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