The French media authority CSA has set a new timetable for the deployment of digital terrestrial television in high definition. This decision was taken in agreement with TF1 HD, France 2 HD and M6 HD, which operate multiplex R5.The deployment of multiplex R5 will take place on a gradual basis, region by region, As the analogue broadcasts are switched off, terrestrial HD will become available. In regions that switch to all digital television in 2010, the multiplex R5 will be deployed on all main transmitters of the network at that moment, with the exception of Alsace, where HD transmissions will launch as of September 28, 2010.
For all regions where the transition to digital will take place in 2011, people will have access to the HD channels immediately. The national coverage of terrestrial HD should reach about 90% of the population at November 30, 2011 and 95% at the end of Q1 2012.
Arte HD and Canal + HD are broadcast on other multiplexes and are already available in all areas already covered by digital terrestrial broadcasts.
You can find a complete list of all the HD transmitters and their switch on date on the website of the CSA, by clicking here – a 47 pages long PDF file will start downloading.
