France 5 launches HbbTV service

French public broadcaster France 5, part of France Televisions, will launch its first HbbTV service, broadbandtvnews.com reports.

The HbbTV service will begin on Tuesday, April 10. The channel has chosen its C dans l’air programme, because it is by far the broadcaster’s best watched daily show, with an audience share ranging between 11 and 14 percent – or between 2 and 2.5 million viewers.

“This is the strongest programme on the channel and therefore the ideal programme to experiment with connected TV,” said Bruno Patino, head of the digital TV division of France Televisions.

According to the newspaper, France Televisions will also add its Pluzz catch-up TV and VOD service to Google TV, which will launch in France later this year. Also planned are interactive HbbTV apps during the Summer Olympics.

In total France Televisions plans to spend €60 million for digital developments in 2012, including €20 million($US26million) for the regions and overseas territories.