The Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) has launched a call for applications for six HD channels to broadcast on the French DTT system.
Following last week’s decision not to commit to DVB-T2, the channels will broadcast in DVB-T/MPEG-4 over the R7 and R8 multiplexes.
The deadline for applications is January 3, 2012 with the candidates selected in mid-March. The formal licensing process will be completed at the end of May 2012.
In a statement the CSA said it would look favourably on channels looking to be on-air in the autumn of 2012 with a coverage of 25% of the French mainland.
The deployment of the two new networks will be completed by 2014 to achieve a coverage equivalent to that of R1, R2, R4 and R6.
