The 16 French channels with a mobile TV licence have chosen Mobmux, a subsidiary of TDF, as the operator of their DVB-H multiplex, the media authority CSA has announced. It said that this is an important step towards the introduction of mobile TV “to which the Council has always firmly committed.”
Earlier this year, TDF and Virgin Mobile announced their intention to market the “personal mobile TV” (or TMP as they call it in France) before the end of 2011. The four major operators in the country, Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free, have said they will not take part in any DVB-H mobile TV service and the teaming up of TDF and Virgin Mobile is seen as a last ditch effort to introduce a DVB-H service in the country.
The CSA issued a licence on April 8, 2010, after which the broadcasters had a period of two months to nominate their multiplex operator. Having chosen TDF’s Mobmux, TDF and Virgin Mobile now have to present their financial and marketing plans to the Council. Before issuing the final licence, the CSA also plans a hearing with the mobile telecoms operators.
The 16 broadcasters that will take part in the DVB-H service are Arte, BFM TV, Canal +, Direct 8, Europacorp TV, Eurosport, France 2, France 3, I-TV, M6, NRJ 12 NT1 Remix, Orange Sport Info, TF1, Virgin 17 and W9.
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