The French media authority Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) has selected 12 new channels that will broadcast in HD over the country’s DTT network, called TNT.
The authority had to choose between 26 applications for the new HD spectrum. Among the losers are a joint tele-shopping project from TF1 and M6 as well as a French HD version of shopping channel QVC.
The 12 newcomers include nine channels that will be available free-to-air (BFMTV, D17, D8, iTélé, Gulli, NRJ12, NT1, TMC, W9) and three premium (pay-TV) channels (Canal+ Cinéma, Canal+ Sport and Planète+). The new channels will start broadcasting in 2016.
In addition, five public channels will also become available in HD, as directed by the French government. These are France 3, France 4, France 5, France Ô, and La Chaîne parlementaire.
The 17 new HD channels will bring the total number of HD channels available on the TNT network to 29. Already available are TF1, France 2, Canal+, Arte and M6, who started broadcasting in HD in October 2008; and HD1, L’Équipe 21, 6Ter, Numéro 23, RMC Découverte and Chérie 25, that became available in December 2012.
