FRANSAT FROM EUTELSAT
A bouquet of subscription-free DTT channels is now available across
France via ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3 at 5° West
Why did Eutelsat launch a new free-to-air
DTT offer via satellite?
Our ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3 satellite is the
only solution for the 1.5 million French
homes already receiving free-to-air
analogue television in areas not covered
by terrestrial reception. As the programme
for analogue switch-off in certain regions
is taking shape, it was natural for Eutelsat
to propose a solution to ensure that all
homes can easily switch to digital.
FRANSAT is perfectly aligned with the
French Government’s ‘Digital France
2012 Plan’, which highlights the need
for a solution for homes receiving
analogue TV via satellite to switch to
digital without repointing their dishes.
Also, the Broadcasting Law of 5 March
2009 requires free-to-air DTT channels
to make their signal available, enabling
us to include all these channels as part of
FRANSAT.
Describe the ready-to-use FRANSAT
Pack? What does it contain?
The FRANSAT Pack consists of a
labelled decoder and a conditional-access
smart card. Over 95% of homes
already receiving ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3
can simply connect their antenna cable
to the FRANSAT terminal, and switch on.
The decoder will automatically install the
DTT channels. Homes equipped with an
old Télécom LNB (the remaining 5%) will
need to upgrade their LNB.
The decoders are labelled “FRANSAT
Via Eutelsat” giving users a number of
fundamental guarantees, including: quick
and easy installation, automatic numbering
of channels, Viaccess conditional access,
a parental lock, automatic decoder
upgrades, multi-satellite reception, and DVB/Teletext sub-titles.
What will viewers receive with
FRANSAT? Will it be possible to
access other satellite channels, or
other satellites via the same decoder?
With FRANSAT you can receive all 18 free-to-air DTT channels plus France Ô, TV5
Monde, KTO and TV8 Mont-Blanc, which
are also available on ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3. The decoders are also designed to
manage the regional windows of the France
3 network, which we plan to include in the
offer as soon as possible. Decoders with the
HD option can also receive the four free-to-air
HD DTT channels.
As decoders are labelled, but non-proprietary,
users can also access other
free-to-air channels on ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3. In addition, homes equipped with a dual
LNB, a second dish or a motorised dish
can use their FRANSAT decoder to watch
unencrypted channels on other satellites,
and other encrypted programming,
provided it is compatible with the built-in
conditional-access system.
What is the validity of a FRANSAT card?
Is it possible to purchase the card only?
FRANSAT is a subscription-free service,
and not time-limited, so buying the
pack is a one-off procedure. Due to the
programming rights of the channels,
FRANSAT exclusively targets homes in
metropolitan France. As the satellite covers
a wider area than this, channels must be
encrypted to ensure international access
is restricted. To protect territorial rights, the
FRANSAT card is not sold separately from
the FRANSAT decoder.
How is FRANSAT marketed? Will you be
concentrating on certain regions in
particular?
Commercialisation of FRANSAT began
in June 2009. The packs are provided
by several manufacturers, each offering
their own range of products with varying
additional functionality, and are marketed
on a non-exclusive basis through the
usual sales networks. Packs are available
at typical points of sale for satellite TV
(individual suppliers and antenna installers,
as well as major DIY centres, specialist
retail warehouses and hypermarkets), with
particular emphasis on availability in rural
areas beyond the range of terrestrial
reception.
Eutelsat also has a longstanding close
relationship with antenna installers across
France. Their knowledge of receiving
signals in areas where there is no terrestrial
coverage is a primary asset for us. Since
the launch, Eutelsat and FRANSAT teams
have been meeting these professionals
to present the full range of “Via Eutelsat” products and services.
