French broadcast regulator CSA (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel) has fixed the date for the launch of terrestrial digital television as between 1 December 2004 and 31 March 2005. The precise date of start of transmissions will be announced six months in advance, with the Council deciding on a coverage target of approximately 60 per cent of the population by the end of 2005 and a final objective of reaching 85 per cent.
Viewers will be able to receive about fifteen national television channels, as well as local programmes, with the possibility of another fifteen subscription stations.
The CSA has published a list of 88 planned transmitter sites on its web site at www.csa.fr/pdf/frequences_tnt_191203.pdf.