DTT is one of the main modes of television reception in France.
The vast majority of French people use it, either on their main or secondary TV set, or via their set-top box, which is often connected to it.
The terrestrial platform gives 97% of the French population free access to a large number of programs with digital sound (Dolby 5.1) and imagequality (High Definition and/or Ultra High Definition).
What's more, DTT allows simple, effective and inexpensive distribution of television in retirement homes, hospitals, hotels, prisons and more.
The 26 national DTT channels (25 free-to-air and 1 pay) and some 40 local channels are divided into 5 national multiplexes and one local multiplex.
DTT is modernizing to offer better picture and sound quality.
Tomorrow's television will be a hybrid, combining the efficiency and reliability of terrestrial broadcasting with the interactivity of the Internet to offer viewers programs in Ultra High Definition (UHD) and ever more interactive services.
Since January 2024, the France 2 channel has been broadcasting in UHD 4K :
UHD 4K means image definition 4 times greater than HD, but also more color, contrast and more immersive sound.
Information on how to receive this UHD channel can be found in the section Questions-Réponses TNT UHD 4.
Launched in France in 2005, Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) fully replaced analog terrestrial television at the end of 2011.
Since April 5, 2016, channels have been broadcast using the DVB-T broadcast standard and the MPEG4 compression standard.
This latest technical development has not only increased the number of DTT channels and made High Definition more widespread, but has also freed up part of the 700 MHz frequency band for cell phone operators.
Today, DTT is broadcast throughout France in the UHF 470-694 MHz band.
TDF is the main technical operator for DTT broadcasting.
National (95%) and departmental population coverage obligations are set by law and by the Autorité de Régulation de la Communication Audiovisuelle et Numérique (ARCOM).
Multiplex operators tender their broadcasts zone by zone, ensuring free competition in the broadcasting market across all territories.
Free DTT channels cover metropolitan France via 1,626 transmitters.
