The French digital television landscape is undergoing a period of accelerated reorganization. Video on demand, whether through channel platforms, SVOD, or social networks, now accounts for 39% of daily video time, up from 36% in 2024, according to Médiamétrie in its report “L’Année TV / Vidéo 2025”. This shift changes both viewer habits, broadcaster strategies, and the technical choices that structure the market.
Data Collection on Connected TVs: A Blind Spot in Entertainment
Connected TVs have become the primary access point for video on demand. This centrality raises a question that buying guides rarely address: the personal data collected by manufacturers.
Recent studies have highlighted the ongoing data collection carried out by certain operating systems integrated into TVs, particularly those from LG. Tracking viewed content, opened applications, and viewing habits feeds advertising profiles exploited by the manufacturers themselves or sold to third parties.
Privacy settings exist, but they are often buried in submenus. Completely disabling tracking remains difficult without sacrificing certain TV functionalities. News about digital television and entertainment can be followed on https://www.dvtelevision.fr/, which regularly covers these topics.
This situation creates a paradox: the TV becomes smarter, but the viewer loses control over their own data. Field feedback varies on this point, with some users preferring the convenience of personalized recommendations, while others actively seek to limit tracking.
FAST Channels in France: The Return of Free Linear TV Through Another Door
The model of FAST channels (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) is gaining traction in France. These channels, broadcast exclusively online, recreate a linear programming from existing catalogs, funded by advertising, without a paid subscription.
The principle resembles traditional television: a continuous stream of programs, without active viewer choice. The difference lies in the distribution medium (internet, not terrestrial waves) and the nature of the content (often thematic reruns).
FAST channels raise regulatory questions. The current regulation was designed for DTT and SVOD, not for this hybrid model, and the obligations that apply to these channels remain to be clarified.
The available data does not yet allow for precise measurement of the audience for these channels in France. However, their proliferation on the interfaces of connected TVs (Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Pluto TV) indicates a growing adoption.
DTT Frequency Renewal 2027: What Arcom is Preparing
The renewal of DTT frequencies scheduled for 2027 marks a turning point for the French audiovisual landscape. Arcom is preparing a call for tenders concerning several free channels whose authorizations are set to expire.
The impact study published by Arcom identifies several pressure factors:
- The evolution of consumption patterns, with a shift towards digital screens and video on demand, which reduces the time spent in front of traditional DTT
- The decline in the advertising valuation of terrestrial slots, which undermines the economic model of certain free channels
- The rise of UHD/4K and the DVB-T2 standard, which imposes technical investments on both broadcasters and viewers with older equipment
This renewal is not merely an administrative formality. It will determine which audiovisual groups retain access to the terrestrial spectrum, and under what conditions. However, the precise timeline for allocations remains to be confirmed.
DVB-T2 and HEVC Codec: Technical Standards That Condition Access to Programs
The transition to DVB-T2 and the HEVC codec (H.265) is progressing. These two standards allow for better image quality and a more efficient use of the spectrum. Recent TVs are compatible, but older models require an external adapter.
The shift to HEVC accompanies the rise of UHD/4K on DTT. This technical evolution remains largely invisible to viewers with recent equipment. It poses a concrete problem for households whose TV dates back to before 2018: without an adapter, some channels may become inaccessible after the generalization of DVB-T2.
Free Streaming of Channels: TF1+, france.tv, and M6+ Facing SVOD
The major French channels have launched or strengthened their free streaming platforms: TF1+, france.tv, M6+. These services offer replay, exclusive content, and live access, funded by advertising.
Médiamétrie observes in 2025 a growth in the use of digital screens to watch television programs, including on smartphones and tablets. The entertainment experience is no longer limited to the living room TV. This fragmentation of platforms complicates audience measurement and redistributes advertising budgets.
The battle between streaming and DTT is particularly fierce during prime time. SVOD platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video) and the free services of channels compete for the same time slots, with increasingly aggressive programming strategies.
- Free channels focus on events (sports, live entertainment) to maintain their linear audience
- SVOD platforms invest in multi-episode series to capture attention over time
- FAST channels occupy an intermediate niche, attracting viewers who want passive content without a subscription
The coexistence of these models redefines what “watching television” means in 2026. The TV remains the central hub of the household, but the majority of video time now passes through internet streams, whether free or paid. DVB-I, a hybrid standard combining DTT and the internet, could ultimately unify these two worlds, but its deployment remains in the experimental stage in France.
