With this occurrence, Eutelsat’s FRANSAT service is firmly anchored as a key digital platform delivering national free-to-air (FTA) channels to viewers beyond range of over-the-air, cable or ADSL reception. Launched in 2009 as a subscription-free platform, FRANSAT is available to homes in metropolitan France equipped with a dish, a FRANSAT decoder, and an access card. The platform operates from Eutelsat’s 5 degrees West position, used for more than 20 years to deliver France’s national channels to homes beyond terrestrial analogue reception. With the addition of a FRANSAT decoder and card, viewers have been able to make the transition into a fully digital environment without changing their outdoor equipment.
FRANSAT has progressively built up its audience base over 24 months, particularly in rural and mountain areas as well as parts of France with poor terrestrial reception. The installed base today represents 1.2 million commercialized individual decoders and 400,000 community dwellings. Viewers have access to France’s 19 free national DTT channels, four HD channels, the regional network of France 3, as well as more than 20 regional and local channels and radio stations. The FRANSAT dish also enables reception of Orange’s TV platform, which broadcasts from Eutelsat’s 5 degree West neighborhood and is accessible with an Orange decoder as part of the triple-play service based on a hybrid ADSL + satellite system. The platform can also be combined with broadband access provided by Eutelsat’s Tooway service to offer satellitebased triple play in all parts of metropolitan France.