month. SELECTV will be part of a new wave of subscription DTT services to be launched in the country.
The service will run on multiplex R3.
Sources: Telecompaper and CSA website
Item added: 6th June 2011



DTT audience share at new high
French DTT channels broke new records for audience share according to Médiamétrie’s monthly survey, reports Rapid TV News
DTT is now credited with 22.8% audience share up 1% from April’s figure of 19.7%.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 16th May 2011



VOD on DTT attracts 6 applications
Six valid applications have been received by the CSA to supply Video On Demand services on the DTT platform.
The applications were as follows:-
Canal+ Distribution for its service Canal Play
Canal+ for its service Canal+ à la demande
Vaziva Conseil for its service Vidéo à la demande
SelecTV for its service SelecTV
Évazion TV for its service Évazion TV and
TV77 for its service Offre multiservices
The CSA opened a tender for the provision of VOD services on multiplex R3 back in November and applications had to be received by the 14th February 2011.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 16th May 2011



Digital Dividend auction begins soon
France will start the auction of LTE/4G spectrum later this month, the country's Industry minister, Eric Besson has confirmed. He also confirmed speculation that the bidders will have limits imposed on how much spectrum they can buy to ensure the major operators do not dominate the market.
The spectrum cap will be set at 15MHz per operator for the Digital Dividend spectrum in the 800MHz bands, which is considered the most desirable block as it helps the operators deploy coverage with fewer base stations, especially in low use rural areas.
A total of 30MHz is being offered, split into four blocks.
Source: Cellular-News
Item added: 9th May 2011 




France ponders 100% HD on DTT
The French government is considering giving up its idea of ‘bonus’ channels in favour of introducing a 100% HD digital terrestrial platform reports Broadband TV News.
Originally, France intended to issue the three major private broadcasters, TF1, M6 and Canal+, with an extra digital terrestrial channel in order to compensate them for the loss of their analogue frequency.
Following the European Commission’s doubts about the legality of issuing bonus channels the French government is now said to be concentrating on making the DTT platform a 100% HD offer.
The change would to mean a switch from DVB-T/MPEG-2 to DVB-T2/MEPG-4, with the added incentive of increasing the number of channels possible on the existing offering to between 12 and 15 for what is could to be called second generation DTT
It is expected that the government will soon start a consultation on the possibility of a 100% HD DTT system being put in place by 2016-2017.
Sources: Broadband TV News and Le Figaro
Item added: 18th April 2011  




More Broadcasters interested in the DTT platform
Interest in providing services on the DTT platform is growing in France and several broadcasters have announced plans to tender for capacity on platform once analogue switch-off (ASO) is completed.
The CSA has indicated previously that capacity will be available for two additional HD services and three SD services after the ASO. As a result of these forthcoming changes various groups have started detailing their plans.
Media group NRJ, would like to launch an HD service Chérie HD, that targets a female audience, whilst the media group Amaury and Alain Weill would each like to launch a sport service in high-definition, L'Équipe TV and RMC Sport.
The commercial broadcaster Canal+ also announced plans to launch a standard-definition service tentatively named Canal 20 while M6 would like to launch two new services, M6 Famille and a generalist service.
Source: DigiTAG from Le Point
Item added: 11th April 2011  



Interference to DTT from close LTE transmissions
An LTE trial near Laval has shown interference problems between the LTE services and the DTT platform. The tests were carried out using simulated LTE services in the “Digital Dividend” frequencies soon to be auctioned to other users. Some problems can be overcome by installing filters but there is no requirement at the moment for “Digital Dividend” services to pay for them.
In some cases the interference from LTE services caused households to "lose" their television services. Television services broadcasting near the frequency channels used by the LTE services are the most affected. It is not clear how many households would suffer from interference.
The LTE trial was made by the telecom operators Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom together with the broadcast network operator TDF.
The French government has already planned to auction these frequencies and expects to receive Euro 2 billion from the sale.
The tender will be launched in April with submissions between May and July followed by licences awarded in September.
The Ministry of Industry, ANFR and the CSA will examine the results of the trial, which will not only be relevant to France but also to the many other countries that are also counting on monies generated from the sale of their own “Digital Dividends”.
Sweden is reported to have included a provision in its sale to protect television reception whilst the UK has started a one-year trial on the subject which will end in 2012.
Main source: Le Figaro
Item added: 28th March 2012



Overseas Territories ASO dates announced
The CSA have released the analogue switch off (ASO) dates for its French overseas Territories.
Wallis and Futuna will switch off on the 27th September followed by Mayotte and La Réunion on the 25th October and Martinique, Guadeloup and Guyane on the 29th November.
Tentative dates have also been set for French Polynesia on the 20th September, New Caledonia and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon on the 27th September and Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin on the 29th November.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 21st March 2011  



Analogue TV ends in Paris
Analogue TV broadcasting will end on the night of 7-8th March for over 12 million TV viewers in the Ile-de-France region which includes Paris.
TDF, the Broadcast provider, has invested €10 million in the analogue switch by upgrading transmitters at the Eiffel Tower from 20 to 50 KW and four major antennas, as well as some 40 smaller masts in the area. TV channels will switch to new frequencies to free up the 800MHz band for the mobile internet and to leave room for new channels. France's region by region analogue switch-off is due to be completed at the end of November.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 7th March 2011  


23 million households have DTT receivers
At the end of 2010, 9 out of 10 French homes (24 million) had at least one digital decoder (satellite, DSL box, DTT or cable box) according to GfK and Mediametrie.
DTT receivers are now in 23 million households (84.5%) of which 16.6 million have iDTV’s and 10.8 million have DTT set top boxes.
Source: Médiamétrie website
Item added: 21st February 2011  



More regions switch of analogue TV
Between the night of Monday the 31st January and the following Tuesday evening, two more French regions, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Upper Normandy, will switch off all analogue terrestrial broadcasts.
Picardy will make the move to DTT between Tuesday night and Wednesday evening.
Theswitch is expected to affect about 61,000 households who are still receiving analogue TV signals.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 31st January 2011



DSO aid extended to French overseas territories
The CSA has agreed to provide financial aid to viewers in French overseas territories, to help them make the switch to Digital Terrestrial TV.
DTT services in the overseas territories will use DVB-T coded using the MPEG-4, H.264 Audio Video Codec.
The aid will also be made available to households who previously accessed television through analogue satellite but are no longer able to do so since the launch of digital satellite services.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 21st January 2011



DVB-T2 and MPEG-4 likely to be introduced
Eric Besson, the French minister of industry, announced during the New Year’s reception of the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) his willingness to move quickly to MPEG-4 and introduce DVB-T2 for digital terrestrial television, reports Broadband TV News.
He went on to say that All French analogue broadcasts will be terminated and the new Digital Dividend frequencies might be allocated to mobile internet operators as early as November this year.
At the moment, all free-to-air DTT channels are available in DVB-T/MPEG-2, while all HD and premium channels use DVB-T/MPEG-4.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th January 2011



CFoot allocated Pay DTT licence
A call by the CSA requesting applications for a pay channel on DTT multiplex R3 has resulted in the award of a licence to CFoot.
The proposal presented by the Professional Football League, CFoot, will offer viewers access to football content.
The CSA said that its acceptance of this proposal will contribute to the diversity of operators and is in line with its wish to give new impetus to pay DTT.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 20th December 2010



DVB-T services launched in Oversees Territories
The CSA have announced that DTT services using DVB-T will start in all French Overseas territories on the 30th November 2010.
Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotte, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and the islands Wallis and Futuna, in French Polynesia and Nouvelle-Calédonie will begin with a single multiplex and all TV analogue services will be closed.
Between eight and ten channels will be broadcast, depending on the region. The multiplex will offer five channels from public broadcaster France Télévisions (France2, France3, France4, France5, France Ô), Arte, France 24 (in French) and one or two of the regional private broadcasters, ACG, Polynésie 1ère, Nouvelle Calédonie 1ère, TNT TV, Guyane 1ère, Guadeloupe 1ère, La Une Guadeloupe, Carib’inTV, Martinique 1ère, ATB+V, KMT, Mayotte 1ère, Réunion 1ère, Antenne Réunion, Kréol TV, Saint-Pierre & Miquelon 1ère, Wallis and Futuna 1èr.
The new service operated by the French Public broadcast organization responsible for overseas departments and territories, the RFO, will operate the service which is coded using MPEG-4.
Source: Broadband TV News
Official source: CSA
Item added: 29th November 2010



VOD services open for tender
The CSA have invited interested parties to tender for spare capacity on the DTT platform which is to be used for VOD services. In France these services are known as Services de Médias Audiovisuels a la Demand (SMAD). The allocation would be in the R3 multiplex which will reach 95% of the population by ASO.
Applications must be submitted by the 14th February 2011.
Source: CSA
Item added: 29th November 2010  



Burgundy and Franche-Comté switch to digital
On the nights of the 15th and 16th November the regions of Burgundy and Franche-Comté, will switch to digital.
After the switch 10 regions will have completed the change to DTT, this amounts to 20 million viewers, 34% of the French population.
The complete digital switch over process should be completed in November 2011.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 15th November 2010  



85.8% of French homes have a Digital TV receiver
By the end of Q1 2010, 85.8% of the 27 million TV households in France had at least one digital TV receiver in the home, be it DTT, satellite, cable or IPTV; according to research by Mediametrie on behalf of the media authority CSA. The news item posted on the Broadband TV News website goes on to say that during the first three months of the year, about 4 million people switched to digital and according to the CSA the force behind the change is DTT, known as TNT in France.
At the end of Q1 56.8%.of French homes had at least one DVB-T receiver
In Bourgogne, where ASO will take place on the 16th November, 84.8 % of all homes already had digital reception equipment by the end of June. Two out of three homes (66.1 %) had a DVB-T receiver
In Franche-Comté, where ASO will also take place on the 16th November, four out of five homes already had at least one digital receiver (79.1%) at the end of the second quarter and 46 % of all viewers had already chosen for DTT reception.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 25th October 2010



Three apply for French DTT Pay-TV channel
18 Oct 10
Pay-TV operators Canal Plus, TV Numéric and the country’s football league, the LFP, have all applied to operate a new pay-TV channel on the country’s digital-terrestrial TV platform.
The LFP wants to operate a channel to commercialise the rights currently shared between Canal Plus and Orange, following Orange’s decision not to bid for the next set of rights from 2012.
Canal Plus has applied to launch its Canal Plus Family channel on the platform, while TV Numéric wants to extend its existing DTT-based offer, which includes Paris Première, TF6, Planète and Eurosport.
The country’s media regulator, the CSA, will weigh up the applications via a public process in December before naming a winner in January.
Source: Digital TV Europe.net
Item added: 25th October 2010  



Two more regions switch to DTT
Two more regions in France, the Centre and Poitou-Charentes, will switch to all digital TV at midnight on the 18th October. This follows ASO (analogue switch off) in Champagne-Ardenne and Lorraine on the 28th September.
The latest ASO brings the total number of regions having made the switch to 8 representing 17.7 million French people, or 29% of the metropolitan population.
The French digital terrestrial networks offer at least 18 free-to-air channels as well as a number of Pay-TV channels. It also offers terrestrial HD broadcasts.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 18th October 2010



VOD pilot on DTT extended
French media regulator CSA has extended the licence for the terrestrial VOD pilot, which is currently taking place in Rouen, Normandy, until the end of November. The tests are being run by transmitter company TDF and the Pay-TV DTT operator TV Numeric.
French terrestrial VOD is called SMAD, which stands for ‘services de médias audiovisuels à la demande’ and could offer both paid VOD as well as catch-up TV services.
Also in Normandy, the CSA has granted approval to regional channel Normandie TV to test interactive services on the R1 multiplex on condition that it provides more detailed information of the modifications it has in mind and takes measures to prevent any interference with other channels using the multiplex.
Source: Broadband TV News and Digital TV Europe.net
Item added: 18th October 2010  



DTT channels break records in August
French DTT channels have performed strongly in August 2010 according to a monthly survey from rating agency Institute Médiamétrie, reports Rapid TV News.
French DTT channels have attracted viewers over the summer as their market share rose to 20.6 % from 20.1 % in July. While themed channels remained stable around 12.9 %, the national channels lost ground amassing 68.6 % in June, 67.9 % in July and 66.5 % in August 2010.
The big DTT winners were TMC (TF1) up 3.7%, W9 (M6) with 3.0% and family channel Gulli also took advantage of the summer break as its market share rose to 2.6 %.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 31st August 2010  



Fight for remaining Paris DTT space
The French media regulator, the CSA, has received 18 applications for the remaining DTT capacity in Paris, which is a single slot in the R1 multiplex, vacated by public broadcaster France Ô.
As well as local broadcasters, France 24, NextRadioTV, France Télécom Orange, NRJ Group and Euronews are also said to be interested.
Broadband TV News comments that this move has prompted the existing local and regional broadcasters to appeal to the CSA not to endanger the “fragile advertising market.” Rather they see that the Council will grant an HD channel the licence.
France Ô vacated the R1 multiplex when it was allowed national distribution in another mux.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 9th August 2010  



Five new DTT Local channels
CSA selects five new DTT local channels
Following an earlier call for bids, the French TV regulator CSA has announced the selection of five new DTT local channels in the zones of Boulogne-Dunkerque, Rouen-Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Cherbourg, Alençon et Laval.
The successful projects are TV Côte d’Opale in Boulogne and Dunkerque, LCN La Chaîne Normande in Rouen and Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Normandie TV Cotentin in Cherbourg, LM TV Orne in Alençon, and Ma Télé in Laval.
Up to 44 local channels are now accessible on the DTT network while some thousand are broadcast through cable.
Source: CSA and Rapid TV News
Item added: 2nd August 2010  



CSA confirms plans for 3 Pay-DTT channels
French broadcast regulator Le Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) has confirmed plans for three new pay-TV channels on the country’s DTT system and has issued a call for bids for the first channel which will be broadcast in the R3 multiplex.
Bids must be submitted by the 15th October, 2010, with public hearings and selection scheduled for December 2010, followed by service authorisation in January 2011.
Further capacity within R3 will be advertised in September.
Also during Q3 2010 two more pay-TV channels and two free-to-air high definition channels will be advertised.
“The CSA plans to give another chance to pay on DTT,” said CSA President Michel Boyon. “Pay-TV can meet the expectations of free channels which can provide an appropriate response.”
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 26th July 2010  



Help with Analogue Switch Off
The government has published a study on how people in areas not immediately covered by DTT can be helped to receive services. The intention is that all people where-ever they live will have access to services after the analogue services are switched off.
A fund will be established to help with the cost of installing satellite receiving equipment where necessary. Technical assistance will also be available to help the elderly or those with disabilities connect their digital equipment.
Financial compensation may also be possible for groups already outside the planned coverage area to get their own local DTT transmitter installed.
For people living outside the DTT coverage areas, there are two DTH free-to-view platforms available, Fransat on Eutelsat satellites and TNTSat on Astra. Both require a dedicated receiver and a smart card, but once activated, viewing is free of charge
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th July 2010



More want bonus DTT channels
Following the allocation of bonus DTT channels to TF1, Canal+ and M6 groups the private TV groups NextRadioTV and NRJ also want bonus channels, reports Rapid TV News. Both have applied for a new free DTT slot for an HD sport service called RMC Sport HD and a music service called Chérie HD.
The applications follow a call for bids for the two slots from the CSA.
Source: Rapid TV News 2010
Item added: 12th July 2010  



LG adds ‘Canal Ready TV’s to its offering
All 2010 LG TV models on sale in France are being labelled ‘Canal Ready’ from now on.
With this move LG join a growing number of suppliers including Sony and Samsung who already have ‘Canal Ready’ models.
Displaying the label indicates that the sets have a CI slot and an internal decoder which allows viewers access to the Canal+ channels and CanalSat bouquets without the need for an additional set-top box.
Canal+ France began offering Conditional Access Modules suitable for use in the Canal Ready labelled TVs in the spring of this year. The CI modules together with the appropriate smart card give access to all the group’s terrestrial pay channels.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 28th June 2010  



Solaris wins more EU-licences for DVB-SH service
Solaris Mobile now has licences for their DVB-SH (Satellite to Handheld) service in several countries including France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Finland.
Solaris is a joint venture owned by SES Astra and Eutelsat, set up to deliver mobile TV, satellite digital radio and mobile broadband to much of Europe.
An 18 year licence to operate Mobile Services in France, Sweden and Germany was awarded in May 2010, which, together with those already awarded for Finland, Luxembourg, Italy and Slovenia brings the total to seven.
These licences allow Solaris Mobile’s hybrid network to be deployed within the EU and will pave the way for a range of broadcast and broadband services including TV, radio, voice, data and other broadband services to mobile devices.
Steve Maine, CEO of Solaris is reported as saying that “In the coming months, Solaris Mobile will be engaged in setting up additional demonstration trial platforms for TV broadcasting, radio and data services in certain other markets. These activities will demonstrate the benefits of the solution offered by Solaris which include immediate satellite coverage of the area opening up new opportunities to deliver next generation broadband and broadcast services to mobile devices”.
Source: Rapid TV News 2010
Item added: 21st June 2010  



Mobmux chosen as DVB-H network operator
TDF and Virgin Mobile have chosen Mobmux (a subsidiary of TDF) as the operator of their DVB-H multiplex, reports Broadband TV News.
The CSA in announcing the choice of Mobmux said that it was an important step towards the introduction of mobile TV “to which the Council has always been firmly committed”.
The CSA issued a DVB-H licence on the 8th April and the assignment of a network operator in two months was a condition of the licence.
The next step is for Virgin Mobile and TDF to present a financial and marketing plan to the CSA before issuing the final licence.
The 16 broadcasters taking part in the DVB-H service are Arte, BFM TV, Canal +, Direct 8, Europacorp TV, Eurosport, France 2, France 3, I-TV, M6, NRJ 12 NT1 Remix, Orange Sport Info, TF1, Virgin 17 and W9.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 11th June 2010  



NPA expects 1.4 million Pay-DTT households by 2012
French consultancy firm NPA Conseil predicts that Pay-DTT services will reach between 1.35 and 1.45 million subscribers by 2012, reports Rapid TV News.
DTT viewers can already subscribe to Pay-DTT services from Canal+ and TV Numeric who, following their merger, have 55,000 subscribers between them.
The CSA are expected to launch three new Pay-DTT tenders by the end of June.
France will have 8 DTT multiplexes by 2011 increasing to 11 in 2015, the report goes on to say.
Source: Rapid TV News 2010  More info. on DTT & HD, see DigiTAG April webletter
Item added: 7th June 2010  



ASO progresses in France
Analogue Switch-Off (ASO) has been completed in the the Pays de la Loire region in the north western part of France.
DTT services from the four main transmission sites (Nantes, Laval, Le Mans, Angers) were available to viewers by 10am on the 18 May and to viewers relying on the 27 relay sites by 7.40pm on the same day.
To help viewers prepare for analogue switch-off, all households in the region (1.2 million) were sent a 20 page guide by France Télé Numérique in mid-March.
Brittany will be the next region to switch-off analogue terrestrial services on 8 June.
Source: Tous Au Numérique website
Item added: 24th May 2010



DTT Capacity Decision
France’s broadcasting regulator, the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA), has issued its decision on how capacity on the DTT platform will be used in future after a review of the responses to its consultation issued in June 2009.
The CSA has decided to provide viewers with access to one free-to-air service from the public service broadcaster and one new pay-DTT service.
The public service broadcaster France Télévisions is to make its France Ô service available nationwide, extending its current Paris region limit.
A tender will also be issued for new Pay-TV services and in addition the CSA has announced that two additional DTT multiplexes will be launched once the analogue switch-off is completed in November 2011. The new multiplexes are to be designated R7 and R8.
R7 will offer two free-to-air services in HD and two pay-DTT services in SD while R8 will offer new services from the existing broadcasters on the analogue terrestrial platform (TF1, M6, Canal+).
The decision on the allocation of the remaining capacity on R7 and R8 will be made later.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 17th May 2010




HD Services in France
Viewers in France are able to watch HD services across all television delivery platforms, cable, terrestrial, satellite and IPTV according to figures published in DigiTAG’s April newsletter.
On 30 October 2008, the DTT platform officially launched 5 television programme services in HD. Of these, four are available free-to-air (TF1 HD, France 2 HD, ARTE HD, M6 HD) while one is available as a pay service (Canal+ HD).
Quoting the HD Forum, the article goes on to say that the DTT platform has the highest number of HD viewers compared with other television platforms. As of June 2009, 1.1 million DTT households accessed HD services out of a total of 2.4 million HD households (pay and free-to-air). According to data from Screen Digest, strong growth is expected for HD services in the coming year with an estimated 4.1 million pay-HD subscribers by the end of 2010.
To read the full HD newsletter click on the following source link.
Source: DigiTAG April Web Letter
Item added: 17th May 2010  



Virgin Mobile to launch DVB-H service
MVNO Virgin Mobile France and broadcast services provider TDF plan to launch DVB-H mobile TV services in the second half of 2011. (official date is the 22nd April 2010).
In a joint press release, the groups announced that they had signed a deal allowing Omer Telecom, the parent company of Virgin Mobile France, Tele2 Mobile France, Breizh Mobile and Casino Mobile, to be the exclusive mobile distributor at the launch of mobile TV services in France.
The service is due to cover half of the French population at launch, or more than 2,500 towns and cities, well over the 30 percent threshold set by CSA.
Their agreement has now been approved by the communications regulator CSA.
As a next step, the broadcasters with a licence on the mobile television platform will need to designate a multiplex operator by 8 June 2010.
TV services are already up and running in four European countries, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Austria, where they have helped to offload mobile TV traffic from cellular networks. DVB-H picture quality is also considered superior to streaming mobile video.
Source: Telecompaper and CSA website
Item added: 30th April 2010  



DVB-SH trial service extended
Solaris Mobile, a joint venture between Eutelsat and SES Astra, is to expand its existing Paris Based DVB-SH trial network to cover Rennes, Nancy and their surrounding areas.
The network, launched in November 2009 to demonstrate the broadcast of TV and radio services to mobile phones, other handheld devices and cars, delivers programmes direct from satellite but uses ground based repeaters to give seamless reception even in shadow areas..
The roll-out of the network in Nancy and Rennes will enable the delivery of mobile broadcast services to people on the move according to Solaris CEO Steve Maine.
Solaris plan to launch a service across the whole of Europe in the near future.
This hybrid network became possible when the European Commission and the 27 EC member States authorised Solaris Mobile to operate services in 2 x 15 MHz blocks of S-Band spectrum across Europe in May 2009
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 30th April 2010  



CSA issues mobile TV authorisations
The CSA has issued the necessary authorisations for the 16 broadcasters previously allocated licences to launch mobile television services. As a condition of the authorisation the broadcasters must establish an organisation to provide the technical operation for the mobile television services.
They have only two months to do this and to submit the details to the CSA.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 18th April 2010  



DTT penetration now 12.9 million households
DTT penetration has now reached 48.3% (12.9 million) of French TV households according to figures from the CSA. This is an increase of 12.5% during the last year.
The total number of households which access DTT services on at least one TV set has reached 78.4% (20.9 million). In total 47.7% of households have converted all their TV sets to digital an increase of 13.9% over the last year.
In an article in Le Figaro the DTT platform is said to have a 17.8% audience share. Advertising share is also growing and most services expect to be profitable in 2012 or before.
Sources: CSA and Le Figaro
Item added: 22nd March 2010  



Switch off completed in Lower Normandy
Analogue switch off in Lower Normandy took place at midnight on the 8th March as planned
By the morning the conversion to digital transmission had been completed and three transmission sites at Caen (Mont Pincon), Mortain (Grand Fontaine) and Alarcon d'Amain began broadcasting DTT services. Later in the day another 19 linked transmitters were also transmitting DTT services.
Some analogue services from, TF1, France 2, France 3, France 5, ARTE and M6 are still on air and don’t switch off until February 2011.
Canal+ switched to digital on the 8th March.
In May the Loire Valley will be the next region to switch from analogue to DTT services.
Source: Tous Au Numérique website
Item added: 15th March 2010




DTT licences for regional broadcasters
The French media authority, the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA), has announced that two licences have been issued to regional broadcasters on the digital terrestrial network.
The first licence was awarded to Direct Azur located on the Cote d’Azur. They will broadcast to the municipalities of Nice, Menton, Saint-Raphaël, Cannes and Grasse.
The second licence went to Mirabelle TV located in the north eastern part of France and broadcasting to Metz, Verdun, Forbach, Longwy and Sarrebourg.
Mirabelle TV is a joint venture between cable channels currently distributing their programmes over local cable networks
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 1st March 2010



Lower Normandy digital on 9th March
On the 9th March Lower Normandy becomes the second region in France to switch completely to digital broadcasting after the remaining analogue transmitters are switched off. In this region almost 90% of households currently use cable and satellite services for their TV services.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 1st March 2010  




CSA announces new DTT HDTV timetable
The Conseil Supérieur de L’Audiovisuel (CSA) has released a new timetable detailing the deployment of HDTV services on the DTT platform in France. The timetable was compiled in agreement with TF1 HD, France 2 HD and M6 HD who all broadcast on the R5 multiplex.
Arte HD channels and Canal +HD broadcast on another multiplex and are already available in all areas covered by the existing DTT platform.
The deployment of the R5 ‘HD’ multiplex will take place on a region by region basis as analogue services are switched off.
During 2010 the R5 multiplex will be available in all regions switching off analogue services with the exception of Alsace where it will be made available on the 28th September 2010.
All regions making the change over in 2011 will have R5 made available at the same time.
By the 30th November 2011 HDTV coverage on the DTT platform should reach 90% of the population, increasing to 95% by the end of Q1 2012.
Source: CSA
Item added: 22nd February 2010


 

CSA launches coverage checker
The broadcast regulator CSA has launched a DTT coverage checker.
Viewers can see the probability and number of DTT services they should be able to receive simply by entering their postcode on the online service.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 8th February 2010  




HD DVB-T channels on cable network
France’s biggest cable operator Numéricable is to distribute terrestrial DVB-T coded, HD channels on the cable system in 20 more towns in France.
TF1 HD, France 2 HD, Arte HD and M6 HD are to be carried without encryption, allowing anyone with a regular DVB-T tuner to receive the channels.
The service is already available on cable systems in Brest, Chateaulin, Nantes, Rennes, Avignon, Bastia, Cannes, Grenoble and Bordeaux, as well as in 11 additional villages in the Alsace.
Source: Broadband TV News
Added: 1st February 2010



ASO in Alsace
The conversion from analogue to digital terrestrial TV is to take place in the Alsace region this week (1-2 February).
After switching of the analogue services, digital programming from the main transmitter sites at Strasbourg Nordheim and Mulhouse Belvédère should be available by 1000 on the 2nd February and from the remaining sites by 1800 hours on the same day.
Source: tous au numérique website
Added: 1st February 2010



DTT TV set sales exceed targets
According to Simavelec, in 2009 TV set sales were 7.3 million, 1.3 million more than expected.
These buoyant sales figures are attributed to the progressive DTT switch over, the decrease in the cost TV sets and the availability of HD services.
All TV sets sold in France now include at least a DVB-T/MPEG-2 tuner and those with the additional HD label must also be capable of decoding and displaying MPEG-4, HD programming.
Source: Simavelec announcement and Digitag
Added: 1st February 2010  



More Switch off dates announced
Canal+ will end analogue pay-TV services in Rhône-Alpes on the 22nd September and in Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées on the 13th October 2010.
The Band III frequencies released by the change have already been re-allocated for the launch of digital radio services.
TF1, France 2, France 3, Arte and M6 must switch off their analogue TV transmissions by November 2011.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 25th January 2010



New DTT services reaching financial equilibrium
The new broadcasters on the DTT platform have started to reach a financial equilibrium in 2009 and most will do so by 2010 according to DigiTAG.
Quoting the source as Le Figaro the news item goes on to say that already, two of the broadcasters, TMC and W9, have achieved profitability in 2009. Both had audience shares of 2.5%, while advertising revenues reached nearly €75 million and profits neared €25 million.
Other new broadcasters are also doing well. NT1 reached equilibrium with a revenue of approximately €35 million. NRJ increased its advertising revenue by 70% to reach just over €40 million. Direct 8 doubled its audience share in 2009 and had advertising revenues of €30 million. The children’s service Gulli made €30 million in advertising revenue.
Source: DigiTAG and Le Figaro
Item added: 25th January 2010


 Experimental Push VOD trial authorised
The CSA has authorised two experimental push video-on-demand (VOD) services on the DTT platform, to be operated by broadcast network operator TDF, in conjunction with the pay-DTT operator TV Numéric and the broadcasters TF1, France Télévisions, Arte, and NRJ 12.
The council has reserved the right to stop the experiment if there is any disruption to existing receiving equipments.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 11th January 2010  



Government approves DTT package
The government has approved an additional DTT aid grant of €96 million. This aid will be made available to the 150,000-200,000 television households outside the DTT coverage area, for the purchase of DTH satellite receiving equipment. Although by the time of analogue TV switch off DTT coverage will be 95%, the remaining 5% will only be able to obtain the TNT programs via satellite.
The aid will amount to approximately €250 per household regardless of their financial situation.
Source: Le Figaro (AFP)
Item added: 21st December 2009



More areas convert to DTT
The CSA has announced the launch of DTT services in 45 new areas from the 18th December 2009.
Limoges, Lourdes, Rouen, Le Mans, Bellegarde, and St Etienne are amongst the areas covered by the latest phase of engineering, which completes by the end of January 2010.
This latest deployment will increase coverage to 95% of the population by the time digital switchover is completed.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 21st December 2009 



DVB-SH trial for Paris area
Solaris Mobile has joined with Alcatel-Lucent and Towercast to trial DVB-SH in and around Paris.
The trial will use a radio multiplex providing signals for reception in cars and on mobile devices in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of DVB-SH.
DVB-SH signals will be broadcast direct from satellite in the 2 GHz part of S-Band with seamless back up from terrestrial repeaters to fill in any blank spots.
Receivers for use in the test cars have been supplied by Quantum and use Dibcom chipsets.
The trial will last for four months and uses Eutelsat’s W2A satellite.
Solaris is a joint venture between Eutelsat and SES.
Main source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 30th November 2009



Vacant DTT slots for Bolloré ?
A story in Les Echos reports that the international investment and industrial group Bolloré is interested in taking over one of the vacant DTT slots on the DTT platform.
Two Pay-TV slots have been available since the closure of AB1 and Canal J earlier this year.
France Telecom’s Orange, which already has the pay channels, Orange cinema series and Orange Sport on its ADSL service, is also said to be considering the possibility of running a pay service on the DTT platform.
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 30th November 2009 



DTT channels to go HD by 2015
Alain Méart, a member of the regulatory board of CSA, is reported to have said that all of France’s 18 DTT channels will be broadcast in HD by 2015, reports Rapid TV News. The comments were made at research company NPA during a conference on DTT. According to the company, 78% of French households should be HD-equipped in 2012. TF1, M6, France 2, Arte and Canal+ are already offering HD programming.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 16th November 2009




Digital TV Switchover in Cherbourg Peninsular
The switch to Digital Terrestrial TV in France begins with the first switch off in Northern part of the Cherbourg Peninsular on the 18th November 2009. This is followed by Alsace on the 2nd February 2010 and the regions of Basse Normandie, Pays de la Loire and Brittany on the 9th March, 18th May and the 8th June respectively.
The transition continues on a region-by-region basis and ends with the French overseas territories and departments switching in the second half of 2011. By November 2011 the process should have been completed across the whole of France.
Source: Francetelenumerique.fr
Item added: 9th November 2009




More DTT coverage in the South
Four new transmitters have started broadcasting in the south of France. The transmissions began in the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, and the Vaucluse on the 31st October, bringing DTT to an additional 100,000 viewers.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 2nd November 2009




Canal + analogue TV switch-off in Paris
Canal+, will end its analogue terrestrial TV service in the Paris region (Île-de-France) on the 24th November 2010 according to CSA.
The remaining analogue channels, TF1, France 2, France 3, ARTE, TV5 and M6 will complete analogue switch-off in the Île-de-France on the 8th March 2011.
The Canal + switch-off of its analogue TV Band III transmissions are necessary so that the frequencies can be re allocated for digital radio services.
Source: Digitag and CSA website
Items added: 26th October 2009



TDF offers to pay for mobile TV network
The French transmission company TDF has made a proposal to finance the roll out of a mobile TV network and cover the costs of broadcasting during the start up phase, according to reports attributed to Les Echos.
TDF plans to set up a separate company to provide DVB-H services to 17% of the population and if the service becomes popular to extend it further with the channels provided paying part of the broadcasting cost.
CSA had previously awarded licences to broadcast 13 mobile TV channels but mobile operators and CSA have so far been un willing to pay for the cost of the transmission network necessary to broadcast these service.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 19th October 2009




ASO in Paris by 8th March 2011
The broadcast regulator CSA has announced that analogue switch-off will be completed in the Paris region (Ile-de-France) by 8 March 2011.
Permission to broadcast the analogue terrestrial services, TF1, France 2, France 3, TV5/ARTE, and M6 will end on this date
By that time Canal+ will already have been switched off.
A total of 53 transmitter sites are affected.
A national analogue switch-off awareness campaign was launched on the 20th September and the first region to switch of analogue services will be Alsace on the 2nd February 2010.
Digital switch-over is taking place on region-by-region basis.
Main source: CSA website
Item added: 12th October 2009


70.3% of households watch digital TV
Figures released for Q1, 2009 indicate that 70.3% of all French households have at least one digital receiver, for cable, IPTV, satellite or DTT, according to research published by media authority CSA, reports Broadband TV News.
The item goes on to say that almost one in four of all French homes are now completely dependent on digital reception.
DTT is now used by 43.1%, whilst analogue terrestrial reception is still used by 17.2%, down by 11.9% since the same time last year.
In areas where analogue broadcasts will be switched off next year, more people are changing to digital. In the Alsace, where switch-off is planned for February 2, 72% of all viewers have a digital receiver, but only 4.5% are dependent on terrestrial reception.
In Lower Normandy, where ASO takes places on March 9, 2010, 51.5% of all homes now have digital terrestrial and 69.8% have at least one digital receiver.
In the Pays-de-la-Loire (May 18), the figures are 75.9% with a digital receiver and 57.4 % have DTT.
In Brittany (June 8), three out of four homes have a digital receiver, and 60.1% have digital terrestrial.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th October 2009


Nine Cable operators adopt DVB-C2
Nine of Western Europe’s leading cable operators have chosen to adopt the new DVB-C2 cable delivery standard.
The operators are Kabel Baden Württemberg, Unitymedia, Kabel Deutschland (Germany), Ziggo (the Netherlands), ONO (Spain), Com Hem (Sweden), Numericable (France), YouSee (Denmark) and ZON (Portugal), who in total serve 22 million households.
Virgin Media (UK), Canal Digital (Scandinavia) and UPC (Multiple territories) have not included themselves in the agreement and say that they have no plans to switch from DVB-C2 at present. Virgin Media have been reported as saying that unlike some operators they do not have a capacity problem at the moment and whilst they support DVB-C2, have no need to switch at present
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 18th September 2009


Young people watching more TV now its DTT
Young French people between 15 and 24 are said to be watching more TV on the digital platform and less on its analogue predecessor according to research company NPA-Conseil.
Channels such as TMC, W9, NRJ12, Virgin 17, and France 4, which are delivered on the Digital TV platform, are proving very popular with this age group. They are especially watching more TV in the morning. Music clips as well as games and series such as Dawson’s Creek and Newport Beach are proving very popular.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 18th September 2009


Analogue switch of campaign launches
The French government launches its Analogue Switch Off (ASO) campaign on the 20th September with the aim of making the French population aware of the coming end to analogue TV broadcasting.
One of the main targets of the campaign is the 22% of the population that are thought to be unaware of the consequential loss of analogue TV services as a result of the switchover.
Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the French secretary of state for digital affairs, is reported to have said that the total costs of the publicity campaign will be €20 million with the total bill for all related activities amounting to €355 million.
These additional activities include a subsidy for equipment purchase for low-income families, free technical assistance in the home for the elderly and handicapped as well as a rebate for people who have to pay out for satellite delivered services if DTT reception is not possible at their home.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 18th September 2009


DVB-H performs better than TV over 3G+ says study
Mobile TV services via DVB-H offer a better user experience than over 3G+ networks, according to a study by Directique for French broadcast transmission services provider TDF. During a trial of DVB-H services in the 15th district of Paris in July, 30 participants equipped with Nokia N96 handsets found that with DVB-H they experienced half as many failed connections, 25 percent less waiting time and three times faster channel zapping (5.2 seconds versus 18.7 seconds for 3G+). While viewing 5-minute videos, trial participants found that both technologies offered "perfect" sound quality in 89 percent of cases, but "perfect" image quality was reached in 85 percent of cases with DVB-H, compared to 72 percent with 3G+.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 14th September 2009




Digital channels gain market share
The new French digital terrestrial channels are gaining market share over their analogue predecessors according to research from Médiamétrie, reports Broadband TV News.
During August, the reported share of the main analogue channels, TF1, France 2, France 3, Canal+, M6, France 5 and Arte, was 71.0%, compared with 72.4% in July and 77.1% in August 2008.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 7th September 2009




Canal + switch-off dates announced
Analogue services transmitting Canal + will begin switching off on the 25th November 2009 in Provence and the Côte d’Azur, followed by Picardy and the North of France on the 14th April 2010 and Corsica and Aquitaine on the 6th May.
The remaining analogue broadcast services will be switched off in December 2010 in Northern France and during the first half of 2010 in Picardy, Corsica and Aquitaine.
The switch off is needed to release frequencies for the launch of digital radio services.
Source: Digitag
Item added: 7th September 2009




DTT coverage reaches 88% of the population
Following the launch of a further 55 new DTT transmitter sites in July, coverage has increased to 88% of the French population. The new sites were selected in regions which were underserved by DTT signals and has increased the coverage from 1.5% to 14.5%.
A figure of 91% coverage within a department has to be reached before the analogue service can be switched off.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 10th August 2009




ASO plan published by Government
The Strategic Committee on Digitalisation (CSN) chaired by the Prime Minister has published a plan detailing the timings of Analogue Switch Offs (ASO) in each region.
The plan does not give specific timings for the ASO of oversees departments and territories but does say they must all be completed by the same end date of the 30th November 2011 given for the rest of France.
The process begins in the first 14 regions on the 2nd February 2010.
Dates for the ASO of the regional services of France 3 are as follows:
2nd February 2010: Alsace
9th March 2010: Lower Normandy
18th May 2010: Loire Valley
8th June 2010: Brittany
28th September 2010: Lorraine and Champagne-Ardenne
19th October 2010: Poitou-Charentes and the Centre
November 2010: Franche-Comté and Burgundy
7th December 2010: the North
First half of 2011: Picardy, Upper Normandy, Ile-de-France, Aquitaine, Limousin, Auvergne, Côte d'Azur, Corsica, and the Rhône Valley
Second half of 2011: Provence, Alps, Midi-Pyrénées, and Languedoc-Roussillon
It was also confirmed that the government will make €277 million available to fund the digital switchover process. In addition, a further €40-50 million will be made available for low income families to fund satellite equipment for TV households where DTT reception is not possible because of signal obstruction, estimated at 5% of the territory.
Source: Prime Minister's website
Item added: 24th July 2009



DTT Ad revenue up
Research Company Yacast’s figures indicate that French gross Ad revenues went up 2% in the first 6 months of 2009, reports Rapid TV News. The rise is attributed to a slight improvement and to the continuing rise of the DTT market.
The full story can be accessed by clicking on the following source link.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 20th July 2009



ASO date in Lorraine
The CSA has announced that ASO in the northeastern regions of Lorraine and Champagne-Ardenne will be completed on the 28th September 2010.
Two Analogue Switch Off (ASO) pilots have been completed in Coulommiers and Kaysersberg while a third, in Cherbourg, will be completed in November.
ASO in the Loire and Brittany will be in the first half of 2010.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 6th July 2009



Proposals for Mobile TV service announced
A proposal to launch Mobile TV services in two phases has been presented to the French government.
In the first phase telecom operators will provide the finance for the launch and in the second phase both broadcasters and telecom operators will contribute to financing the network. If agreement on the launch of mobile TV isn’t reached by the 30th September, the frequency allocation licences will be withdrawn.
Source: Le Figaro item flagged by Digitag
Item added: 6th July 2009



Fransat officially launched
The French free to air satellite service Fransat has been officially launched and now provides viewers access to the same programmes available on the terrestrial DTT network.
Fransat is aimed at viewers who are not yet in areas covered by terrestrial DTT transmitters and areas that are unable to be covered due to terrain or position. It is estimated that 2.5 to 3.8 million households are currently unable to access all the services transmitted on the DTT platform.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 6th July 2009



CSA announces call to tender for more local DTT licences
The CSA is to invite broadcasters to tender for more local DTT service licences in the regions of La Rochelle and Argenton sur Creuse and has launched a public consultation as well as a tentative call for candidates. One free to air television programme service will be available in each region on Multiplex 1.
So far 38 local services have been tendered for and made available across the country.
In the same communiqué the CSA also announced a consultation on the launch of local TV in five additional regions. The regions are Boulogne/Dunkirk, Rouen/Neufchatel en Braye, Alencon, Cherbourg and Laval.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 15th June 2009



Sixty six more DTT sites on air
The CSA has announced that 66 new DTT sites went on air during April and May, resulting in increased population coverage. The first 42 sites were operational by the 30th April followed by the remaining 24 on the 31st May.
The CSA have been prioritising areas with low DTT coverage such as Lot, Savoie, Cantal and Haute Loire.
DTT coverage must reach 91% of a given department before analogue transmissions can be switched off.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 8th June 2009



More ASO dates announced by CSA
Dates for Analogue Switch Off (ASO) in Brittany and the Loire region have now been announced by the CSA.
ASO will be completed in the Loire region by the 18th May 2010. This will affect the cities of Angers, Laval, Le Mans, Nantes, and St. Nazaire.
ASO in Brittany will follow on the 8th June 2010 affecting the cities of Brest, Dinan, Lorient, Quimper, Rennes, and Vannes.
Canal + Pay-TV services will also be switched of in Upper Normandy on the 9th March 2010 to make way for new digital radio services which will use its old frequency.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 8th June 2009




Fransat soon to launch
Fransat, the new DTH service to be broadcast from the Eutelsat Atlantic Bird 3 satellite, plans to announce full details of its impending services and launch plans, at a press conference on the 24th June.
The service will distribute all the channels broadcast on the TNT DTT service, making them available to potential users who are unable to receive the DTT broadcasts directly.
It is expected that broadcasting will start on the 19th June.
Source: BroadbandTVNews
Item added: 8th June 2009




TF1 buying broadcasters TMC and NT1
After long negotiations commercial broadcaster TF1 has virtually completed the purchase of two broadcasters TMC and NT1 operating on the free-to-air DTT platform
Completion of the purchase will require the approval of the broadcast regulator, CSA, and the competition regulator.
TMC currently has an audience share of 2.4% and a turnover of €48 million while NT1 has a 1.3% audience share and currently operates with a deficit of €2.5 million.
Source: Le Figaro
Item added: 1st June 2009




ASO by 30th November 2011
The Prime Minister François Fillon has confirmed that the final analogue switch-off date will be the 30th November 2011.
The information was given in a letter to the association representing the new broadcast service providers on the free-to-air DTT platform.
The letter was sent after a request from three of its members to confirm the ASO date, after press reports said that it would be delayed until 2014.
Source: Le Figaro
Item added: 18th May 2009




Canal+ seeks DSO funding
The commercial broadcaster Canal+ is seeking funding from France Télé Numérique, the organisation responsible for digital switchover, to help it with its campaign to inform viewers about analogue switch-off.
In order to make frequencies available for the launch of digital radio services, Canal+ will switch-off its analogue terrestrial channel by December 2010. Other broadcasters, however, will not complete analogue switch-off until 30 November 2011.
As a result, Canal+ could either stop its funding of France Télé Numérique after 2010 or receive extra funding from France Télé Numérique in 2010.
Canal+ has already announced that it will switch of its channel in the regions of Provence and the Côte d’Azur on 25 November 2009.
Source: Digitag attributed to: Les Echos
Item added: 12th May 2009




ARCEP opens consultation
The electronic communications authority, l’Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques et des postes (ARCEP), has opened a public consultation on the market for broadcast network services.
It proposes in its consultation certain obligations upon TDF to ensure that the broadcast network market is competitive.
After collecting the public inputs to its consultation as well as opinions from the European Commission and other national regulatory bodies, ARCEP will compile its conclusions.
The consultation closes on the 7th June 2009
Source: ARCEP website
Item added: 12th May 2009



Pay-DTT platform review this summer
The CSA has announced that it is to review the Pay-DTT platform and will launch a consultation on the subject possibly during this summer.
The review has been prompted by the return of Pay-TV licences from Canal J and AB. They have said that an insufficient subscriber base and competition from the free-to-air DTT platform had been the major reasons for the licences to be returned.
The CSA hasn’t yet decided how to re-allocate the licences but is reported to have said that they will not be issued for free-to-air use.
Source: Le Figaro
Item added: 12th May 2009




Canal+ launches own logo
Canal+ has announced that it will provide a logo, CANAL READY, for television products suitable to receive and access Canal+ services on the DTT and satellite platforms. Marked products will include set-top boxes and television sets equipped with CI+ (conditional access).
To qualify for the logo, manufacturers will need to ensure that their products can access pay services and provide the necessary content protection.
It is expected that the label will be used on products launched this summer.
Source: Tele Satellite (item translation thanks to Digitag)
Item added: 8th May 2009




Freesat to start in June
Freesat broadcast from the Eutelsat Atlantic Bird 3 satellite will be available from June and marketed as Fransat.
Eighteen channels will be broadcast initially and although free to watch, viewers will need to buy and STB with smart card for 99 euros.
Source: advanced television.com
Item added: 13th April 2009




Analogue switch off may be delayed
France's analogue TV switch-off (ASO) could be postponed to 2013 or 2014 according to a report from advanced-television.com. It quotes Philippe Levrier, the head of France Tele Numerique, a public body tasked with helping the public adopt the new broadcasting system as saying that he has informed the Digital Development minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet that he wishes to propose a new switch over timetable.
In the plan ASO would take place simultaneously in two or three regions during the second half of 2010. A further 24 regions would make the switch starting with Alsace on the 2nd February 2010 and Lower Normandy on the 9th March 2010.
After this there is no current timetable for regional Digital Switch Over and the analogue switch over may have to be postponed.
The current deadline for the completion of ASO is the 30th November 2011.
Source: advanced television.com
Item added: 13th April 2009




Over 500 channels available on DTT platforms in Europe
Recent data from the MAVISE TV database, developed for the DG Communication of the European Commission by the European Audiovisual Observatory, shows the continued expansion of television channels in the European (EU 27 + Croatia and Turkey) television market. More than 200 new TV channels were launched in 2008. There are now a total of 5587 channels (plus 412 non-European channels) available in the 29 countries.
Digital terrestrial television (DTT) has experienced significant developments in the last year.
Six of the 29 countries included in the MAVISE database have already ceased analogue terrestrial transmission.
France, Italy, Spain and the UK (four markets with large use of terrestrial television) have reached very high levels of DTT penetration in households and two of these have started regional switch-off of the analogue signals
The market will see more rapid development this year with the expected launch of new services in Slovenia, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Poland, Greece, and Slovakia. Full article at: EAO press release
Item added: 7th April 2009




Analogue Switch Off continues
The CSA has announced that the analogue services of Pay TV operator Canal+ will end on the 25th November 2009 in the regions of Provence and the Côte d’Azur.
Analogue switch of in Lower Normandy is also planned for completion by March 2010 making it the second region to complete ASO following Alsace.
Sources: CSA website 1 and CSA website.2
Item added: 30th March 2009



DTV households reach 65.9%
Recent figures show that 65.9% of TV households accessed digital services by the end of 2008. In all 33.8% of households had converted all their TV sets to digital.
Digital penetration in Alsace and Lower Normandy has reached 71.7% and 67.6% respectively ahead of ASO which is set to take place in early 2010.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 30th March 2009



CSA to allow more flexible DVB-H launch
To limit delays in the launch of DVB-H services in France the CSA has called for a more flexible approach to coverage targets and the business models adopted.
CSA say that conditions requiring the launch of all 16 services allocated a licence and the coverage requirement to be 30% of the population within the first three years must remain. However the CSA is willing to be more flexible on the need to extend coverage to 60% of the population in the first six years.
Sources: Le Figaro and Digitag
Item added: 30th March 2009


Alsace ASO in February 2010
The CSA has given the date of the 2nd February 2010 for Analogue Switch Off in the Alsace region. The switch over will be led by France Téle Numérique who, with the support of local government associations, will be responsible for the information campaign to ready viewers for the switch to DTT.
Three analogue switch off pilots have been underway in various parts of France for some time, the first of which in Coulommiers was completed in February. The remaining two are in Kaysersberg and Cherbourg and will be completed later this year.
The CSA is expected to announce the analogue switch-off dates for southern Normandy, Lorraine, Franche-Comté, and Brittany, shortly.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 23rd March 2009



ASO date announced for North-Contentin and Cherbourg
The CSA has announced that analogue services in the region of North Contentin and Cherbourg will end on the 18th November 2009. The switch to digital services will affect 200,000 people.
France Télé numérique will be responsible for ensuring that viewers are informed about and prepared for the change and it will also coordinate the digital switchover help scheme that provides financial assistance to low-income families.
Two switch-off pilots are currently underway in Coulommiers (near Paris), and in Kaysersberg (along the eastern border with Germany). In Coulommiers, switch-off will be completed on 4 February.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 2nd February 2009


Slimmed down DVB-H proposed by TDF
The French transmitter company TDF has proposed a slimmed down version of the proposed DVB-H mobile TV service. At the moment, broadcasters and mobile operators are stuck in a gridlock over the business model according to Broadband TV News. The disagreement is said to be about the division of the costs. TDF will finance the DVB-H transmitter network and pay part of the transmission costs and it has invited all parties involved, Orange, NextRadioTV (BFM TV) and Lagardère Active (Virgin 17) to begin talks on outstanding issues.
In the slimmed down plan it is proposed to launch services in Paris and five other cities instead of covering the fifteen cities stated by CSA as part of the mobile licence conditions.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 2nd February 2009


TNTSAT reaches 1 million
The French free to air satellite platform TNTSAT was available in 1 million homes by the end of 2008 according to SES Astra. This comes 16 months after the launch of TNTSAT which was made available as an alternative source of Terrestrial DTT programmes for those who would not be able to receive the terrestrial network or weren’t yet covered by it.
Services will be further extended on the 15th February 2009 when the high definition channels TF1 HD, France 2 HD and Arte HD are added to the satellite platforms services.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 12th January 2009



Boost for DTT channels during 2008
French free DTT channels almost doubled their audience shares in 2008, while the traditional networks fell back, reports Rapid TV News.
Quoting Mediametrie’s annual roundup, the report says that, DTT channels reached an average audience share of 11.1% in 2008 up from 5.9% in 2007 and 29.2 million people (51% of the population) are now equipped to receive DTT channels up from 17.9 million in early 2008.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 6th January 2009



Retailers asked to help with switch to digital TV
The Secretary for State for the digital economy, Eric Besson has announced plans to work with manufacturers and retailers to increase the penetration of digital television.
At a recent joint industry meeting Besson called for retailers to provide consumers with clear information on DTT receivers especially during the holiday season.
He is proposing to draft an agreement with manufacturers and retailers which will include concrete measures to provide information and provide assistance to low income families
This agreement is expected to be concluded by the end of April.
Source: Nouvel Obs
Item added: 22nd December 2008




ASO timeline published by the government
The French government has officially agreed the new Analogue Switch Off (ASO) plan which was submitted for approval in October.
Two regions will switch off analogue services in 2009 followed by 12 additional regions in 2010 and a further 12 regions in 2011. The process, which begins in the northern part of France, will end in the southern part of France when the region of Provance completes switch over on the 30th November 2011.
Paris is scheduled for switch over in early 2011.
Canal+’s switch to digital may not follow the published plan completely because it broadcasts TV on VHF Band III and its licence expires on the 6th December 2010.
These frequencies will then be used for the launch of digital radio services.
At this time some of the remaining 12 regions not already converted to digital transmission my loose access to Canal+ programmes until the switchover process is completed in that region.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 9th December 2008



77 new DTT transmitters
The French broadcast regulator CSA has announced that 77 new DTT transmitter sites will go on air between the 30th November and the 19th December.
DTT reception will then be available to 87% of the French population, approximately 53 million people.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 1st December 2008




Free to air TNTSAT viewers reach 750,000
TNTSAT is a service targeted at the regions of France where TV households cannot receive DTT channels and broadcasts those same channels from satellite.
The Free to air service now has viewers in 750,000 households according to an SES Astra press release.
The press release goes on to say that TNTSAT will offer free-to-air HD services in February 2009. These services include the free-to-air HD content available on the DTT platform Arte HD, France 2 HD, TF1 HD and M6 HD.
Source: SES Astra press release
Item added: 24th November 2008



UHF TV band, from 790-862 MHz allocated for Broadband Internet
In 2009, the French government plans to invite candidates to tender for the provision of broadband access to Internet services for 100% of the population.
In order to do so, it has decided to allocate frequencies in the upper part of the UHF band, from 790-862 MHz, for the provision of such services.
These frequencies correspond to the revision made to the ITU Radio Regulations at the last World Radiocommunications Conference 2007 (WRC-07) in which national administrations allowed for the introduction of mobile telecom services in the frequencies from 790-862 MHz.
Previously, the frequencies from 470 to 862 MHz had been reserved exclusively for broadcast services on a primary basis.
This item is a part of a comprehensive review of the French TV Digital market posted by Digitag on its web site and can be accessed by clicking on the following link.
Source: Digitag Web Letter November 2008
Item added: 17th November 2008


French HDTV chooses Dolby
Télévision Numérique Terrestre HD (TNT HD) has adopted Dolby’s Digital Plus audio system for its newly launched service. Dolby Digital Plus is designed specifically to adapt to the changing demands of future entertainment delivery while retaining backward compatibility with the existing Dolby Digital 5.1-channel home theatre systems already in use.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 17th November 2008


Four more local DTT licences awarded by CSA
The CSA has awarded a further four local DTT licences for the regions of Nice-Menton, Toulon-Hyères, Bar-Le-Duc and d’Epinal-Vittal.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 17th November 2008




VOD on DTT from TDF
TDF, the transmission network provider, has offered broadcasters the opportunity to test Vision On Demand (VOD) in early 2009.
This offers users the chance to access additional content and programmes downloaded to the hard disk of their STB overnight for when they are ready to view it.
Top Up TV in the UK has run a push VOD service since 2006 and there is also said to be interest in such a system from the Norwegian pay-TV platform Riks TV.
For a VOD system to operate in France the current licence, which currently precludes its use, needs to be amended.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 11th November 2008



Government provides funding for DSO
The French government has announced that it will make €320 million available to support the digital switchover process.
€120 million of this funding is to make more information on the switchover available, by the means of Internet websites, a call centre and by providing other means of communication to consumers. A further €15 million will be made available to fund a national and regional advertising campaign.
€183 million will be used to help targeted households such as those with disabled members, householders over 70 years old and low incomes, make the transition to digital reception.
Digital switchover is expected to be completed by 30 November 2011.
Source: Le Figaro
Item added: 11th November 2008



DTT HD launched in France
On the 30th October at 3.30 pm (CET) the new High Definition DTT service was launched.
The HD offering consists of free-to-air channels TF1 HD, France 2 HD, Arte HD and M6 HD and the premium (encrypted) channel Canal+ HD.
HD service are provided from 27 transmitters and cover 40% of the metropolitan population. By the 31st May 2009 new transmitters will have been added increasing the coverage to 60% of the population.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 3rd November 2008


Coulommiers ASO by 4th February 2009
The first analogue switch of pilot is set to begin in the region of Coulommiers on the 8th November, when DTT services become available to 70% of the local population. The trial will end on the 4th February 2009 when the analogue transmitters are finally switched off.
In total 7,000 households are affected by the trial.
Letters and public information sessions have been started to provide details of the digital switchover and what has to be done by viewers to continue to receive a terrestrial TV service.
Two further digital switchover pilots are planned to take place in 2009 in the cities of Cherbourg and Kaysersberg.
Analogue switch-off is set for completion by 30 November 2011.
Source: 01net
Item added: 3rd November 2008




French Digital Plan France Numérique 2012 released
A comprehensive digital action plan France Numérique 2012 was recently presented by the State Secretary for the development of the digital economy, Eric Besson.
The plan calls on the Prime Minister to publish the first draft of the analogue switch-off roadmap by the end of October.
Three pilot digital switchovers are scheduled to take place in Coulommiers at the end of this year, in Kaysersberg, Alsace, in the second quarter 2009 and in the region of Cherbourg.
The pilots will affect approximately 100,000 people and are meant to monitor any problems in the process.
After Alsace, analogue broadcasting will cease in Lorraine, Champagne-Ardenne and Franche - Comté.
In 2010 changeover will take place in the west of France, specifically in the regions of Brittany, Pays de la Loire and Basse-Normandie.
The plan also sets the number of DTT multiplexes after ASO in November 2011 at 13. Two of these multiplexes will be for DVB-H services covering 70% of the population with the remaining 11 multiplexes providing DVB-T services extending to 95%.
The plan also assigns the entire band Band III (174-233 MHz) to digital radio when it is released in 2010.
Main source: France Numérique 2012
Item added: 27th October 2008


New local DTT services
The CSA has issued new local DTT licences in four regions.
The services and regions are as follows: Télé Miroir (Nîmes), Télé Locale Provence (Manosque), Télé 102 (Les Sables-d’Olonne), TV Vendée (La Roche-sur-Yon)
Source: CSA website
Item added: 20th October 2008

 

October Launch for HD DTT service
Five HD DTT channels will be launched on the 30th October 2008.
The channels are HD TF1, France 2 HD, Arte HD, canal + HD and M6 HD
At that time HD transmissions will begin from 27 transmitters and cover 40% of the metropolitan population, increasing later to 60% coverage by the 31st May 2009.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 20th October 2008



DTT ad spend up 92%
French researchers Yacast have found that ad spend on DTT channels has risen by 92% during the las year reports Rapid TV News.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 13th October 2008



8 million with DTT receivers
According to a report prepared for the CSA, the number of households with access to DTT (TNT) services has now reached 8 million which amounts to 31.7% of French TV households.
The number still accessing analogue television is down 13.6% from last year and now accounts for 7.35 million viewers approximately 29.1%
Satellite DTT subscriptions are at 14.6% and ADSL at 13.2%.
In all 33.8% of the French viewing population (8.54 million) now have access to some form of digital television.
Source: CSA observatoire report
Item added: 6th October 2008



TNT FreeSat to gain HD channels
TNTSat free-to-view is to include four HD channels from February 2009 reports Broadband TV News. The new channels are TF1 HD, M6 HD, Arte HD and France 2 HD.
TNTSat is a satellite delivery service made available from the Canal+ Group and offering a DTH alternative to receive the free-to-view channels already available on the French DTT platform.
To receive the existing service it has been necessary to use a Sagem/Viaccess satellite receiver/decoder, only a few of which are capable of decoding the new HD service. The receiver is currently used in 50,000 homes and is expected to rise to 100,000 by the end of the year.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 23rd September 2008


HD tuner mandate delayed
Manufacturers have been given an additional year before the requirement to include an MPEG-4 AVC HD tuner in all HD displays comes into force.
Initially, the mandate was to start on the 1st December 2008, however, legislative changes made in August, now require television sets larger than 66cm (26 inches) to include an HD/DTT receiver as of the 1st December 2009.
In addition, all television sets and set-top boxes must include an HD/DTT tuner by 1 December 2012.
Source: LegiFrance (translation thanks to Digitag)
Item added: 9th September 2008



Canal+ launches HDTV on DTT platform
Canal+ HD launched its HD service on the 9th August to become the first terrestrial HD DTT broadcaster in France.
The service was launched in time to broadcast HD footage from the Beijing Olympics and is now continuing on a regular schedule.
Canal+ will be followed by Arte, which launches HD DTT services on the 30th October. France 2 also starts DTT HD services in October and will soon be followed by M6 and TF1.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th August 2008



Digital penetration reaches 56%
According to recent research by the NPA Conseil on behalf of TDF, 56% of French homes now watch digital TV via DTT, DTH, IPTV or cable.
DTT is the most popular mode with 42% watching terrestrially, most penetration being in the eastern part of the country.
Many people still watch some analogue TV with 45.9% of the population having at least one analogue TV set while 28.7% still watch analogue TV on the primary set.
The research also showed that 23.2% of all French people now have an HD Ready or Full HD screen in their homes.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 11th August 2008




Coverage increases and 2009 plans released
DTT service coverage increased to 87% of the French population on the 1st August after four new transmitters began broadcasting.
The new transmitters provide DTT services to viewers in the cities of Villers-Cotterêts, La Voulte-sur-Rhône, Pamiers, and Igny.
By the end of 2008 coverage will be extended to 89% of the population increasing to 92% by the end of 2009 according to the 2009 DTT expansion plans just released by the CSA. The plans indicate that another 71 transmitters will be brought on air during 2009.
Coverage increase source: CSA website
DTT plans for 2009 source: CSA website
Item added: 4th August 2008

Digital Dividend report submitted
The Parliamentary committee, set up to look at the re-allocation of frequencies after the analogue switch in off in 2011, has submitted its report to the Prime Minister.
Its proposal responds to calls from the Broadcast industry to retain the frequencies released by ASO to extend the availability of HDTV to 95% of the population, extend the availability of mobile television and allow the digitisation of local channels.
In 2012, after ASO it recommends that 11 multiplexes covering 95% of the population and 2 DVB-H multiplexes (32 channels) with 80% coverage are provided.
Source: AFP
Item added: 28th July 2008


First ASO trial begins
The first analogue switch off trial in France is soon to begin in Coulommiers and the surrounding area. The trial is set for completion by early 2009 by which time all analogue services will have been switched off.
During the trial a communication campaign will be launched to spread information about the ASO by advertisement and in local media. In September a call centre to help viewers prepare for the switch over will also open.
The trial will affect the 14,000 residents in Coulommiers and the surrounding region. After Coulommiers a switch off trial will take place in a larger city with 150,000 residents.
ASO is planned for completion in France by the 30th November 2011.
Source: ZDNet.fr (translation thanks to Digitag)
Item added: 28th July 2008






Four more local French DTT broadcasters
Broadband TV News reports that the French media authority CSA has received four applications for local DTT broadcasters in the four regions previously advertised on March 18, 2008.
The regions in question are Bar-le-Duc, Epinal-Vittel, Toulon, Hyères and Privas.
The four hopefuls are La Télé du Net (Bar-le-Duc); Images Plus, une fenêtre ouverte sur les Vosges (Epinal-Vittel); TV Ardèche (Zone de Privas) and Cap Toulon-Hyères (Toulon and Hyères).
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th July 2008



DTT for Overseas Territories
The Secretary of state for Overseas, Yves Jégo announced on Friday, (4th July) that DTT services will be launched in the French Overseas Territories at the end of Q1, 2010.
All DTT services will use MPEG-4, H.264 coding and the initial launch will be with 10 free-to-air channels.
HD services are also expected to begin broadcasting during 2010 and the full DTT platform should be operational by the end of November 2011.
Main source: Télésatellite
Item added: 8th July 2008




Canal plus granted HD/DTT licence
Following the allocation of an HD licence to broadcast HD on the DTT platform, Canal + plans to broadcast the majority of its programmes in HD by 2012. HD TF1, M6 HD, F2 HD and HD Arte have already been granted licences to broadcast HD services on the R3 platform.
Canal+ will broadcast the majority of its programmes in HD between the hours of 14.00 and midnight.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 16th June 2008



French mobile television licensees announced
The French media authority CSA has announced the winning channels for it’s new broadcast mobile television service, which is set to start transmitting later this year.
CSA selected 13 channels from 36 applicants for the DVB-H service to fill the 13 available slots.
The successful applicants are: BFM TV, Canal+, Direct 8, EuropaCorp, Eurosport, I-Télé, M6, NRJ 12, NT1, Orange Sport, TF1, Virgin 17, and W9.
Three licences have already been reserved for the public service broadcaster France Télévisions.
The new mobile TV service will be known as Télévision Mobile Personnelle or TMP for short and will be mostly free to air.
Source: Informitv
Item added: 2nd June 2008



Coulommiers first to switch to digital
CSA has announced that Coulommiers will be the first city in France to begin the analogue switch off. The trial will begin in Autumn 2008, after the launch of DTT services in the region and will end with the analogue switch-off in Spring 2009.
Coulommiers was selected on the basis of its socio-economic profile of households, with its mixture of individual and collective housing units, and the involvement of local associations.
The trial will be used to better understand viewer reaction to the digital switchover, while measuring the efficiency of various information and communication tools, and evaluating the ability of different providers to coordinate their services.
Coulommiers has a population of 10,000 inhabitants and is located near Paris.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 2nd June 2008

DTT penetration reaches 26%
The latest figures published by network operator TDF show that an increasing number of households are adopting digital services.
Nearly 52% of households access digital TV services on at least one television set while 29.6% have converted all of their television sets to digital.
However, 30% of households continue to rely on the analogue terrestrial platform. In addition, 63% of households are unaware of analogue switch-off.
Source: TDF Baromètre   (translation and item thanks to Digitag)
Item added: 2nd June 2008
 

French private channels team up
TF1, Canal+ and M6 have initiated the creation of the first association of private networks (ACP) according to Rapid TV News. The association is aimed at defending the rights and professional interests of nationwide free-to-air television networks. 
The ACP is open to all nationwide terrestrial private channels. At present the presidency will rotate between the three founder members, with Canal+ CEO Bertrand Méheut serving as President for the first two years.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 2nd June 2008




CSA issues HDTV licences for DTT
 

France's broadcasting regulator CSA has issued HD digital terrestrial television licences to private networks TF1 and M6 plus pubcasters France 2 and Arte
The ten-year renewable licenses require HD broadcasts to begin by Oct. 30 at the latest. Both TF1 and M6 have already committed to airing at least 80% of their content in HD by the end of 2012.
The CSA has also recently invited pay TV operators to put forward proposals for premium HD DTT, but instead of the three candidates expected only Canal Plus has filed an application so far.
In January, CSA president Michel Boyon expressed the hope that eight HD DTT channels would be available in selected regions of France by the end of 2008.
On Sunday, Daniel Bilalian, France Televisions' director of sports programming, announced that HD transmissions would not be available for this summer's Olympic Games on any of the pubcaster's channels.
Bilalian blamed "current uncertainty in public service financing" for the decision.
Main source: Variety
Item added: 27th May 2008


TV Numeric unveils pay-DTT plans
Pay-DTT operator TV Numeric has formally launched its services following a soft-launch last September. TV Numeric offers 7 pay-DTT services for €8 per month in addition to €5 for rental of the set-top box.
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 27th May 2008



New DTT sites launching by June 30th
The CSA have published a list of zones launching DTT services by 30 June 2008
The new sites are: Alpes-Maritimes (Grasse), Ariège (Saint-Girons), Aveyron (Rodez), Bouches-du-Rhône (Roquevaire), Charente (Angoulême, Ruelle), Charente-Maritime (Saintes), Côtes-d’Armor (Guingamp, Saint-Brieuc), Côte-d’Or (Dijon), Eure (Vernon), Eure-et-Loir (Chartres, Dreux), Finistère (Brest, Quimper), Gard (Nîmes), Gers (Auch), Haute-Saône (Vesoul), Lot-et-Garonne (Villeneuve-sur-Lot), Manche (Saint-Lô, Mortain), Savoie (Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne), Var (Draguignan), Vendée (La Roche-sur-Yon, La Tranche-sur-Mer, Les Sables-d’Olonne).
Source: CSA website
Item added: 27th May 2008



DTT Broadcasters want quick Analogue Switch Over
French TV channels TF1, France 2, France 3, Canal Plus, France 5, Arte France and M6 have released a joint statement putting pressure on the French government to speed up the country's analogue switchoff.
The channels said the process must be completed as quickly as possible so that free-to-air HD services can be launched on the DTT platform. They said simulcasting analogue and digital channels during the switchover process wasn't desirable because it would be too costly and delay the development of digital signals.
Source: Informamedia
Item added: 28th April 2008



CSA publishes results of ASO consultation
Following its consultation on analogue switch-off, the CSA has published a compilation of the eighty responses received, which led them to recommend that analogue switch-off should begin in 2009.
According to the CSA, analogue switch-off should take place on a region-by-region basis with the first two regions with the highest level of DTT penetration switching off in 2009.
Analogue switch-off is planned to be completed by 20 November 2011.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 28th April 2008


17.4 million DTT receivers in homes
According to the latest figures from GfK, 17.4 million DTT receivers are now in French television households, amounting to a penetration of 37%.
In total, 13 million DTT receivers have been bought while the remaining 4.4 million are rented.
Looking at the breakdown, 5.1 million are IDTV’s, 5.9 million are Set-Top Boxes and 1.5 million are computers with an integrated DVB-T tuner or DVB-T USB sticks.
At the end of March 2007, 8.2 million DTT receivers were in homes.
Source: Le Figaro  (thanks to Digitag for the translation)
Item added: 28th April 2008



New Pay DTT provider
TNTop, part of the Vest@vision group now offers a seven-channel selection of programmes on the DTT platform. These include Eurosport, Canal J, Paris Premiére, Planéte, LC1, TF6 and AB1 all for €8 a month. It will also include 18 free channels as well as the future HD channels. Users can also subscribe to TPS Star and Canal+ with the same smart card for €19 a month.
Main source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 8th April 2008
 

DTT transmissions reach 19 million people
French DTT transmissions reach 19,286,000 people (34.9% of all French TV viewers) according to the latest audience research by Mediaétrie.
The figures also show that people watch DTT programmes longer, 3 hours 54 minutes for DTT, compared with  the national average of 3 hours 33 minutes for all viewing.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th April 2008

 

CSA calls for more local DTT channels
Broadband TV News reports that the French media authority CSA has opened up the application process for more local DTT channels.
Proposals have been invited for local stations in Bar-le-Duc, Epinal and Vittel (one single licence for the two towns), Privas and Toulon-Hyères.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 1st April 2008

TV sets must include a DTT tuner
As of the 5th March 2008 all TV sets sold in France must include an DTT tuner with MPEG-2 decoding.
The law "Télévision du Futur" made the inclusion of the tuner mandatory. In addition all HD-ready TV sets must include an
MPEG-4 (H.264 AVC) tuner by the end of 2008.
HD services on the terrestrial platform are expected to be launched in 2008. Licences have already been allocated to TF1, France Télévisions and M6.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 10th March 2008


CSA licenses local channels in Paris
The CSA has granted a licence to the operator of multiplex Multi 7 to launch seven local TV channels for the Paris region, from the 20th March 2008.
The new services include Coté Seine, IDF 1 and LTF as well as one television slot shared between Demain IDF, BDM TV, Cinaps TV and Télé Bocal.
Main source: CSA website
Item added: 10th March 2008


Arte to launch in HD on DTT platform
The Franco-German cultural service Arte is set to launch in HD on the French free-to-air DTT platform from the 30th October.
The French HD/DTT platform is expected to comprise 8 television programme services, some which will be free-to-air.
Already, HD/DTT licenses have been allocated to France Télévisions, TF1 and M6 for free-to-air services while Canal+ is expected to receive a license for pay-HD services.
Sources: Broadband TV News  and DigiTAG
Item added: 10th March 2008

Reorganisation of DTT multiplexes and more local licences available
To allow for the launch of a new HD DTT service the CSA has agreed to plans for the re-arrangement of two of France’s multiplexes to make space for it.
A Pay HD service is to be launched on multiplex R4 following the move of AB1 and NT1 from R4 to R6. Full item: CSA website
In a separate move the CSA is inviting local broadcasters to tender for DTT licences in four new areas, Bayonne, Dijon, Lille and Meaux.
Applications must be submitted by the 16 May 2008.
Full item: CSA website
Item added: 4th March 2008



DTV penetration reaches 46.5%
DTV penetration in France has reached 46.5% according to the latest “TDF barometer of digital television”
The growth in penetration is said to be largely due to the increase in popularity of Digital terrestrial television (DTT), which on its own has a penetration of 27.1% and its service now covers 80% of the population.
The research from NPA Conseil, which was used to compile the figures, shows that 71% of TV households rely on terrestrial television for their primary TV viewing.
Source: TDF website
Item added: 26th February 2008


Local DTT services attract eight applicants
Eight applicants have shown interest in the local DTT franchises in the towns of Brest, Strasbourg, Saint Etienne, Nice, Menton and Montluçon, reports Broadband TV News.
Most applications are uncontested but in southern France there are two for Nice, two for Montluçon and one wishing to provide a combined Nice- Montluçon service.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 26th February 2008
 

More DTT transmitters to come on line
The CSA announced, on its website, that new DTT services will be available in the areas of Amiens, Bar-le-Duc, Saint-Dizier, Blois, Châtellerault and Périgueux by 31 March.
Further DTT services will follow in Saint-Quentin, Romans-sur-Isère, Cahors, Gap, and Porto-Vecchio when frequency changes have been made to free the necessary spectrum.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 18th February 2008

 

DTV for overseas territories
Christine Albanel, the French Minister of Culture, has asked the CSA to evaluate the possibility of developing digital TV services in the French overseas territories. These territories include the French West Indies, Guyana, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Reunion and Mayote.
The CSA report is to be submitted to the French government by the end of April.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 5th February 2008


DTT popularity grows
French DTT is reaching more and more people as the network coverage increases, according to research by Crédoc on behalf of Arcep and CTGI, reports Broadband TV News.
Twenty two percent of the population now watch TV via the DTT platform but DTH is still winning with 26% of the population as viewers.
Twelve percent of all French homes are connected to cable and 7% to IPTV. The remainder still rely on analogue TV services. Two percent say they have access to mobile TV and 40% to multiple platforms.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 5th February 2008


Tender opens for new HD/DTT licence
CSA, the French broadcasting regulator, has invited candidates to tender for a new HD/DTT licence. The new licence is for a Pay-TV service and only broadcasters who already provide Pay-TV services on the DTT platform are allowed to tender. If a candidate’s application is successful its existing SDTV service will be replaced by the new Pay-HDTV service.
The new services will be made available on the R3 multiplex and candidates have until the 28th March to submit an application.
The licence is expected to be issued in May and HDTV services can begin soon after.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 5th February 2008 (corrected 18th February 2008)

 

CSA publishes 2008 DTT rollout
The CSA has published a new map on its website detailing sites and launch dates for new DTT transmitters, reports Broadband TV News. By the end of 2008, the current 85% coverage will have increased to 89% of the population. Viewers have access to 17 national free-to-air channels as well as to one of the 18 regional broadcasters.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 5th February 2008

Mobile TV trial extended
The French media authority CSA has extended the DVB-H trial on the Paris metropolitan transport system RATP until the 15th April 2008. The trial, which has been underway since October 2007, is being used to study the feasibility of mobile TV reception on trains and in metro stations. The trial extension will study reception on the suburban RER lines A and B and will also include radio broadcasts.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 5th February 2008

CSA says HDTV is the number 1 priority
HD is the number one priority for CSA this year according to a report from Broadband TV News. The quote attributed to CSA, was given by Michel Boyon, president of the authority to Tele-Satellite magazine. The news item goes on to say that in spring, three broadcasters (TF1, France2 and M6) will start transmitting in HD on the DTT platform. The exact date is still to be announced. They will be followed by Arte and Canal+ in the second quarter. By the end of the year a second HD multiplex will come on air, making three more HD DTT channels available in selected regions of the country, bringing the total to eight programme services.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 29th January 2008


CSA to tender further local DTT licences
The CSA is inviting broadcasters to tender for the provision of local DTT services in the regions of Caen, Poitiers, Reims-Mézières and Perpignan.
Broadcasters have until 15 April 2008 to submit their license bid.
Source: CSA website (from Digitag)
Item added: 29th January 2008



DVB-H licences attract 32 candidates
A total of 32 candidates had applied for DVB-H broadcast licences by the January 15th deadline according to CSA.
Mobile phone company Orange has formally applied for two of the DVB-H channels and some of the applicants, TF1, M6, Canal+, Lagardère Active, NRJ, NextRadio TV, AB Groupe and Bolloré are reported to have signed a joint agreement to promote mobile digital TV in France.
The CSA will meet all the candidates in April and intends to award licences by June-July.
Mobile TV services are then likely to begin by the end of 2008 and provide coverage to 30% of the population but it is anticipated that some service providers may launch earlier in time for the Summer Olympic Games in August.
Main source: CSA website
Item added: 22nd January 2008



DVB-SH passes its test
A DVB-SH test in France by Alcatel-Lucent and SFR has shown that the terrestrial repeater part of the mainly satellite delivered mobile TV service can co-localise with and use existing 3G sites, towers and even antennas. Tests performed in the city of Pau both outside and inside buildings, validated several fundamental assumptions on the performances of a DVB-SH network, notably the coverage, continuity and quality of service.The tests also confirm that only some of the 3G+ sites need be equipped with DVB-SH repeaters to allow Mobile TV coverage inside buildings identical to the 3G+ coverage. According to Alcatel-Lucent, this validates the economical efficiency of the deployment of a DVB-SH terrestrial network for Mobile TV broadcast with a very high coverage quality.
Main source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 22nd January 2008



CSA opens tender for local DTT services
The French broadcast regulator, the CSA, has invited broadcasters to tender for local DTT services.
One DTT service slot will be made available in multiplex R1.
A service slot has been made available in the regions of Cannes-Grasse, Belfort-Montbeliard, Limoges, Lorient-Vannes and Mulhouse.
Broadcasters have until 14 March to apply for the available license.
Original source: CSA website
Main source: Digitag
Item added: 7th January 2008




€4bn HDTV market in 2007
Revenues from sales of HD products in France during 2007 will have amounted to €4bn, according to a Rapid TV News report on recent figures from Gfk.
From January until October 2007, HD product sales reached €3.1bn amounting to 72% of turnover. By the end of December HD TV sales are expected to amount to 80% of all TV sets sold.
However all these HD sales don’t mean that everyone is using them to watch HD programmes, as Gfk points out that most of the HD sets sold are not capable of receiving HD programming because they don’t have built in HD tuners.
However Gfk is reported to indicate that built in HD tuners will become compulsory for sets sold in France during 2008.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 27th December 2007
 

Simavelec calls for free-to-air mobile TV services
The French consumer organisation Simavelec, which concentrates on the audiovisual sector, has called for free-to-view mobile TV rather than subscription based services.
It cites Japan and Korea’s free-to-view mobile TV service business models reported as having a penetration of 15 million users as the justification for its case and compares this to the 600,000 users in Italy and only tens of thousands in Germany and the UK for subscription models. “Pay models are a long way behind the free to air business model” it is reported as saying.
Mobile TV will be launched in France before the Olympic Games and the Euro 2008 football tournament both using DVB-H.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 27th December 2007



Digital penetration now at 42.4%
Research by TDF estimates that 42.4% of homes in France now have access to digital television via various platforms.
DTT has a penetration of 22.9%, which is said to be nearly 2/3 of digital viewers.
Each month an average of 250,000 households adopt DTT services.
DTT coverage was 73.9% of the population as of the 31st October 2007 and should increase to 89% by the end of 2008.
The original document from TDF is packed full of additional figures and can be viewed in full by clicking on the following source link.
Source: TDF Baromètre
Item added: 27th November 2007


HD licences allocated
The CSA has announced the allocation of two licences for HD broadcasting on the DTT platform.
The licences have been allocated to commercial broadcasters TF1 HD and M6 HD who will provide services on the free-to-air HD platform.
A third HD/DTT licence was reserved for public broadcaster France Télévisions.
All three channels are expected to start broadcasting on the nationwide R5 Multiplex during the spring of 2008 using around 8Mbits/s each.
The CSA have also said that they will be offering a pay HD channel slot for bids before the end of the year and three further HD slots by the end of 2008.
The CSA is in the process of re-planning multiplexes to provide some of the extra space by switching to the more efficient MPEG-4 (H.264) compression instead of MPEG-2.
In total France will have seven HD DTT channels.
Main source: Reuters
Item added: 27th November 2007

CSA begins tender process
Broadcast regulator CSA has now opened the tendering process for DVB-H licence applications.
In total 16 television and 4-9 radio slots are now available on the M7 multiplex, to be used for Broadcast Mobile TV in France.
As previously reported three of the TV slots are already reserved for public service broadcaster France Télévisions.
Applicants can propose either free-to-air or pay services but must make these services available to 30% of the population within three years of the service launch and 60% within six years.
Applications must be in by 1700 on January the 15th 2008 and a decision on the successful applicants is expected in April with final authorisation given in June.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 14th November 2007


CSA invites applications for local TV licences
Broadcast regulator CSA has opened the application process for local DTT licences in five regions, Brest, Saint-Etienne, Nice and Menton, Montlucon and Strasbourg. These are the first of 25 regions expected to be permitted local TV by CSA. Further invitations to tender, for the remaining regions, will take place on what is called a ‘regular’ basis.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 14th November 2007


ARCEP publishes summary of its Digital Dividend consultation
ARCEP the French regulator for Electronic Communication and Post has published a summary of its recent Digital Dividend consultation. Although the discussion was primarily about the telecommunications sector the consultation also touched on the allocation of the UHF TV band to mobile services as well as on satellite delivered services such as DVB-SH. Some contributors also discussed the question of whether additional digital TV channels should also be broadcast in the digital radio allocations in Band III and L-band.
Source: ARCEP website
Item added: 14th November 2007



Albanel reserves three mobile TV slots for France Télévisions
French Minister for Culture, Christine Albanel has reserved three program service slots on the DVB-H Mobile TV platform for Public Service Broadcaster France Télévisions, in conjunction with regulator CSA.
In October, France Télévisions had requested the allocation of at least 4 programme service slots for its services France 2, France 3, France 4 and France 5.
It is expected that the CSA will invite candidates to tender for the 14-17 programme service slots available on the mobile TV platform in mid-November.
Source: Rapid TV News
Item added: 7th November 2007



DVB-H tender invitation expected in November
CSA, have announced plans to invite candidates to tender for DVB-H broadcast licences in the first two weeks of November.
It is expected that 14-17 service slots will be made available to broadcasters although some are already put aside for France Television.
Recently France Television, the public service broadcaster, has been lobbying for four slots on the mobile TV platform so that France 2, France 3, France 4 and France 5 programmes will be available to users.
Source: La Tribune
Item added: 30th October 2007
 

DTT coverage up to 89% by the end of 2008
The CSA have announced that DTT coverage will be extended to 89% of the population by the end of 2008.
The increased coverage will take place in three phases planned for completion in June, October and December and reach 208 additional zones.
Each French department will have a DTT coverage of 75% by the end of the process.
By the end of 2007 DTT coverage will have reached 85% of the population and 110 departments increasing to 95% by the end of 2011.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 30th October 2007

Further HD Tests in France
More experimental HD broadcasts have been approved by the media regulator CSA.
The additional HD broadcasts on the, DTT platform, will take place in Paris, Lyon, Marseilles, Bordeaux and Rennes during October, with programming provided by TF1, Arte and M6.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 16th October 2007

 

HDTV broadcast candidates present proposals
Four candidates, seeking licences to transmit HD programmes on the French DTT platform, have been presenting their proposals to the regulator CSA.
The candidates are Metropole Television (M6), TF1, AB NT and Canal +.
Metropole Television already broadcasts an HD version of M6 for several hours each day on cable and satellite and proposes that the DTT service will be free to air.
TF1 And AB NT also propose free to air services whilst Canal + wants to use its already launched HD cable and satellite programs as Pay DTT HD on the new platform.
CSA is expected to announce its decision on who gets the two HD licences, at the end of the year. Services would be expected to begin in the first half of 2008.
A third HD/DTT licence has been reserved for the public service broadcaster France Television.
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 16th October 2007

113 transmission sites converted to DTT
The CSA (Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel) has said that the 6B phase of the DTT roll out will be reached on the 15th December. This means that viewers in Abbeville, Amiens, Dunkerque, Hirson, Lille, Mézières, Reims and Valenciennes will be able to access DTT services. Reaching this phase of the digitisation plan completes the conversion of the first 113 transmission sites.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 9th October 2007

DVB-H standard selected for mobile TV
The French government has decreed that DVB-H will be the standard for mobile television in France and that DVB-SH can be used to provide complimentary coverage.
At the end of October potential service providers will be able to tender for DVB-H licences with the intention that commercial services will be launched in time for the Beijing Olympics, with full deployment by 2010.
The spectrum available for use is designated M7, and only covers 30% of the population at present. After the analogue to digital switchover it is expected that additional frequencies will be made available to extend mobile TV coverage.
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 2nd October 2007

DTT penetration reaches 27%
The latest figures from TNT (Télévision Numérique pour Tous) and consultants GfK indicate that 27% of French households are now equipped to access DTT services.
GfK estimate that 11.4 million DTT receivers have been purchased or rented since the start of the service in March 2005.
In the last six months 3.2 million DTT receivers were sold or rented, up 40% on the previous 6 months.
By September 26th, GfK estimate that 8,307,000 receivers were sold, 4,219,000 of which were adapters, 2,554,000 were IDTV’s and 1,255,000 were in computers and other PC peripherals.
Source: Télésatellite
Item added: 2nd October 2007
 

CSA opens consultation on local television services
Broadcast regulator, CSA, has opened a consultation on local television services, which will operate on the DTT platform.
The consultation aims to gain a better understanding of the needs of the public and commercial broadcasters, who provide these services. It also wants to ensure that sufficient capacity is made available for local services and has already reserved at least one programmes slot in multiplex R1 for this purpose.18 regions have launched one television service already, in this multiplex, whilst 7 services have been launched in the Paris region on an additional multiplex.
The consultation is open until 30th November 2007.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 2nd October 2007



DVB-H service before summer 2008
The French Ministry of Culture has announced that it will launch mobile TV, using DVB-H, before the beginning of the summer of 2008, in time for the Beijing Olympics.
The CSA have already received 47 responses to its consultation document on the launch of mobile TV from broadcasters, distributors, mobile operators and other interested parties.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 25th September 2007
 

DTT reaches Alsace with the latest licence issue
The broadcast regulator Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) has issued the multiplex licenses for Phase 6A of the launch of DTT services. By the end of October transmitters will come on the air to serve the northeastern part of the country including the cities of Forbach, Metz, Mulhouse, Nancy, Sarrebourg, Strasbourg and Verdun.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 18th September 2007


Government declares support for HD on DTT
The Minister of Culture, Christine Albanel, wants the television services on the DTT platform to be available in high-definition (HD).
She stated: "In 2012, HD will become the standard for television broadcasting just as colour television is today."
With this aim, Albanel will meet with broadcast regulators to ensure that sufficient frequencies are made available for HD services on the terrestrial platform.
Already, three HD services will be launched on the DTT platform in early 2008.
Main source: Digitag from ITRnews
Item added: 14th September 2007


DTT multiplexes re-organised
Television programme services on several DTT multiplexes were changed on the 13th September to make room for local DTT services
The digital multiplex reconfiguring by CSA, the broadcast regulator, will make space for 18 local services which are already available on the analogue terrestrial platform.
The CSA is also expected to invite candidates to tender for several more local DTT licenses.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 14th September 2007

Mobile TV business model differences
According to an article in Les Echos two different business models for the delivery of mobile TV are emerging in the French marketplace.
Whilst French broadcast media companies, including Lagardere, Bollore, NRJ, and BFM, want to offer free mobile TV channels, mobile network operators want to charge a monthly subscription of €5 to €15.
The report goes on to say that Bollore wants a "large proportion" of mobile TV channels to be free, France Television "favours a free model in principle" and manufacturer Sony wants free to view to be predominant.
Supporting Pay TV, Bouygues Telecom, a sister company of broadcaster TF1, is firmly in favour, whilst Orange warns that anything other than Pay TV would jeopardise investment.
CSA plan to launch the tender document for the new service in October.
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 28th August 2007


 

Four candidates for the two DTT HD channels
The CSA have announced that four applications for the two planned HD TV channels were received by the August 20th deadline.
Three of the applications were for free to view HD channels and one for a Pay TV channel.
The free channels were proposed by Metropolis Television for a channel called M6 HD, TF1 for TF1 HD and AN NT SA for Terranova HD. Group Canal+ SA applied for the HD Pay TV channel.
A decision on the licence awards is expected in early December with HD launches expected during 2008. The two HD channels awarded are expected to be joined by a third HD channel which is being reserved for public broadcasting.
Source: Challenges.fr
Item added: 21st August 2007



CSA announces new sites for DTT expansion
The French broadcast regulator CSA has selected another 65 transmitting sites that will begin broadcasting DTT services by March 2008. This expansion is in line with previous announcements and will allow all regional capitals to access DTT services. The choices have been made so as to provide a homogeneous service without any territorial digital divide. In the next few weeks further DTT zones will be announced bringing the total number in operation to 250 by the end of 2008.
Source: CSA
Item added: 30th July 2007


CSA publishes the plan to 95% DTT coverage by end of 2011
The Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA) agreed at its meeting on 10 July 2007, the procedures for the extension of DTT coverage to reach 95% of the French population by the end of 2011.
The plan meets the legal goal of 95% coverage of the metropolitan population by the end of 2011, while guaranteeing a minimum of 91% coverage in each of the 99 'Departments' of the country. This is to ensure a homogeneous service avoiding any territorial 'digital divide'.
By the end of 2007, 85% coverage will be achieved by new DTT transmitters for Mulhouse, Strasbourg, Forbach, Metz, Nancy, Sarrebourg and Verdun which begin operation at the end of October, followed by transmitters for Abbeville, Amiens, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Cluses, Dunkirk, Gex-Vesancy, Hirson, Lille-Bouvigny, Longwy, Maubeuge, Mézières and Valencians operational by the end of December.
The Council also laid down annual objectives both at the national level and also by 'Department'. These objectives are as follows:
 

End of 2008 - 89% national coverage with a minimum per Department of 75%

End of 2009 - 92% national coverage with a minimum of coverage per Department of 85%

End of 2010 - 93% national coverage with a minimum per Department of 89%

End of 2011 - 95% national coverage with a minimum of coverage per Department of 91%.

Each year the plan for new transmitters will be defined, in discussion with multiplex operators and while giving priority to the areas where analogue TV will be switched off first, according to the national plan. By the end of July the CSA will define a list of more than 250 priority zones for 2008. The list will detail the major towns in some departments that are not already covered by DTT or where coverage needs to be improved.The CSA also said that it will pay particular attention to the methods needed to extend DTT to France's overseas communities.
Source: CSA Website in French - translation by DigiTAG
Item added: 16th July 2007


DVB-SH trial in France
SFR and Alcatel-Lucent are to perform technical tests using the DVB-SH standard in S-band (2.2GHz). The DVB-SH standard is the basis of Alcatel-Lucent’s “Unlimited Mobile TV solution”, a hybrid satellite and terrestrial solution whose objective is to find a broadcast solution for mass market TV mobile services.
The pilot will take place from June to September 2007 in Southwest France and evaluate the reception capability inside and outside buildings as well as on moving vehicles.
Source: Unstrung
Item added: 10th July 2007
 

Candidates sought to operate HDTV services
French broadcast regulator CSA is seeking applications from candidates to operate HDTV services on the fifth national DTT multiplex, R5.
Services formatted in 720 or more lines must be used with at least 25% of programmes in native HDTV, between 1600 and midnight averaged over the week during 2008, increasing to 30% in 2009.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 21st June 2007
 

DTT coverage increasing to 70%
Coverage will be extended to 70% of the population by the end of July with 11 new areas starting DTT transmission for the first time.
By the end of June eight new sites will begin broadcasting. They are Menton in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region; Bar-le-Duc, Epinal and Vittel in Lorraine; Chambéry and Montmélian in the Rhône-Alpes region; Troyes in Champagne-Ardenne, and Auxerre in Burgundy.
In July further transmitters for Dijon, Sens and Mâcon in the Burgundy region will begin operation.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 21st June 2007


 

Another HD trial over DTT announced
CSA, the French media authority has begun the process of assessing applications for a new HDTV trial over DTT planned to take place from July 13th until November 1st 2007. The trial will take place in Paris, Lyons and Marseille.
Source: CSA press release
Item added: 12th June 2007

 

Regional DTT licensees announced
CSA, the French Broadcast regulator has announced the successful candidates for the DTT multiplex in the French Ile-de France region which covers Paris and its suburbs.
Three channels were awarded for full time services while the fourth will be shared among four local community broadcast projects.
The full time channels are Côte Seine, IDF1, J2H and LTF.
The remaining fourth channel will be time shared between Demain IDF, BDM TV, Cinaps TV and Tele Bocal.
Licences should become effective before the end of July enabling the channels to begin broadcasting before the end of the year.
Main source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 12th June 2007
 

DTT increases viewer base in France
DTT continues to gain viewers from traditional TV in France according to viewing figures for May. According to Médiamétrie the ‘TNT’ channels increased their combined average audience by 3.1% to 17.1% as off May 27th. France 2 is the second most popular in France but the DTT channels are nearing this level. The public broadcaster has 17.8% of viewers down 1.7% in the last 12 months.
Conversely TF1 And Canal+ have slightly increased their viewer numbers.
Source: broadbandtvnews
Item added: 5th June 2007

HDTV on the terrestrial platform gets go ahead
Following the recent consultation on HDTV, the French broadcasting regulator CSA has announced that HDTV will become the standard definition of the future on the French terrestrial platform. They have concluded that it will be possible to launch three HDTV channels on a single multiplex, and the initial tender will ask for two channels with the other being reserved for public service broadcasting.
It is expected that the slots will be made available on the fifth multiplex (R5), which is currently unused. Services could begin as early as 2008.
Initially it is envisaged that a data rate of 7-8 Mbps would be required for each channel but the debate on a choice of either 720p or 1080i formats still continues.
Main source: CSA communiqués
Item added: 21st May 2007


'France Télé Numérique' to oversee analogue switch-off
The responsibility for managing ASO has been given to a newly set up organisation called France Télé Numérique. The members of this public body are the government with public and private broadcasters (France Télévisions, Arte-France, TF1, Métropole Télévison and Canal Plus).
The convention establishing the organisation was signed on 26 April 2007, and defines the details of its role in ensuring the overall switch off process is carried out smoothly. This includes coordination at the transmission and frequency spectrum technical level, being responsible for informing the public, and managing social support funding.
The initial budget for France Télé Numérique is set at €2Million for 2007.
Source: Digitag
Item added: 21st May 2007


Analogue Switch-off to begin in Autumn 2007
According to ZDnet.fr, analogue switch-off in France could begin as early as Autumn 2007. This will take place in regions where frequencies are scarce, generally along national borders and where frequencies must be shared between countries.
In these regions, it will not be possible to allow for the simulcast of analogue and digital terrestrial television services and the changeover will need to be immediate. Viewers will be given several months advance notice in order to prepare for the switchover.
In other regions in France, analogue switch-off is expected to take place between March 2008 and November 2011. Currently, the Minister of Culture and the broadcast regulator, CSA, are elaborating a detailed switch-off plan.
It is expected that viewers will be given at least 9 months of advanced notice prior to analogue switch-off.
Source: ZDnet.fr  and Digitag
Item added: 19th April 2007


DTT roll-out continues
The fifth phase of the DTT roll-out began on the 31st March, bringing DTT services to eight more regions and expanding coverage to 68% of the population.
The new regions are, Annecy (Haute-Savoie), Avignon (Vaucluse), Belfort (Territoire-de-Belfort), Chaumont (Haute-Marne), Creusot (Saône-et-Loire), Montbéliard) (Doubs), Parthenay (Deux-Sévres) and Voiron (Isére)
Source: CSA website
Item added: 10th April 2007


France supports DVB-H for mobile TV standard
The Minister for Culture, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres gave his support for DVB-H to be the mobile TV standard during a presentation at the Salon de la reception numerique. He also called for a rapid launch of commercial services in France. His comments add support to EU commissioner Viviane Reding who recently announced her intention to make DVB-H the standard of choice for the EU. She would like services launched in time for Euro 2008, the UEFA European football championship.
Source: Neteco.com
Item added: 10th April 2007




DTT penetration reaches 22%
Since the launch of DTT in 2005, 8.2 million DTT receivers have been sold according to Gfk. This brings the DTT penetration to 22% of French TV households.
5.8 million of these DTT receivers were bought in specialised stores, 3.2 million of which where adaptors for screens or TV sets, 1.3 million where integrated into TV sets, 1 million in PC’s, 81,000 in DVD recorders and 58,000 in portable devices.
The remaining 2.4 million tuners were integrated in hybrid IPTV/DTT set top boxes from D’Alice, AOL, Darty, Free, Neuf, Cegetel and Orange.
The DTT service now covers 70% of the population with an 85% coverage target by the end of 2007.
Source: ZDNet France
Item added: 2nd April 2007


France Television gets funding for HD
The French public broadcaster, France Television, will push ahead with an expansion to HD digital terrestrial services following approval of a new five-year budget.
France 3 has already set aside a €21 million budget for its HD transition.
The French State has agreed to a 3.5% increase for 2008 and further increases expected to reach 2.9% in 2009 and 2.6% in 2010.
The budget will now be submitted to the financial and cultural committees of the French National Assembly for their approval.
Source: Broadband TV news
Item added: 21st March 2007



Alsace goes digital in October 2007
The French region of Alsace, on the border of France with Germany and Switzerland, is to be upgraded to digital TV in October 2007.
The necessary transmitter conversion work is planned for the 15th and 31st October, after which, TNT will be available to 80% of the population. The conversion takes place after agreements have been made with Germany and Switzerland to ensure that viewers in the region will continue to able to watch cross border television.
A Free to air package of 18 channels is now available to 63% of the French public.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 21st March 2007



France leads European HDTV
France's new ‘TV of the Future’ law has taken an important step towards high definition television (HDTV) on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform by allocating capacity for HD channels and mandating HD tuners in HD-Ready TV sets, according to a report by Strategy Analytics.
According to its report, the decisions made in France will put increased pressure on other European countries to accelerate their own policies towards HD on DTT platforms. "Most other European countries are still at the discussion stage regarding the introduction of HDTV on their DTT platforms," notes David Mercer, Principal Analyst at Strategy Analytics. "France has taken an important lead by allocating the capacity for HDTV and ensuring that future HDTV’s will be able to receive these new channels. The industry will be satisfied that France has set clear policy goals on these important issues."
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 26th February 2007


CSA extends mobile TV consultation
The CSA have extended the deadline for submissions to its mobile TV consultation. The original submission date of 22nd February 2007 has now been extended and replies to the media regulator must now be delivered by March 15th, 2007.
Source: CSA
Item added: 26th February 2007



French National Assembly approves TV bill
The French National Assembly has approved the new TV bill entitled “Télévision du Futur” detailed in a “French Legislative update” in the latest Digitag web letter.
According to the web letter analogue switch off is to take place on a region-by-region basis beginning on 31st March 2008 and ending by 30th November 2011.
An amendment, proposed and approved, by the National Assembly mandates that all television sets sold in the next year must have a digital tuner. In addition, all HD television sets will need to have an HD MPEG4 AVC decoder included by December 1st 2008.
Following analogue switch off, DTT services will be available to 95% of the population and the remaining 5% will have access to the same services from a satellite transmission to be provided by the Government. The satellite service will be available from the summer of 2007. Viewers will have access to 20 free to air and 19 pay DTT services after switch off.
On the HD front it is expected that at least one multiplex will be made available for the launch of HD services by September 2007, in time for the Rugby World Cup.
The full article can be accessed by clicking on the link at the end of this item.
Source: Digitag webletter
Item added: 20th February 2007

DTV penetration reaches 37.9%    
According to a report from Consultancy firm NPA, Digital Television penetration in France reached 37.9% of the population by the end of 2006.
The report published on the TDF website lists DTT penetration at 15.1% by the end of 2006 with DTT coverage available to 63.65% of the population. In a further break down of these figures the report lists DTT coverage at 25% of the population in 25 of the 100 French “departments” and 50% in a further 64. The full report can be accessed on the TDF website by clicking on the link at the end of this item.
Source: TDF report
Item added: 6th February 2007

Update on France
Latest figures show that over 6.8 million DTT receivers had been sold or rented in France by the end of 2006.
According to GfK, 4,725,000 receivers had been purchased, of which 2,800,000 were set-top boxes, 900,000 were iDTVs and 950,000 were computers with an integrated DTT tuner.It is estimated that 19% of television households accessed DTT services at the end of 2006, compared with 13% in August 2006.
A consultations on Mobile TV has been opened by the CSA.
The public consultation aims to gather industry opinion on the content offering, business models and frequency usage. The consultation coincides with the National Assembly's upcoming debate on a proposed media law, which would allow for the introduction of mobile television services. Responses must be sent to the CSA by 1st March 2007.
A consultation on HDTV is also taking place and will end on  the 15th February 2007. The consultation paper can be retrieved by clicking on CSA
Sources: CSA website, Associated Press and Digitag
Item added: 18th January 2007

DTT rollout plan for 2007 published
The CSA have released a new DTT road map for 2007, detailing the regions which will have access to DTT services in the early part of the year.
DTT services will be available in the following regions and cities:
15 February 2007: Bergerac region
31 March 2007: 8 regions, including the cities of Annecy, Avignon, Belfort, Chaumont, Le Creusot, Montbéliard, Parthenay and Voiron
30 June 2007: 11 regions, including Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (Menton), Champagne-Ardennes (Troyes), Bourgogne (Auxerre, Dijon, Mâcon, Sens), Lorraine (Bar-le-Duc, Epinal, Vittel) and Rhone-Alpes (Chambéry, Montmélian).
Launches for the second part of the year have been put on hold until international agreements with border countries on the switch-off of certain analogue TV repeaters have been signed. Funding to support this second phase of digital switchover also has to be made available.
Regions awaiting the new agreement and funding before switch off can take place are:
Alsace (Mulhouse, Strasbourg), Lorraine (Forbach, Longwy, Metz, Nancy, Sarrebourg, Verdun)
Champagne-Ardennes (Mézières)
Nord-Pas-de-Calais (Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dunkerque, Lille, Maubeuge, Valenciennes)
Picardie (Abbeville, Amiens, Hirson); and Rhône-Alpes (Cluses, Gex).
With the launch of the new DTT services, in all the above regions, between 80-85% of the population will be able to access Digital Terrestrial Television.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 16th January 2007

Public consultation on HD/DTT opened by the CSA
Broadcast regulator CSA has decided to open a public consultation on high-definition television services on the terrestrial platform. The regulator believes that HD should be available on the DTT platform with the eventual aim of serving as the defacto television standard.
The CSA hopes that the consultation will gather the opinions of the broadcast industry on the delivery of HD/DTT services and make proposals on business models and the best use of spectrum. Responses must be submitted to the CSA by 15 February 2007.
The National Assembly is expected to review a proposed law, on the future of television, which already includes a provision for HDTV, in early 2007. The CSA would like to issue licenses for HDTV as soon as allowed to do so by law.
Source: CSA website and Digitag
Item added: 27th December 2006

DVB-H testing in Metz
Network operator TDF has been authorised, by the CSA, to undertake DVB-H testing in Metz, which is located in the eastern part of France, near the border with Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. The trial license is valid until 31 August 2007.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 27th December 2006

 

DVB-H in the Paris subway
A month after the first tests of DVB-H in the Paris subway, further tests were made between the Assemblee National and   Concorde stations and shown to the Minister delegate to industry, Francois Loos.
The tests, which were successful, made possible the reception of Eurosport, France 2, I-TV, M6 Musique and Europe 2 on the moving underground train.
DVB-H technology for the delivery of TV to mobile/portable handheld devices has been selected for use in France over other competing standards and the modified law, allowing mobile TV, will be adopted in the French Senate in January 2007. This will make it possible to launch the first commercial service in time for the Rugby World Cup, which takes place in September and October 2007. TDF plan to cover 70-80% of the population in the main 100 urban areas of France amounting to 30% of the population.
Source: Neteconomie
Item added: 12th December 2006

Senate approves “Television for the Future” bill
The French Senate has approved the “Television for the Future” bill, proposed by the government and setting the date of the final analogue switch-off as 30th November 2011.
The switch-off begins on 31st March 2008 on condition that 95% of the population will be able to access DTT on completion of the process. The remainder of the population are expected to have access to the new channels via a free satellite service, which is planned to begin operation in the summer of 2007, three months after the adoption of the new legislation.
As expected the bill also stipulates that the three commercial broadcasters on the analogue platform, TF1, Canal+, and M6 will receive a 5 year extension to their “bonus” DTT licenses in exchange for them supporting the analogue switch-off programme.
Sources: Digitag and advanced-television.com, 23rd Nov 06
Item added: 28th November 2006

 

Twenty two candidates for DTT services in Paris
The broadcasting regulator CSA has received 22 applications for the four local DTT licenses available in the region of Paris.
Short-listed applicants will be published in March 2007 and the authorisations issued in May 2007. Service should begin before the end of 2007.
All of the applications submitted are for free-to-air television services.
Source: advanced-television.com
Item added: 21st November 2006  

Senate reviews proposed law on Analogue Switch Off
A proposed law on analogue switch-off and the digital dividend is currently ready for review by the French Senate. If approved, it could come into force by January 2007.
According to the proposed law, analogue switch-off will begin on 31 March 2008 and end on 30 November 2011, proceeding on a region-by-region basis. The broadcast regulator, CSA, should complete the ASO plan by July 2007.
The proposed law calls for an extension to the planned 85% DTT population coverage and DTT license holders will be able to extend the duration of their license from 2015 to 2025 on condition that they extend their DTT coverage.
In addition, broadcasters on the terrestrial analogue platform (TF1, M6 and Canal+) may each receive an extra DTT license in December 2011 if they agree to end their analogue transmissions before their licenses lapse. They may also be able to extend their DTT licenses to 2022 should they agree to make their services available on free-to-view on satellite and participate in the work of a proposed working group on analogue switch-off.
Senate amendments to the law include the following:
- Provision for a large-scale information campaign on ASO,
- Financial support for low-income households towards the purchase of a DTT receiver,
- DTT population coverage of 95%
- Include Parliament as part of the decision-making body involved in the allocation of the "digital dividend".
Source: Digitag from La Tribune
Item added: 21st November 2006

DTT penetration nearing 10%
According to a study published by Médiamétrie, 9.7% of French households are equipped to receive DTT services. The count included people over five years of age with access to DTT receivers or receivers equipped with adapters enabling them to access 18 channels of DTT and this amounted to 5.525 million people. The study took place form the 4th to 29th October this year.
Source: Reuters
Item added: 14th November 2006

DTT coverage to increase to 65% of the population
DTT coverage in France will increase to 65% of the population by the end of October 2006. Currently, DTT services are available to 58.5% of the population.
The cities that will now have access to DTT services include: Albi, Alès, Aubenas, Aurillac, Autun, Carcassonne, Chartres, Dieppe, Guéret, Hyères, La Rochelle, Le Puy-en-Velay, Limoges, Mende, Montluçon, Montpellier, Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Perpignan, Poitiers, Privas and Ussel.
Source:Digitag and   CSA website
Item added: 17th October 2006

New DTT receiver specification published
The CSA has published a revised document outlining the requirements for DTT receivers in France. This revised document replaces the document published in July 2001. It can be found on the CSA website
Source: CSA news   (thanks to Digitag)
Item added: 26th September 2006

More HD tests in Paris, Lyon and Marseilles
The French broadcast regulator CSA authorised the first HDTV tests on the terrestrial platform which began on May 28th and were completed by July 17th.
Now CSA have announced a second HD trial on the DTT platform, planned to take,place, as before, in Lyon, Marseille and Paris.
The trial will run from September 2006 to early January 2007. Broadcasters authorised to take part are BFM TV, Canal+, Direct 8, M6, NRJ 12, Arte and France Televisions.
Services will be coded using MPEG-4 and broadcast free-to-air.
Source: CSA
Item added: 17th September 2007

3.1 million receivers sold
GfKs latest figures show that 3.1 million DTT receivers have now been sold in France compared with 2.5 million at the end of March 2006.
This figure does not include DTT tuners in portable computers or hybrid DTT/IPTV set-top boxes currently used in some households.
The breakdown of DTT receivers is listed as follows:
2 million set-top boxes
425,000 IDTVs
651,000 computers with an integrated DTT tuner
34,000 portable DTT receivers
Source: GfK
Item added: 5th September 2006

 

The Council of State approves media law
The Council of State has approved proposed media legislation, which would allow for the introduction of new services, such as HDTV and DVB-H, on the terrestrial television platform. The proposed media law also calls for the regional switch-off of analogue television starting in March 2008 and ending on 30 November 2011. Currently, the broadcast regulator CSA is putting together a roadmap for analogue switch-off.
The next step in the process is that the proposed media legislation will need to be approved by the National Assembly this autumn.
Source: AFP and Télé Satellite
Item added: 1st August 2006

Multiplex made available in Paris for local services
The CSA has invited broadcasters to apply for 4 DTT local service licenses for use on a multiplex which will be made available in the Paris region.
Broadcasters have until 16 October to submit their applications and it is expected that licenses will be issues in March and services launched in October 2007.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 26th July 2006

Regulators approve new media bill  
Arcep the telecoms and postal regulator and the broadcast regulator CSA have both given their approval to the recent government bill on the future of television. However both the CSA and Arcep have expressed their reservations to some of the proposals. Arcep expressed reservations over the proposal to award existing analogue broadcasters with extra capacity after analogue switch-off and the CSA have issues over the proposed switch off process.
The next step is for the Council of State to give its opinion on the bill by the end of this week (21st July).
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th July 2006

Free-to-view satellite services to be launched by end of year
The government has announced plans to launch a free-to-view satellite service in France. By doing so, the government would like to provide all viewers with access to the same services as are available on the DTT platform.
This means that viewers will be able to access the 18 television programme services on the DTT platform as well as the 24 local services offered by regional broadcaster France 3. However, the broadcasters of TF1, M6 and i-Télé have not yet confirmed their participation.
Currently, DTT coverage stands at 58% of the population and will increase to 70% by March 2007.
The satellite services are expected to be launched by the end of the year on Atlantic Bird 3.
Source:Digitag (attributed to AFP)
Item added: 11th July 2006

 

Second DTT/HD trial planned for September
The first HDTV trial on the DTT platform took place between the 28th May and the 17th July in Paris, Lyon and Marseille with broadcasters Télévisions, Arte, TF1, Canal+ and M6. Unfortunately not all broadcasters were able to take part in this trial and now the CSA is planning a second trial from the 1st September to the 7th January 2007. Licenses will be available for use in Paris (ch23), Lyon (ch27) and Marseille (ch22). Preference will be given to free-to-view broadcasters on the DTT platform, who didn’t take part in the previous trial. The material used must be HD content coded using MPEG 4. Applications must be received by the 13th July.
Source: CSA
Item added: 4th July 2006
 

Law to allow for the introduction of HDTV and DVB-H announced
The Government has now made the proposal to modify the outdated broadcasting law of 30th September 1986. The modification will allow for the introduction of new television services including HDTV and DVB-H which are currently prevented by the 1986 law.
The proposal should be ready for parliamentary debate by September.
The proposals also sets a date of the 30th November 2011 for analogue TV switch off, with the process beginning in 2009.
Source: Le Monde and NetEconomy
Item added: 26th June 2006

 

Full Mobile TV (DVB-H) coverage for France in 2008
In an upbeat statement on Wednesday in Paris, Francois Loos, minister for industry, said that the reception of mobile TV everywhere in France could be possible in 2008. Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom already have video available on their cellphone networks but it is not possible to have many users on these one to one services.
This was the reason given for the exceptional interest in DVB-H technology which provides a one too many broadcast approach. He said that this was why three operators were currently trialing DVB-H in France and also added that more research was taking place to integrate satellite transmissions with the system so as to allow better coverage outside the main city areas.
However he also made clear that before launching DVB-H across the country frequencies must be found and allotted to these services and that the situation is made more difficult by an existing 1986 telecoms. law which needs amendment.
The bill to amend this law is expected in the next few weeks and Philippe Levrier a member of the deciding council said that as soon as the documents arrived a decision should be possible in a few weeks.
Sources various: AFP Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Tribune de Geneve on line
Item added: 16th June 2006

DTT coverage extended to 58%
The CSA have announced that DTT coverage in France is now 58% of the population a total of 15 million households. The has been brought about by the completion of 19 new transmitting stations. The next DTT coverage extension is expected to be in October when 60% of the population should have access.
The regions covered by the new transmiters are:

Aquitaine                               (Agen, Arcachon)
Auvergne                               (Clermont-Ferrand)
Basse-Normandie                   (Alençon, Caen)
Bretagne                                (Lorient)
Corse                                    (Bastia)
Centre                                   (Argenton-sur-Creuse, Tours)
Franche-Comté                       (Besançon)
Haute-Normandie                    (Evreux)
Ile-de-France                          (Meaux)
Limousin                                 (Brive-La-Gaillarde)
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur     (Cannes, Nice, Saint-Raphaël)
Pays de la Loire                       (Angers, Laval)
Rhone-Alpes                            (Roanne)

Source: CSA
Item added: 16th June 2006

HD/DTT trial has begun
The CSA has confirmed plans for a Free-to-Air HDTV trial on the terrestrial platform. Permission has been given to Broadcasters TF1, M6, Canal+, Arte and France Televisions to transmit programmes between the 28th May and the 17th July. The trial will be available in Paris, Lyon and Marseilles.
Source: CSA
Item added: 1st June 2006

Call for HDTV on the DTT platform
The DTT promotion group comprised of free-to-air broadcasters and network operators, Groupement Télévision numérique pour tous, has called for available spectrum to be allocated to free-to-air broadcasters to allow for the provision of high-definition and mobile television services. In addition, spectrum should be allocated free-of-charge.
The Groupement Télévision numérique pour tous is comprised of most of the free-to-air broadcasters on the DTT platform, including public and commercial broadcasters. Members include NT1, ARTE, Direct 8, France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5, la chaîne parlementaire, NRJ12, Gulli and BFM TV.
The statement from the Groupement TNT is a response to the public consultation launched by the Ministry of Culture on the launch of HD and mobile services on the terrestrial platform.
Original Source: AFP
Main Source: Digitag
Item added: 1st June 2006

CSA announces the next phase of DTT roll-out
The Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuCSA) has announced the next phase of DTT roll-out in France. By 31 March 2007, 70% of the population will be able to access DTT services.

The new regions to access DTT services are:
- Bourgogne : Sens, Auxerre, Dijon, Mâcon, Le Creusot
- Rhône-Alpes : Annecy, Chambéry, Montmélian, Voiron
- Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azurvignon, Menton
- Lorraine : Bar-le-Duc, Vittel, Epinal
- Champagne-Ardenne : Troyes, Chaumont
- Franche-Comté : Belfort, Montbéliard
- Poitou-Charentes : Parthenay

This has been made possible by international negotiations with border countries, on frequency allocation, which has identified frequencies for 19 of the 40 transmission sites already under construction. The discussions continue to find further frequencies for the 115 sites which constitute the planned national network for DTT.

Current DTT coverage stands at 50%, and is expected to reach 66% by October 2006.
CSA has also presented a plan to provide DTT services in the border region of Alsace. The plan calls for the use of frequencies currently utilised for analogue services and this has caused the CSA to proposed that the digital switchover pilot takes place this year.
The CSA has recommended that this pilot operation takes place at the site in Niederbronn-les-Bains (Alsace).
Source: CSA website
Item added: 16th May 2006

New Broadcast Consultation begins
A consultation process to review the 1986 broadcasting law has been launched by the French Government. The present law does not take account of digital technologies such as DTT and Internet access. The review and subsequent legal amendments to the old law are needed to take account of mobile TV with TF1, M6 and Canal plus requiring the current allocation of seven channels per company to be extended before they can go ahead with new services.
The new law will also make HDTV broadcast over DTT and cable possible.
Main Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th May 2006

Presidential support given for digital switchover
French president Jacques Chirac has given his support for digital switchover and has mandated a Strategic Committee to manage the switch to an all-digital environment, planned to take place in the next five years.
The Strategic Committee is headed by the Prime Minister and consists of theMinisteries of culture, industry and national planning, who will work closely with regulators and members of the broadcast industry.
The President has called for an analogue switch-off pilot this year and it is possible that the pilot takes place in the Alsace region. Analogue switch-off is likely to take place regionally over a five year period.
Analogue switch-off will free up the necessary frequencies to increase the coverage of DTT services.
It is planned that 95% of the population will be able to access DTT services when analogue switch-off is completed.
Source: Digitag and  Le Monde
Item added: 7th May 2006

CSA allows limited HD/DTT trials
The CSA has announced plans to clear channels for HDTV trials on a temporary basis in Paris, Lyon and Marseille. The trial may be extended to other cities on a non-interference basis to other services.
The CSA has invited interested parties to apply for licences permitting HDTV services using DTT platforms for the trials which will last for a period of nine months.
Applicants will be able to use MPEG-4 compression to provide two HDTV services in the allocated channel slot.
The closing date for applications is April 28th, 2006.
Source: CSA
Item added: 20th April 2006

Lack of free spectrum limits DTT growth
The broadcast regulator Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA) has informed the French Prime Minister that the population coverage of DTT will only reach 70% of the population by March 2007 instead of the planned 85%. In an official letter the CSA says that the planned for coverage is not possible due to the lack of available frequencies in some regions bordering other countries. Negotiations on frequency allocations begun in November still had not reached a satisfactory conclusion by January 2006. Agreements after this date do not allow sufficient time for digitisation of transmitter sites by the March 2007 deadline. It is expected that only 15 sites will now be digitised by March 2007 instead of the 40 required to comfortable meet the initial plan for 85% coverage.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 12th April 2006

 

Analogue switch off set for 2011
The Minister of Culture and Communications, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, has announced that France will end its analogue terrestrial television services on 1 January 2011.

Analogue switch-off is expected to take place region-by-region beginning in 2007.
In January, President Jacques Chirac had called for the release of frequencies used for analogue terrestrial television. He would like these channels to be used for new digital services whose deployment is already being limited by the lack of free spectrum.
(See item above)
Source: ZDNet.fr
Item added: 12th April 2006

MHP trials on the DTT platform
The French broadcast regulator Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA) has authorised NRJ 12 to undertake an interactive trial using the MHP standard.
NRJ 12 broadcasts its services on the free-to-air DTT platform. The MHP trial is expected to last for a month.
Source: CSA
Item added: 30th March 2006

92% of the population to be able to receive TNT by 2011
According to a study by L’institut NPA Conseil, 92% of the French population should be able to receive digital terrestrial television by 2011. From 2008 it is expected that Terestrial Numeric Television (TNT) will be the major form of reception , ahead of both cable and satellite. In 2011, 24 million homes will be “connected” for digital TV compared with 6.4 million in 2006.
The item also goes on to say that 10 million HDTV’s will be in French homes by 2011/12.
Source: MEDIABB
Item added: 30th March 2006

TNT in 2.5 Million homes after only one year
One year after its launch terrestrial numeric television is in 2.519 million homes according to Marc Pallain president of TNT (Télévision numérique par Tous)
A recent Gfk survey indicates that there ar 1,423,000 digital TV adapters, 375,000 computers with adapters and 173,000 TV sets equipped with TNT capability.
Source: MEDIABB
Item added: 30th March 2006


 

First results of DVB-H trial
The first results of the DVB-H trial in Paris conducted by Canal+, Nokia, Towercast and SFR are positive. Of the 500 users, 73% have indicated their satisfaction and over 65% indicated that they would be willing to subscribe to the services.
Users watched mobile television for an average of 20 minutes per day. Over half of the participants used DVB-H services from their homes while 14% used the services on public transportation and 12% while at work.
The three periods of heavy usage included mornings (9.00-10.00), lunchtime (13.00-14.00) and the evening (20.00-22.00). The most popular programme services were news, music and sports.
Source: Digitag and IRT news
Item added: 7th March 2006

1.73 million DTT receivers in the market
According to recent reports by the DTT association Groupement TNT, approximately 1.73 million DTT receivers have been sold or rented in France during 2005. In addition it estimates that 3 million STB's will be sold in 2006.
The actual penetration of DTT is 14% in the areas with service and 7% in the whole of France.
Source: Digitag
Item added: 23rd January 2006

DVB-T boxes head the Christmas list
DVB-T boxes were a must have gift in the lead up to Christmas, boosting the number of households able to receive the new transmissions to 1.3 million, only nine months after the launch of DTT in France.
Already the entry level boxes are selling at around €59, the same level as DVD players and at a level where purchasing decisions are easy. The 18 digital channels available since March will be joined by 10 new pay TV channels in 2006.
Source: Digitag
Item added: 9th January 2006

 

Parisians watch TV on Mobile phones
For the last few weeks several hundred Parisians have been able to watch TV on mobile phones.
Despite channel scarcity, CSA have found the frequencies necessary for four trials to take place simultaneously. Three use DVB-H in the UHF TV band and one uses DMB-T in the VHF band.
The slight differences in coding between some participants is given as one of the reasons  why a single multiplex is not used for all the DVB-H transmissions according to the article on 01 Net .
TDF and TPS both use channel 37, while Canal+ transmits on part of an existing multiplex DVB R5 which may be used for HDTV, later in 2006.
The tests will establish how many transmiters would be needed to provide a DVB-H service for Paris although plans to do so are not yet finalised.
Source: 01 Net
Item added: 4th January 2006

DTT reaches one million homes
According to the market research institute GFK, Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) may be received in over 1,035 million French homes amounting to a penetration of 9.5% in the currently covered areas.
The million plus total consists of 890,000 Set-Top-Boxes, 35,000 DTT televisions and 110,000 adapters fitted to computers.
On average 40,000 adapters are being sold every week and sales increased by 85% during September and October.
Source: LeFigaro
Item added: 29th November 2005

 

Canal Plus to launch pay DTT next week
Canal Plus is to launch its pay DTT service in France on 21 November according Advanced-television.com and has ordered 200,000 MPEG4 DTT decoders for roll out in the zones covered by DTT transmissions.
Source: Advanced-television.com, 15th November 2005
Item added: 15th November 2005

 

Pay DTT launch announced, MPEG-4 testing begins, Report on accelerating DTT roll-out released
Administrative details have been completed for the launch of pay-DTT services in France. A recent government decree allowing service providers to offer pay-DTT services and the CSA allocating a number of slots for each pay-DTT service has cleared the path for the launch.
Canal+ is ready to launch in mid-November, by which time its MPEG-4, SDTV set-top boxes will be delivered. TPS is planning to launch services at the end of the year.

Eurosport have also been given permission, by CSA, to begin experimental television transmissions using MPEG-4 in standard definition. The trial will last until Eurosport officially launches its pay-DTT services, deadline March 1st 2006.

A report on accelerating the launch of DTT services has also been released and can be downloaded from the CSA website. The report highlights the conditions and requirements necessary to ensure that 85% of French residents can access DTT services by March 2007.
Sources: CSA website and Digitag
Item added: 8th November 2005

 

Coverage increased to 50% of the population
The DTT service coverage increased to 50%, from the previous 35%, on October 15th, when 17 new transmitter sites came into service.
The new transmitters provide DTT to Ajaccio, Bayonne, La Rhune, Bourges, Caen, Herouville, Cherbourg Digosville, Grenoble, Tour-sans-Venin, Le Havre, Harfleur, Lyon, Mont Pilat, Le Mans, Nantes, Orleans, Rheims, Hauntvilliers, St Etienne, Toulon and Toulouse.
A further coverage increase is planned for June 2006 when a further 19 transmission sites begin broadcasting.
Source: Advanced Television.com, 18th Oct 2005
Item added: 18th October 2005


 

French group backs MHP for DTT
French interactive television trade group AFDESI (Association Française des Dévelopeurs, Editeurs et Fournisseurs de Services en télévision Interactive) has recommended the adoption of Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) as the common standard for interactive services on the country’s DTT channels.
Source: Advanced Television.com 20th September 2005
Item added: 20th September 2005


DVB-H trials to begin in Paris
CSA, the French broadcast regulator, has given its approval for four trials of TV broadcasting to mobile receivers. Three of the trials will use DVB-H and the fourth T-DMB. All of the trails are planned to take place in Paris.
The first trial from TDF will start on September 15th and last for nine months. The second trial also in the same channel 37 will be led by TPS.
Canal + will lead the third DVB-H trial on channel 29 for a period of nine months.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 19th September 2005


HDTV MPEG4 broadcast from the Eiffel Tower
TPS broadcast a short HDTV movie coded in MPEG4 from its Eiffel Tower transmitter on September 14th, 2005.
The HD channel was inserted in the existing multiplex and was 11Mpbs in total. The quality of the transmission was compared with the same material coded in MPEG2 at a bit rate of 18Mbps and no quality differences were reported.
MPEG4 SDTV transmissions have already been authorised for all commercial DTT services in France.
Source: Electronique Biz
Item added: 19th September 2005

 

Report on mobile TV submitted to Prime Minister
A report on broadcasting to mobile receivers has been submitted to the French Prime Minister.
The report provides an analysis of existing technologies that will enable broadcasting to mobile receivers. It also provides an overview of the conditions necessary to ensure a large scale deployment of such services in France.
The government has stated that it will encourage pilot projects with the aim of providing such services to the general public. The report calls for a commercial launch of services between the end of 2006 and 2008.
According to the report, one of the major issues affecting broadcasting to mobile services is finding the necessary frequencies. As such, the report calls for the establishment of a working group that can look into these issues and submit its recommendations in 2006.
It is likely that the standard selected in France to provide mobile television services will need to be made in coordination with other European countries. 
Report - Télévision numérique et mobilité 
Source: Digitag
Item added: 30th August 2005


CSA authorises experimental licences
Canal+ and TPS have been authorised to proceed with transmitting MPEG-4 on their respective multiplexes ahead of the pay TV latest start date of March 1st 2006.
Source: CSA website
Item added: 30th August 2005


DTT roll-out defined by CSA
CSA, the French broadcasting regulator has announced more details of the DTT launch.
Channel numbers for the four recently licensed free to air channels where announced and they can begin broadcasting from September 1st.
The four additional pay TV channels also announced, have 6-months to start broadcasting.
CSA also restructured some of the existing multiplexes as well as deciding on 19 new transmission sites for Spring 2006 and another 24 for Autumn 2006.
These additional sites will extend DTT coverage to two thirds of the French population by Autumn 2006.
CSA also made it clear that the intention is to extend coverage of free TV channels to the whole of the population. A joint working group has been set up and its proposals on how coverage can be extended are expected by October 1st 2005.
Source: CSA
Item added: 25th July 2005

 

France adopts MPEG-4 for terrestrial HDTV
In a statement issued on the 24th May 2005 the Ministry of Economy announced that the MPEG-4 (H.264) compression standard must be used for HDTV services on any terrestrial channel both pay and public. MPEG-4 is already obligatory for Pay TV operators whilst public service operators can continue to use MPEG-2 for standard definition digital terrestrial services.
Source AFP
Item added: 2nd June 2005

 

8 new national services selected for TNT
The CSA has selected 8 new programmes for the Télévision Numérique Terrestre (TNT) digital television platform.
4 of the 8 will be free-to-air with the remaining 4 Pay-TV services.
The final licence agreements for the new services are planned for completion and signature during June 2005.
New frequencies or capacity within existing planned multiplexes will be negotiated when legislation allowing the use of MPEG-4 as well as the current MPEG-2 is completed.
Source: CSA 
Item added: 10th May 2005

 

France launches digital terrestrial television
Télévision Numérique Terrestre, the first French DTT service was launched by the French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin on the 31st March 2005. Branded as La Télévision Numérique pour tous, or digital television for all, it will have three new channels initially with up to 14 free-to-air services later. At present the service is reported to be restricted to 35% of the population from 17 transmitter sites, covering Paris, Aquitaine, Bretagne, Marseille, Lille, Lyon and Toulouse. Coverage is planned to increase to 50% of the population by September and 80% by 2007.
Raffarin has also been quoted as saying that 100% of the population will be covered within three years of the launch.
More details at http://www.tnt-gratuite.fr
Item added: 5th April 2005

CSA readies DTT coverage
In its plenary meeting on 22 March, the French broadcasting regulator approved a letter for the French Prime Minister detailing coverage zones, ahead of the impending launch of DTT on 31 March.

The CSA says the current aim of reaching 85 percent of the population from 115 transmission sites by 2007 is perfectly achievable, but the fate of the remaining TV viewers calls for action by the public sector. For the most part, they are people who live in mountainous or border zones beyond the reach of DTT in the coming years. In the letter, the CSA chairman Dominique Baudis calls for the creation of a working group to consider how the remaining population can gain access to digital TV, by various means (extension of DTT transmission sites, increasing transmission power, use of satellite, cable and xDSL). This working group would contain representatives of the CSA and of the government Media Development Directorate.
Meanwhile, the public sector DTT channels are all being carried on the Atlantic Bird 3 satellite, which can be received throughout the country (and beyond).
Source: Advanced-television.com
From Sotires Eleftheriou in Paris

DVB-H gets everyone's attention
Not only have Groupe Canal +, SFR and Nokia announced a joint DVB-H trial to 500 users but TPS  also announced separately that it will  be experimenting with DVB-H.
The Groupe Canal trial will not only seek to define technical parameters for broadcast and reception, but will also serve as a test of consumer interest.
The TPS trial includes France Telecom, Orange and Bouygues and will have around 200 mobile subscribers.
A commercial launch nationwide is not expected before 2006 or 2007.
The test will start in June subject to the approval of CSA.
Both groups still have to obtain licenses for the trials.
Source: Original info. from Advanced-Television.com

The information provided comes from several sources and whilst DVB believe it to be correct we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
If you have more up to date information or corrections please send them to dvb@dvb.org

Last page update: 27th December 2011, Barry Tew