While 800,000 subscribers have no longer had television since December 30 after the likely intentional fire of a telecommunications pylon, the TDF company ensures that it is working to restore it as quickly as possible, in particular to be able to broadcast greetings. by Emmanuel Macron this evening at 8 p.m.
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The work is progressing faster than expected. This Tuesday, December 31, the operator TDF (Télédiffusion de France) indicates that it hopes for a restoration of TV channels “by this evening”while he initially planned “at least 24 to 48 hours” of delay.
► ALSO READ: 800,000 subscribers without TV or telephone: no recovery before “24 to 48 hours”, “the malicious act is beyond doubt”
“The work started this morning, we were able to collect equipment yesterday”tells us TDF at midday. “The teams are working to try to restore television by this evening, with priority being given to the channels of the France Télévision group [France 3 Régions donc, et France 2] as well as the channels of the Canal+ group, LCI and Paris Première.”
Fire of a telecommunications pylon on December 30, 2024 near Mâcon
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© Guillaume Robin / France Télévisions
As for telephone disruptions, repairs could take more time but the damage is limited. “It’s a telephone relay site and not a broadcast site, so the disturbances are less”specifies TDF. On the other hand, for TV, it is indeed a broadcasting site: with the fire on the pylon, “it’s total black on the televisions”.
TDF attempts to reestablish the connection by 8 p.m., “to allow all these residents to be able to follow the wishes of Emmanuel Macron” on France 2. Since December 30, 800,000 subscribers have been affected, in a vast area encompassing Mâcon, Chalon-sur-Saône, the north of Lyon, Bourg-en-Bresse, Louhans and as far as Le Creusot.
Fire of a telecommunications pylon near Mâcon on December 30, 2024: in blue, the affected area (a wide strip going from Chalon-sur-Saône to Lyon, extending to La Bresse and Le Creusot)
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© TDF
Five technicians as well as subcontractors are on site this afternoon. The material, “provisional”was transported from several places in the region. The urgency is to put the cable back into service; secondly, a more in-depth phase of work will be carried out.
TDF filed a complaint with the gendarmerie after the pylon fire, “without a doubt” of criminal origin. In fact, the fence was “carefully cut from the outside”.
