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