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|
 | |
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 50 avenue Théophile-Gautier 75016 Paris |
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | FR3 (25%) French state (15%) Radio France (15%) INA (15%) |
| History | |
| Launched | 14 May 1989; 36 years ago (1989-05-14) |
| Closed | 30 May 1992; 33 years ago (1992-05-30) |
| Replaced by | Arte |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| UHF | Broadcasting on FR3 |
La Sept was a Frenchfree-to-airtelevision network and production company created on 23 February 1986 to develop cultural and educational programming for transmission via theTDF 1satellite. In French, the word "sept" means the number seven; and it not only represents the seventh network to have signed on in France, but it also serves as abackronym, for theSociété d'édition deprogrammes detélévision (Television Programme Production Corporation).
In 1985,Georges Fillioud, French Minister of Transport, charged Pierre Desgraupes with creating programmes for one or more of the five channels of the high-power satellite TDF 1 launched in 1988. On 27 February 1986, La Société d'édition de programmes de télévision was created byBernard Faivre d'Arcier, cultural adviser to the former Prime MinisterLaurent Fabius and began to develop a stock of programmes. It was chaired by historianGeorge Duby.
In March 1989, the full name of La Sept changed, becomingLaSociétéeuropéenne deprogrammes detélévision (European Television Programme Corporation). The acronym, however, remained unchanged.
In April 1989, theConseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel granted permission to broadcast on one of TDF 1's channels, and La Sept began transmission on 14 May 1989. The station broadcast three hours and 30 minutes of programmes per day, with each programme broadcast twice. In June, an agreement was reached to broadcast La Sept's programmes on cable television, and on 3 February 1990,FR3 gave the La Sept a window on their terrestrial broadcast channel every Saturday from 15:00 to midnight.
On 30 May 1992, La Sept lost its role as a broadcaster toArte, a Franco-GermanEEIG group created on 2 October 1990. On 27 September 1993, it changed its name to Sept-ARTE and became ARTE France on 1 August 2000.
Michael Nyman released a promotional album,La Sept, containing music recorded for the network.
