Eric Besson, France’s secretary of state for the digital economy, has published the roadmap for analogue digital switchover. The aim is to have reached full ASO by the end of November 2011.
The first switch-off is scheduled for November 8, with a pilot switch off in city of Coulommiers, a town of 20,000 inhabitants south-east of Paris. The process will be completed on February 4, 2009. After that, a second pilot is planned in Q2 2009 in the community of Kaysersberg (Alsace). Using results from these two trials, the government hopes to plan a smooth transition to digital.
After these two trails switchovers, the national switch off will start on May 31, 2009 in the city of Cherbourg (more than 100,000 inhabitants). From the end of 2009, two regions, one in the west and other in eastern France, will begin.
In the west, it will take place in the regions of Brittany (3,103,000 inhabitants), Pays de Loire (3,455,000 inhabitants) and Basse Normandie (1,453,000 inhabitants). In the east, it will be in Alsace (1,829,000 inhabitants), Champagne-Ardennes (1,337,000 inhabitants), Lorraine (2,343,000 inhabitants) and Franche Comte (1,151,000 inhabitants).
Further Reading
About Robert Briel
"In an industry that experiences rapid change and often a confusing subsequent
constant supply of news, it is often refreshing to read an insightful perspective. Broadband
TV News and its editorial team regularly provide a context and
helpful analysis to breaking news.”
Broadband TV News is the must-read publication for those working in the Business of the Multiscreen Television. We deliver news, insight and data direct to your desktop. As well as our constantly updated website you can sign-up to our Daily and Weekly email bulletins. 
Connected TV Forecasts NEW REPORT. The number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 551 million by 2016 for the 40 countries covered in this report from Digital TV Research, up from 124 million at end-2010. The report states that this translates to 20% of global TV sets by 2016, up from only 6% at end-2010. Published in November 2011, this 83-page PDF report is the most geographically comprehensive to ever be published.