The CSA, which regulates broadcasting in France, has said that it is consulting on the idea of introducing a new multi-city multiplex that could support new technology such as DVB-T2 and HEVC compression to support UltraHD. At the moment, France has not moved to DVB-T2 and the organisation feels it would be better to bring in both technologies at the same time, although to give national coverage, this would take five or six years.
The organisation is also looking at the possibility of phasing the service in, initially with services in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes and Grenoble. which would give coverage of 60% of the population.
The CSA has not yet decided if this should be FTA or PayTV. It could be launched in 2019.
Consultation contributions will be taken up to October 13th.
