Bis Télévisions

Bis Télévisions, also known as Bis TV, is a French satellite television package launched on 10 December 2007 by AB Groupe (later Mediawan Thematics) to replace the AB Sat package that had been launched in September 1996. The service was designed as an entry-level alternative to the dominant Canal+ and TPS offerings, targeting viewers who were dissatisfied with those competitors. At launch it carried 25 channels on Eutelsat satellites, combining channels edited by AB Groupe with most of the free French DTT (TNT) channels, channels from other audiovisual groups, and international channels. The package grew steadily. In July 2008 Bis Télévisions asked the French broadcasting regulator CSA to arbitrate in a dispute with the M6-RTL group, which initially refused to grant access to its channels. That same year the bouquet added new channels, including Equidia, and reached 60,000 subscribers. In January 2009 an online version called BIS TV Online was launched to reach a new audience. By the end of 2009 the satellite bouquet carried 36 channels, including those of the M6-RTL group, and subscribers could also receive more than 450 additional free international channels. M6 and W9 joined on 19 December 2008 after an initial commercial disagreement, and i>Télé remained the only major free DTT channel absent from the offer between May 2009 and November 2010, before joining via Atlantic Bird 3 on 26 November 2010. After the TPS-CanalSat merger in 2010, Bis Télévisions became the only competing satellite offer to Canal+ on the French market. It positioned itself as an economy, entry-level service aimed at a more popular audience and at those disappointed by rival offers. The bouquet continued to add channels, including HD channels such as Crime District and Mon Science & Vie Junior in February 2016. In 2017, as part of the AB Groupe assets, the bouquet was acquired by Mediawan and became part of Mediawan Thematics. Bis Télévisions distributes its channels via Eutelsat satellites, historically at the 5° West position (formerly Télécom 2, then Eutelsat 5WA/Atlantic Bird 3, and later Eutelsat 5WB) for mainland France, and via the Hot Bird satellites at 13° East for international coverage across Europe, North Africa and the Near East. Access to these channels requires a Fransat subscription card. The bouquet is also distributed via xDSL networks using IPTV. In 2024 it is broadcast on the Eutelsat 5 West B satellite.

Bis Télévisions, also known as Bis TV, was launched on 10 December 2007 by AB Groupe (which became Mediawan Thematics in 2017) as a replacement for the AB Sat package that had been launched in September 1996. The new satellite bouquet started with 25 channels on Eutelsat, combining channels specifically edited by AB Groupe with almost all free French DTT (TNT) channels, channels from other audiovisual groups, and international channels. Its stated objective in 2007 was to attract viewers who were disappointed with the competing packages from Canal+ and TPS. In July 2008 Bis Télévisions requested arbitration from the French broadcasting regulator CSA regarding the carriage of channels from the M6-RTL group, which had refused to grant access. Later that year the bouquet added new channels, notably Equidia, and reached 60,000 subscribers, in addition to older thematic channels already carried on AB Sat. In January 2009 a specific online version called BIS TV Online was launched to serve a new audience. By the end of 2009 the satellite bouquet carried 36 channels, including those of the M6-RTL group, and subscribers could also receive more than 450 additional free international channels. M6 and W9 were not available at the commercial launch in 2007 due to a commercial and strategic disagreement with AB Groupe, but they joined Bis Télévisions on 19 December 2008. Between May 2009 and November 2010, i>Télé was the only one of the eighteen national free DTT channels that refused to be present in the Bis Télévisions offer. Canal+ itself was not part of the bouquet, although its clear (unencrypted) segments could be received because it broadcast on the same satellites. Canal+ changed its policy on 26 November 2010, when i>Télé became available in the Bis TV bouquet via Atlantic Bird 3. The same multiplex also carried W9 and M6 in standard definition, while several national French channels (TF1, France 2, M6, Arte) were available in high definition, as well as Canal+ for its clear segments. After the merger of the TPS and CanalSat satellite packages in 2010, Bis Télévisions became the only competing satellite offer to CanalSat on the French metropolitan market. According to Stratégies, Bis TV aimed through economical entry-level pricing to address a more popular audience and those disappointed by competing offers. In October 2010 Orange was studying the possibility of carrying OCS cinema channels within Bis Télévisions, which could generate additional profits for both operators. The bouquet continued to launch new channels, including in HD, such as two new thematic channels in February 2016: Crime District and Mon Science & Vie Junior. The French Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel cited Bis Télévisions as an example alongside its competitors CanalSat, Bouygues Télécom, Fransat, Free, Orange, Numericable and SFR. In 2017, among the assets belonging to AB Groupe, the bouquet was one of the assets that attracted its acquirer Mediawan. In terms of distribution, Bis Télévisions developed its broadcasting with satellite operator Eutelsat. To cover mainland France, Bis TV chose the historic French satellite position at 5° West (formerly Télécom 2), where major national channels were already broadcast via Fransat on Eutelsat 5WA (formerly Atlantic Bird 3), and later on its successor Eutelsat 5WB, commissioned in 2020. For international coverage, it used the Hot Bird satellites at 13° East, which cover the European continent, North Africa and reach the Near East. These channels are accessible only with a Fransat subscription card. The Bis Télévisions bouquet is also distributed via xDSL networks using the IPTV protocol. In 2024 the bouquet is broadcast on the Eutelsat 5 West B satellite.

• 2024

  Bouquet broadcast on Eutelsat 5 West B satellite.

• 2020

  Eutelsat 5WB commissioned, succeeding Eutelsat 5WA at 5° West.

• 2017

  AB Groupe became Mediawan Thematics; the bouquet was among assets acquired by Mediawan.

• 2016

  Two new thematic channels launched in February: Crime District and Mon Science & Vie Junior.

• 2010

  After TPS-CanalSat merger, Bis Télévisions became the only competing satellite offer to Canal+; i>Télé joined on 26 November via Atlantic Bird 3.

• 2009

  BIS TV Online launched in January; by end of year the bouquet carried 36 channels.

• 2008

  In July, Bis Télévisions requested CSA arbitration over M6-RTL group channels; later that year added Equidia and reached 60,000 subscribers.

• 2008

  M6 and W9 joined Bis Télévisions on 19 December.

• 2007

  Bis Télévisions launched on 10 December, replacing AB Sat, with 25 channels on Eutelsat.

• 1996

  AB Sat package launched in September.

Entry-level, economy satellite television package positioned as the main alternative to Canal+ in France.

• Bis Télévisions satellite bouquet

  Satellite television package with channels from AB Groupe/Mediawan Thematics, free DTT channels, and international channels.

• BIS TV Online

  Online version launched in January 2009.

• IPTV distribution

  Bouquet distributed via xDSL networks using IPTV protocol.

1. 1Bis Télévisions - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Bis Télévisions - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org