French pay television group Canal Plus SA expects to launch digital television in Belgium by the end of 1996, its Belgian unit said. Canal Plus Belgium already has 180,000 subscribers, 13% of francophone homes, to its analog television programming, which comprises mainly films and soccer. It has no presence in Flanders, where local regulations do not allow it to come onto the cable network. The Belgian digital programming would be similar to France, where Canal Plus has been offering more than 20 digital channels via satellite since April 27. Subscribers pay $8.60 per month to rent the Mediasat decoder and $18.75 per month for a basic package including 10 channels and access to pay-per-view television.
