As French networks prepare for an onslaught of digital terrestrial channels, whose applications should start cropping up in 2001, France Television, which oversees public broadcasters France 2 and France 3, is working on developing five new digital offerings of its own, one of which will be a youth outlet in collaboration with French educational channel La Cinquième.

This project, which will target kids and teens, is to be co-piloted by Rachel Khan, formerly head of France 2’s youth division, and Jean Mino, current head of programming and schedules of La Cinquième. In her previous position at France 2, Kahn spearheaded the creation of programming for kids of all ages, including La Planète Donkey Kong for the 11 to 14 set and a weekly young adult magazine series called Rince ta Baignoire. La Cinquième also recently expanded beyond kids fare by launching a Wednesday afternoon magazine show for teenagers to express their opinions on pop culture topics like cinema, literature, multimedia and sports.

The global broadcasting and programming investment plan for all five digital channels amounts to US$215 million. The teams have just entered into the first stage of schedule planning, and consequently details of the youth channel’s content have yet to be hammered out.