CSA shortlists TF1, M6 for HD

Three further channels planned

By DAVID HAYHURST

PARIS — France's audiovisual watchdog, the Conseil Superieur de l'Audiovisuel, has shortlisted TF1 and M6, the country’s two biggest private broadcasters, for high definition broadcasting on digital terrestrial television.

The CSA said the webs would make HD programming freely accessible to the greatest number of viewers.

TF1 has made a commitment to broadcast all of its programming from 4 p.m. to midnight in HD by the end of 2012. M6 has said 80% of its transmissions in the same time slots will be broadcast in HD by this date.

The CSA said that a call for applications for a further three HD channels would be launched in the spring.