Dolby announced that Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Digital have been chosen by France’s new national high-definition terrestrial broadcasters for the Télévision Numérique Terrestre HD (TNT HD) platform, which was launched this week.
TNT HD includes currently channels TF1 HD, France 2 HD, ARTE HD, Canal+ HD, and M6 HD. Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Digital audio will allow viewers to enjoy broadcasts in 5.1 surround sound as well as stereo. Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Digital audio are designed specifically to adapt to the changing demands of future entertainment delivery while retaining backward compatibility with the existing Dolby Digital 5.1-channel home theater systems in use today. The French HD forum specification requires that by December 2008 HD-ready TVs for sale in France must include Dolby Digital Plus and High Efficiency AAC (HE AAC) audio, emphasizing the importance of surround sound. Dolby recently announced its new Dolby Pulse technology, which is based on the HE AAC audio code standard. The Forum also expressed the preference of broadcasters for Dolby technology to deliver this experience, due to its compatibility with their production processes.

HDTVs from a wide range of manufacturers are already available in France with these technologies built in, as are a new selection of set-top boxes, which will allow French consumers to access the new TNT HD services.
Via the Dolby site.