The HD version of French public channel France 2 will launch on July 1 on the CanalSat DTH platform. It will be the second French public broadcaster after ARTE to transmit in HD on the Astra satellite.
The start of the HD broadcasts is in time to offer viewers native HD coverage of two major sporting events, the Tour de France and the Beijing Olympics. Regular SD programming will be upscaled to HD quality.
France 2 and Arte will launch on the French DTT network later this year, with broadcasts due to start on October 30. On that date, commercial broadcasters TF1, M6 and Canal+ (premium) will also take to the air.
