NEW SATELLITE TV CHANNELS: THIRD IN A SERIES ON FRENCH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000703 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/PPD, EUR/WE, INR, R E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC PREL KPAO FR SUBJECT: NEW SATELLITE TV CHANNELS: THIRD IN A SERIES ON FRENCH MEDIA PARIS 00000703 001.2 OF 002 Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Paris is reviewing and recalibrating its media strategy for 2007, in order to maintain the appropriate level of focus of print media while building on our contacts with radio and TV media. This analysis of satellite providers is the third in a series of cables analyzing the media environment. End Summary. -------------- TNT: THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) France has undertaken a major project entitled the "Television of the future," which aims to provide universal digital television coverage via the Digital Video Broadcast (TNT) system by sometime between March 2008 and November 2011. The objective is to enable 100 percent of the French population to receive 18 digital quality channels free of charge. A government-sponsored interest group will be in charge of assisting those viewers who would otherwise not be able to afford the service, including the possibility of no-cost satellite reception in areas without TNT service. ¶3. (SBU) The French government is trying to ensure that the French have access to a wide variety of channels, public as well as private, and that France is on the cutting edge for digital television technology. The TNT system has tripled the number of free channels available to most viewers (from 6 to 18, including such news channels as i-tele, BFM-TV, and Direct-8). It offers six full public channels (as opposed to three on the analog TV) with more news, music, youth programs, movies, documentaries and made-for-TV films. -------------- SATELLITES: THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY -------------- ¶4. (SBU) In January 2007, CanalSat and TPS (Television Par Satellite) formalized their merger, previously approved by the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry in August 2006. The new company, called Canal plus France, is now the only TV satellite operator in France. To preserve competition, however, the government required Canal plus France to respect a series of specific conditions for a number of years. ¶5. (U) The Canal plus Group signed a long-term contract on January 19 with Luxembourg-based SES ASTRA for the satellite transmission of Canal plus France's program selection for the French Market. -------------- HOTBIRD/EUTELSAT -------------- ¶6. (U) Eutelsat is the other leading satellite provider in France and is based in Paris. Established in 1977 as an intergovernmental organization to give Europe a satellite telecommunications network, Eutelsat became a Limited Company in 2001 following the liberalization of the telecommunications sector. Eutelsat made its first public stock offering in December 2005. Eutelsat's shareholders include Abertis Telecom (Spain leading communication company) with 32 percent and Caisse des Depots with 25.5 percent, others 9.3 percent. The Caisse des Depots is a French public and investment organization, whose CEO is appointed by Presidential decree by the Council of Ministers. -------------- ARABSAT AND FRANCE 24 -------------- ¶7. (SBU) State-owned France 24 (all-news channel) signed a cooperative agreement with Arabsat, an Inter-Governmental Organization founded by the Arab League in 1976, in November 2006 to distribute France 24 via Arabsat's satellites. Arabsat's headquarters are in Riyadh, but the company maintains an office in Paris. -------------- COMMENT: KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT'S HAND IN -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Digital video broadcasts (TNT) and French government use of available satellite providers work to enhance basic programming availability throughout France, while allowing France to stay near PARIS 00000703 002.2 OF 002 technology's cutting edge and maintaining a role for the government in distribution. Our media outreach is expanding to embrace these newly enhanced TV programming opportunities. STAPLETON