France's free DTT channels on satellite from June

PARIS — Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL), Europe’s leading satellite operator announces the upcoming launch of France’s free Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) channels via its ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3 satellite. The new offer, called FRANSAT™, will be available from June.

Eutelsat’s 5° West neighbourhood, which is occupied by ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3, has operated as a complement to France’s terrestrial broadcasting network for more than 20 years by delivering channels direct by satellite to homes located beyond terrestrial reception. The transition to digital of this key French neighbourhood in the analogue world is a logical step. It reflects the ‘Digital France 2012 Plan’ and the new broadcasting law of 5 March 2009, which aim to offer a solution to homes in areas with poor terrestrial reception to access DTT channels without incurring the extra cost of adjusting their existing dish installation. France’s free analogue channels will remain available via ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3.

The majority of France’s 18 free-to-air DTT channels are already transmitting from Eutelsat’s ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3 satellite. Assembled by Eutelsat in the FRANSAT™ platform, the 18 channels will be available from June with no subscription fee to all homes equipped with a dish pointed towards ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3 and a FRANSAT™ kit comprising a digital decoder and access card.

In addition to the 18 Standard Definition DTT channels, FRANSAT™ will enable reception of the four free DTT channels broadcast in HDTV: TF1 HD, France 2 HD, Arte HD and M6 HD.

On sale for 99 euros (recommended retail price), the non-proprietary FRANSAT™ decoders will be produced by multiple suppliers. In addition to decrypting channels, the decoders will facilitate automatic channel numbering and provide a parental lock. The platform will be encrypted, available without subscription, and reserved for homes in metropolitan France.

Commenting on the announcement, Giuliano Berretta, Chairman and CEO of Eutelsat Communications, said: “By offering all French free DTT channels to homes beyond range of terrestrial reception Eutelsat is demonstrating its ambition to accompany the transition to digital for all French homes, and to pursue the universal service mission of the 5° West neighbourhood. With FRANSAT™ satellite technology is once again showing how it complements terrestrial networks and plays a key role at the heart of the digital economy. By accelerating the digitisation process of our longstanding installed base of antennas pointed towards 5° West, we are consolidating this neighbourhood’s role as a major video pole for the French market and providing a valuable new opportunity for our client operators to develop digital services.”