Arte

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Arte
Launched:	30 May 1992
Audience Share in 2004Médiamétrie :	3.7% (in France)
Owned By:	ARD, ZDF & France Télévisions
Web Address:	[www.arte-tv.com]
Availability
Terrestrial Analogue:	Available in France only (7pm-3am)
Terrestrial Digital:	Channel 7 in France
Satellite:	Astra at 19.2°E, Hot Bird at 13°E and Atlantic Bird 3 at 5°W
Cable:	Available throughout mainland Europe

Arte is a Franco-German TV network, which aims to promote quality programming related to the world of arts and culture. Its facilities are located in Strasbourg, France (headquarters) and Baden-Baden in Germany.

Because it is a international joint venture (an EEIG), programs are created so as to be equally watchable from both countries. This implies double-titling, opposite-language subtitling and dubbing, hosts speaking both languages alternately and generally two separate audio tracks (only one is available over the air in France, but either one can be selected on satellite television and digital cable).

Programming remains relatively hermetic and elitist.

Arte began transmission in 1992, under socialist rule, filling frequencies left unused by the demise of La Cinq, the first French commercial television network (created in 1986). Arte has survived the 1993 transition to a right-wing government in spite of some fears, and quite a number of later changes too.

Programs are created by Arte France formally known as La Sept (theoretically La Société d'édition des programmes de télévision, but also a word play, given that the name intuitively means the seventh network and indeed La Sept existed while the fifth network was still La Cinq; it made satellite television programs at the time) and by ARTE Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary of the two main public German TV networks ARD and ZDF.

In France, programming is available permanently on cable, but over the air only in the evening, as France 5 operates the frequencies during the day.

Arte is more popular in France (market share of about 5%) than in Germany (about 1%).

Arte has also an on-line radio web site, called Arte Radio.

SBS of Australia (not related to the European SBS), translates many Arte programs into English for broadcasting to English speaking people. The voice actor usually used has an English accent.

Sources