Call for applications for 15 DTT services: shortlist of candidates

Today, Arcom made a preselection of the channels that had applied for a national diffusion authorization on terrestrial hertzian frequencies.

Digital terrestrial television (DTT), the exclusive reception mode for almost 20% of households, remains an essential broadcasting method for the public. Taken as a whole, DTT channels represent the most structuring supply in the French audiovisuel landscape: they currently account for over 90% of the total television audience.

On February 28, 2024, in view of the expiry of the licenses for fifteen services in 2025, and after having carried out a public consultation and a preliminary impact study in 2023, Arcom launched a call for bidders for the production of national, full-time DTT services in high definition.

25 applications were declared admissible, one of which withdrew.

From July 8 to 17, Arcom held public hearings for each of the 24 candidates.

Following these hearings, and after an in-depth, comparative examination of the applications, the Authority, meeting as a full college, shortlisted the following projects as a preparatory measure:

• BFM TV (BFM TV company)
• CANAL+ (CANAL PLUS publishing company)
• CANAL+ CINEMA(S) (CANAL PLUS publishing company)
• CANAL+ SPORT (CANAL PLUS publishing company)
• CNEWS (information service operating company)
• CSTAR (CSTAR company)
• GULLI (JEUNESSE TV company)
• LCI (LA CHAÎNE INFO company)
• OF TV (OUEST-FRANCE TV company)
• PARIS PREMIERE (PARIS PREMIERE company)
• PLANETE+ (Canal+ Thématiques)
• RÉELSTV (CMI France)
• TFX (company TFX)
• TMC (TELE MONTE CARLO)
• W9 (EDI-TV)

Arcom based its decision on the criteria set out in articles 29, 30 and 30-1 of the September 30, 1986 Act, assessing in particular the interest of each project for the public in terms of the overriding requirement for plurality in socio-cultural expression.

The Authority will now draw up agreements with each of the selected candidates, a prerequisite for issuing a license to use radio resources on DTT, for a maximum period of ten years. These agreements will be drawn up on the basis of the requirements set out in the French law of September 30, 1986, as interpreted by the Conseil d'Etat, notably in terms of plurality, with reference to the most recent agreements for national and local DTT television services, and in light of the commitments made by each candidate in his or her application file and during the public hearing.

The numbering of services will be examined in the autumn, before authorizations are issued. A logical number will be assigned to each authorized candidate, in compliance with the principles of the French law of September 30, 1986, including the public interest.