2 for the HD to the benefit of the support account Cosip

The choice of the Government to first by the Senate for consideration of the "draft law on the modernization of TV broadcasting and television of the future" has proven to be paid. Well prepared and well carried out by the commission of Cultural Affairs, the debate has been serene and the text adopted Wednesday night maintains the overall architecture while adopting some advances.

Thus, the Senators representatives of communities held to make room for the local TV on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) with the redevelopment of the R1 multiplex. Another advance, the Senate did adopt unanimously a redefinition of the audiovisual work, thus settling a pending issue for three years.

The only controversy raised by this text was the allocation of channels TF1, M6 and Canal bonus. In view of the force political reporting, there was only in the Senate that this proposal could be dismissed. Yet, despite a vote tight (157 votes for rejection and 169 against), the principle of bonus channels has been accepted. No doubt, the debate will bounce in the review of the text by the National Assembly in January 2007. But, if the discussion is likely to be much more virulent than the Senate, there is no majority to block the chain bonus. For the rest, the extension of the terrestrial digital coverage to 95 and the terms of the gradual shift in digital should be repeated to the Assembly.

Mutual obligations

On television in the future, senators passed the point of view of the Government on the terms of allocation of channels for high definition (HD), to promote the existing channels of DTT. However, they have imposed their views on the personal mobile television (TMP). The powers of authorization will be open to all actors in the audiovisual. However, this will be the CSA issuing these authorizations. But there should be between 20 and 25 channels available for TMP, leaving room to DTT channels and new entrants. The Assembly, the debate could bounce back on the amount of the surcharge (0.1 for TMP) and 0.2 for the HD to the benefit of the support account (Cosip). Communist Senators already attempted, without success, to the double. The new entrants of the TNT is are however insurgents against the allocation of bonus channels and non-priority channels of DTT on the mobile.

Senators have also cleared the field of future relations between audiovisual and telecommunications on TMP. They adopted the principle of reciprocal obligations imposing free DTT channels to offer their signal to all the mobile operators, in consideration of what they must distribute all free channels. In contrast, revenue channels will be free to negotiate their distribution with mobile operators. With the amendment preventing a black screen on mobile during the final broadcast of events of major importance (Roland-Garros tennis tournament), the text of... football World Cup is evolve the management of audiovisual rights of the concept of attribution by media (television, mobile...) to services (major, direct, deferred... importance) allocation.

It remains to the Minister of Culture and Communication to pass the modernization of the contribution to the Cosip, either in the draft amending finance law, during the consideration of the Bill to the Assembly.