AB Group switches channels to full HD

France’s AB Group is to make its full portfolio of channels available to distribution partners in full HD from today and is shutting down standard-definition transmission of the services.

Canalsat will offer four of the HD channels – RTL9, Cine FX, Action and Animaux – to its subscribers.

AB Group said the migration had presented a major technical challenge that required significant investment on its part, but that it would position it amongst the major providers of full HD channels in France.

Separately, France’s media regulator, the CSA, is to hear an appeal by factual channel Planète to migrate from the pay to the free tier of channels on the country’s digital-terrestrial TV platform on June 3.