During the Roland-Garros 2025 tournament, France Télévisions’ programmes are being broadcast by TDF using 5G Broadcast technology, with mobile reception tests taking place within the stadium grounds. This new large-scale experiment, conducted by TDF in partnership with France Télévisions, marks a significant step toward the future of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).

5G Broadcast is now compatible with a wider range of smartphones, including four models from three different manufacturers. Thanks to this technology, within three years it will be possible to watch television outdoors on a smartphone—free of charge, without using mobile data or Wi-Fi—while enjoying exceptional image quality comparable to DTT.

Roland-Garros in Native UHD on DTT

As the historic broadcast partner of Roland-Garros, France Télévisions is offering viewers an immersive experience. Matches from the main courts are being filmed in Ultra High Definition (UHD) quality and broadcast on France 2 UHD (channel 52 on DTT), available free of charge via Digital Terrestrial Television.

UHD / 4K technology provides viewers with image resolution four times higher than HD, along with enhanced contrast (HDR), a wider color range, higher frame rates, and more immersive sound. This broadcast uses advanced transmission and compression standards (DVB-T2 and HEVC), which are more efficient than current DTT standards.

Nearly 50 million people—three out of four French citizens—living in coverage areas can access this exceptional picture and sound quality, provided they have a compatible TV set.*

TDF, Technological Pioneer of the DTT Platform

Free, anonymous, open-access, and high-quality, the DTT platform remains a major television reception method in France, covering 97% of the population.

It is also a more energy-efficient and eco-friendly method of receiving television compared to internet-based services.

For many years, TDF has worked alongside TV broadcasters, equipment manufacturers, and other industry players to reinvent DTT broadcasting and incorporate the latest advancements in image, sound, and interactivity. UHD and 5G Broadcast are key pillars of this evolution.

Pascale Varnière, Managing Director of TDF’s Audiovisual Business Unit, said: “DTT allows all French citizens to watch television for free, anywhere in the country, without needing a subscription or internet connection. It’s a simple, eco-friendly, and accessible broadcasting method that TDF continues to evolve. With France Télévisions, we’re proud to broadcast the tournament in Ultra High Definition (UHD 4K), enabling a wide audience to watch live tennis matches in outstanding quality. And soon, thanks to our increasingly advanced 5G Broadcast trials, it will also be possible to watch live DTT content outdoors and on the go via smartphone. We are committed, alongside broadcasters, to modernizing DTT to meet viewers’ changing habits and expectations.”

Jacques Donat-Bouillud, Director of Distribution at France Télévisions, added: “As the longstanding broadcast partner of Roland-Garros, France Télévisions is constantly working to enhance its offering and deliver a more engaging experience for viewers. Together with our partner TDF, we now offer UHD via DTT to over 70 per cent of the population, as well as through all set-top boxes. In our continuous drive for innovation, we are also testing 5G Broadcast transmission of the tournament to soon offer viewers an on-the-go experience.”

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Categories: Press Releases

Tags: 5G, France Télévisions, roland garros, Tennis