For Euro 2024, M6 is offering an HDR version on DTT and satellite. With the promise of better image quality for the greatest pleasure of football fans.
A few weeks after the launch of M6+, its new free streaming platform (see our article), the M6 group – its real name, Métropole Télévision – is offering itself a little extra with a high quality version of its flagship channel. On the occasion of Euro 2024, and only between June 14 and July 14, M6 will in fact be broadcast in HDR on TNT and satellite. This surprise bonus results from a decision of May 7, 2024 of the Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication (better known as Arcom), which authorized the audiovisual group to share technical resources with France Télévisions. ,
M6 HDR: resources shared with France 2 UHD
Be careful, however: contrary to what one might have hoped, this version will not be broadcast in UHD as is the case for France 2 which is gradually moving to ultra high definition for the 2024 Olympic Games (see our article). M6 must be satisfied with an HDR version (High Dynamic Range, literally high dynamic range in French), and more precisely, with the HDR-10 standard, the same as that permitted by the UHD of France 2. However, if the definition remains limited to classic Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), this mode benefits from increased dynamics which improves the rendering of lights and colors, but also a higher image rate – 50 im/ s instead of the traditional 25 fps – which results in better fluidity. A real asset for action scenes, fast movements and therefore for sports.
To benefit from M6 HDR via DTT, you must be located in an area covered by TDF’s UHD transmitters, in the same way as for France 2 UHD, and of course have an HDR-10 compatible television. And for good reason, the HDR version uses the same multiplex (R9) as the public channel. For satellite, everything happens on Fransat channel 56.
For technical enthusiasts, note that the M6 stream is broadcast in HEVC with a bit rate of 7 Mbit/s, thereby lowering the bit rate of France 2 UHD from 15 to 11 Mbit/s, the bandwidth of the multiplex being obviously limited . It should also be noted that the channel used by M6 HDR will be allocated to France 3 UHD after July 14, again in order to cover the Olympics in ultra high definition.
For your information, M6 will not offer all the Euro 2024 matches, because TF1 is taking over part of it. Here is the list of meetings broadcast.
- Italy – Albania on Saturday June 15 at 9 p.m.
- Spain – Italy on Thursday June 20 at 9 p.m.
- Netherlands – France on Friday June 21 at 9 p.m.
- Belgium – Romania on Saturday June 22 at 9 p.m.
- Switzerland – Germany on Sunday June 23 at 9 p.m.
- England – Slovenia on Tuesday June 25 at 9 p.m.
- Georgia – Portugal on Wednesday June 26 at 9 p.m.
- Two round of 16
- Two quarter-finals
- A semi-final
- The final