DTT in France The transition to DTT in France: state of the art and current regulatory issues Thierry VACHEY Direction des opérateurs audiovisuels
TV in France is facing rapid changes 23 millions of TV households Analog terrestrial reception : 64% Satellite : 20% (merging!) Cable : 16% (merging!) DTT Free to air channels launched in March 2005 Already almost 2 millions of adaptators sold or rent Pay TV channels launched in December 2005 About 50,000 subscribers
TV in France : Brief presentation of the landscape 6 national terrestrial analog channels : 5 free to air + 1 pay tv 89% of the audience 28 DTT channels : 17 are free to air + 11 pay tv Their audience remains uncertain Around 100 cable and satellite channels 11% of the audience
Introduction of DTT: The regulatory framework The Audiovisual Act (sept, 30, 1986) modified by the Act of August, 1st, 2000 gives the regulatory framework for the introduction of DTT in France Key role played by CSA in charge of: planification of DTT frequencies selection of the channels in the private sector composition of the multiplexes
DTT The transmitting networks The transmitting networks are based on the use of 110 stations in order to cover 85% of the population At the present time : planification has been completed for about 68% of the population At the northern and eastern borders, planification is made difficult by lack of frequencies
DTT Launching A progressive coverage (1) March 2005 : 17 stations for 35% of pop
DTT Launching A progressive coverage (2) Oct 2005 : 31 stations for 50% of pop
DTT Launching A progressive coverage (3) October 2006, 73 stations for 68% of pop
Multiplexes : rules of managment 5 multiplexes are planified for each station A 6th multiplex remains reserved and could be dedicated to mobile TV or HDTV 5 to 6 channels by multiplex (24 Mbps) = 28 services on 5 multiplexes 2 technical standards used MPEG-2 for free to air channels MPEG-4 for pay tv channels
Which regulation for the access to the resources? Licences are issued service by service, to the editor and not by multiplex, to the operator The selection is operated by - The Govt for public services - CSA for private television companies
The public channels A legal priority for public channels with, in exchange, «strengthened» obligations imposed by the Govt 4 channels in simulcast France 2, France 3, France 5, Arte (F5 and Arte on a complete channel each) + La Chaîne parlementaire before DTT, only on cable and sat + A new channel : France 4
The private sector Rules of selection Licences provided by CSA after a call for bids legal criteria : To favor a variety of actors, in order to strengthen competition on the broadcasting market To ensure a wide range of services and formats covering viewers expectations An agreement is signed up between the editor and CSA to define the obligations of the service Maximum of 7 licences given to the same person
The private sector 22 channels selected 2 «Beauty contest» launched in July 2001 with licences issued in June 2003 and in December 2004 with licences in July 2005 Simulcast of analog channels TF1, M6 and Canal+ 9 free to air channels 3 from cable + 6 new channels 10 pay TV channels all existing
Composition of the 5 multiplexes The editors on a same mux choose an operator in charge of technical operations (also licenced by CSA) The multiplex R5 is presently reserved (for HDTV?) A channel has to be reserved for local programs R1 R2 R3 R4 R6 France 2 I-Télé Canal+ M6 TF1 France 3 BFM TV C+ Cinéma W9 LCI France 4 Direct 8 C+ Sport TF6 Eurosport France 5 Gulli Planète Paris 1ère TPS Star Arte Europe 2 Tv Canal J AB1 NRJ12 LCP TMC NT1 FTA : 6 FTA : 6 FTA : 0 FTA : 3 FTA : 2 Pay TV : 0 Pay TV : 0 Pay TV : 5 Pay TV : 3 Pay TV : 3
For a 100% coverage? End of 2007: 80 to 85% of households covered by DTT A public report recommends to extend the coverage (It could be done by adding 200 new stations to the 115 existing) to create a free satellite platform for people living outside of areas covered by DTT
ready for the switch off? the transition must be prepared at the same time than the launching!! The switch off is scheduled for 2010 (5 years after the beginning of DTT broadcast) CSA has to confirm this date by taking into account the level of digital equipment of the population (in DTT, but also in cable, satellite, or ADSL ) The law will be adapted in order to allow a switch off area by area