ALLOCATE TNT FREQUENCY FOR TV BREIZH CALL
The Celtic League have written to the French broadcast regulator the CSA (Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel) urging that the advent of Digital Terrestrial broadcast services in France cater for minority languages. Specifically, the League are calling for the allocation of broadcast frequencies on the new TNT (Télévision Numérique Terrestre) services for the Breton channel, TV Breizh.
The issue was considered at the Celtic League AGM last month and a number of initiatives to support broadcasting of the Celtic languages were agreed (See also Celtic News No. 1766 - AHERN URGED TO ACT ON RTE COVERAGE).
The correspondence to the Director General of the CSA is set out below;
J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League
10/09/05
The Director General Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel Tour Mirabeau 39-43, quai André-Citroën 75739 Paris cedex 15
Dear Sir,
At the Annual General Meeting of the Celtic League held at Sabhal Mor Ostaig Gaidhlig College on the Isle of Skye the issue of TV broadcasting services in the Celtic languages was considered at some length.
The meeting eventually resolved to call for improvements in relation to the expansion of Gaelic language services in Britain and Ireland and also the provision of a service in the Breton language as part of the 'roll-out' in France of your countries digital terrestrial services (DTT).
Can you advise what plans the CSA has to ensure that the languages of national minorities within the borders of the French State are catered for. Specifically, will you give a commitment that TV Breizh will be allocated frequencies as part of French DTT services. You will be aware that in Britain and Ireland there is a commitment to ensure access to broadcasts in the Celtic languages with, for example,
Welsh languages broadcasts being available both on analogue, digital and satellite services and the Irish language services TG4 now being extended via analogue and satellite to the north of the Ireland which is currently administered by the British government. I do hope the CSA will ensure that there is no discrimination against National minority languages as your services expand and we look forward to your assurance to that effect.
Yours sincerely
J B Moffatt Secretary General
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