France launches digital TV bids

France has lagged behind others in the race for digital

The French TV watchdog has invited bids for 22 new commercial terrestrial television channels.

The Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) announced on Tuesday that it was accepting the offers for licences for private channels due to be on air by the end of 2002.

The newly appointed head of the CSA, Dominique Baudis, encouraged applicants not to miss this opportunity.

CSA monitors French television from its Paris headquarters

"Never in France have we seen such a broadening of the television landscape," he said.

Three channels have already been reserved for local television and eight for public broadcasters.

Baudis noted that a third of French households currently receive only five unscrambled free-to-air channels and that the new channels will significantly improve the choice of programming available.

Existing Television channels, along with new candidates, will have until 29 November to lodge their bids.

Contenders are expected to include France's existing private free-to-air channels TF1 and M6, both of which have already invested in satellite subsidiaries.

France's roll out of digital television in France has lagged behind other countries.

In Britain the take-up of the service has not been encouraging.

France hopes to avoid the problems faced in the UK by providing a larger number of commercial channels free-to-air.

CSA president Dominique Baudis launched the invitation to bid

But there are many problems to face.

Only half of the shared buildings in the country can receive digital television once it is available and these will need to be updated at an estimated cost of 150FF (£14) per household.

Viewers will also need to buy a digital decoder or a new digital television set in order to receive the server and the cost of these boxes has already proved a deterrent to digital television uptake elsewhere.

Baudis noted that the price of these digital set-top boxes is significantly lower in the UK than in France.

The shortlist for the licences will be published in March 2002 and the winners announced in June 2002.