French media authority Conseil Supérieur l’Audiovisuel (CSA) has planned hearings for the two DTT pay-channels that want to turn free-to-air.
LCI, La Chaîne d’Information from the groupe TF1, and Paris Première, owned by M6, have both requested to stop encryption of the signals on the nation’s digital terrestrial network TNT.
Both channels currently operate as low-pay channels, but have failed to make ends meet. In order to change the channels’ fortunes, both broadcasters have now requested to turn off encryption and go for an advertiser supported business model.
The CSA will hear news channel LCI’s case on May 7, while Paris Premiere can make its case on May 19. The CSA is set to decide on the matter in June 2014.
