LONDON — The switch-off of analog TV in France could be delayed to 2013 or 2014, from its current deadline of 30th November 2011, according to a report in Les Echos .
The French business newspaper quotes Philippe Levrier, the head of France Tele Numerique, a public body tasked with helping the public adopt the new broadcasting system, saying that he has recommended to digital development minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet a revised timetable.
Under the revised plan, analog broadcasting would be turned off simultaneously in two or three regions in the second half of 2010. A total of 24 regions will eventually switch to digital, starting with Alsace on 2 February 2010 and Lower Normandy on 9th March 2010. After then, there is no timetable for regional DSO, and the analogue switch-off may have to be postponed, he said.
Separately, it has been announced that French digital terrestrial channels will be available from June on the Eutelsat Atlantic Bird 3 satellite in a package to be marketed as Fransat. The satellite has always been used to broadcast the DTT channels to homes beyond DTT reception.
The 18 channels will be available from June for free though viewers will need to buy a set-top box with smart card that is expected to cost about Euros 100.
This is similar to the UK's Freeview system.
Other countries, notably the U.S. have already delayed switching off their analog TV services.
