France Telecom’s Orange has confirmed press reports that it wants to start re-selling premium channels on the country’s digital terrestrial network.
Orange is currently in negotiation with five premium channels – Eurosport, LCI, Paris Première, Planète and TF6 – that are available on the DVB-T network.
Just recently, two of the country’s resellers, TV Numeric and TnTop, announced they would merge their operations (see Broadband TV News passim).
Orange is also interested in obtaining terrestrial licences to launch one or more premium channels of its own. The operator is seeking to acquire the channels vacated by AB3 and Canal J, as reported by Broadband TV News.

"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.