New DTT Channels Marks another Milestone in France

TV viewers across metropolitan France, starting on 12 December, will be able to watch six new DTT channels broadcast exclusively in HD: Chérie 25, HD1, L'Équipe 21, Numéro 23, RMC Découverte and 6TER. In France, in the expansion of free-to-air digital broadcast services and the progressive take-up of High Definition, the launch of these brand new channels marks another milestone.

At launch through terrestrial reception (terrestrial reach will be progressively expanded until almost full coverage is achieved in mid-2015), only 25% of French homes in metropolitan France will be able to receive the new channels. Yet, from day one, all will have national coverage by satellite, and will be available in Eutelsat's (News - Alert) subscription-free FRANSAT platform.

Using the channel numbering fixed by France's national broadcasting authority (the CSA); homes already equipped with a FRANSAT HD box will automatically receive the new channels. To get the full line-up of content, homes with a Standard Digital FRANSAT box can upgrade to an HD box.

For the 75 percent of French homes equipped for terrestrial reception, access to the expanded line-up will be possible with a satellite dish and a FRANSAT HD box, available in over 8,000 retail outlets across metropolitan France.

“We are delighted to provide nationwide coverage of these six new national channels from day one and to increase the HD offer to 10 subscription-free channels,” said Jean-Luc Deroudilhe, CEO of Eutelsat's FRANSAT affiliate.

He added that with almost two million TV sets now connected to its platform, the signal quality and digital choice available through FRANSAT continues to attract viewers.

Via the EUTELSAT 5 West A satellite at 5 degrees West, the FRANSAT platform is broadcast. Eutelsat Communications is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A. (News - Alert) Eutelsat is one of the world's three popular satellite operators, with capacity commercialized on 29 satellites that provide coverage across Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa and significant parts of Asia and the Americas.