Following my posting on Tuesday, TV coverage of D-day commemorations could be blacked out in rights dispute, the French embassy has been in touch to point to a statement issued by France's foreign ministry:
"Contrary to information that may have been provided in error, we confirm that the international signal will be released free of charge to all foreign television channels.
It will be available to the International Press Centre hub, the EBU and SERTE.
Satellite reception parameters can also be provided to all foreign channels on request.
Viewers from all over the world will therefore have full live access to all footage of the ceremonies on 6 June."
I am awaiting a comment from a Thomson Reuters spokesman who has complained, along with other news agencies such as AFP and the Associated Press, that they will be charged for access to re-transmit live coverage of the commemoration.
They said on Tuesday, as I reported, that two French broadcasters – France Televisions and TF1 – had been granted exclusive live rights to Friday's events and were seeking nearly €200,000 (£163,000) as a rights fee.
Source: French Foreign Ministry
