France’s new DTT channels go on air

The CSA's Michel Boyon & Aurélie Filippetti

France’s six new HD DTT channels – HD1, L’Equipe 21, 6ter, Numéro 23, RMC Découverte and Chérie 25 – have gone on air.

French media regulator the CSA launched the channels at an event yesterday in the presence of the country’s culture minister Aurélie Filippetti.

The channels are currently available to about half of France’s households in total, according to the regulator, including 29% of DTT households. On DTT the channel is available in the Ile de France, Bourgogne, Aquitaine and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions, with a further 1,500 transmitters sett to distribute them in 12 phases between now and June 2015, ultimately giving 97% terrestrial coverage.

In addition to the terrestrial network, the channels are available via satellite, ADSL and cable.