Month: January 2019

The free universal television service of 18 channels will stop on March 25, 2019.

To continue to benefit from a free television service at the outlet and enjoy more than 80 channels, you must switch to the Free Digital Service, the Monaco government has announced.

If your TV is connected to a Monaco Telecom Box TV, no changes or settings are to be made.

If your TV is not connected to a Monaco Telecom Box TV and is connected directly to a wall socket, you must check that you are in the correct receiving mode.

The channels will stop gradually from January 14 on the network will disappear completely on March 25, 2019. If you see an information banner or a sight on some channels, you must make changes.

If your TV is compatible with DVB-C format:

You must search (manually or automatically) channels in DVB-C mode (cable) to switch to Free Digital Service.

If your TV is not compatible with DVB-C, you can equip yourself with:

– DVB-C decoder (Monaco Telecom offers the Denver decoder in its shops for €49).
– DVB-C compatible TV
– Monaco Telecom box

Yesterday we announced that HSH Prince Albert II referred to Monaco as a safe haven in his New Year address. Here is the full text, released by the Palace.

Dear Compatriots, Dear Residents, Dear Friends,

While the period we are going through is marked all over the world by tensions of all kinds, the end of year celebrations are a great opportunity to pause and recharge.

They also offer the opportunity to look at all the acts of dedication and altruism that express themselves to relieve the suffering caused by these trials.

I hope that the year 2019 will mark new constructive prospects for the future on the international stage and at the heart of each country.

The Principality is a haven in many ways, it must be remembered. I do not doubt that everyone is well aware.

My wish is that the debates that are legitimately expressed in them are always marked by objectivity and measurement.

I wish our younger generations to open up to the world around them while measuring the richness of our specificities.

I wish our elders the happiness of transmitting intergenerational links.
To those whom illness, trial or loneliness bruises, I express our union of thought.

Dear Compatriots, Dear Residents, Dear Friends,

May each and every one of you draw, on a daily basis, throughout the new year, deep and true satisfactions.

May the Principality, faithful to its strength, serenely build its future in confidence and weight.

In the name of My family and in My personal name, we wish you the warmest wishes for the year 2019.

Happy New Year.

Good Anu Noevu.

Monaco’s Zoological Gardens will be closed until Spring 2019, the venue has announced on Facebook.

Work is in progress to improve vegetation on the cliff that overlooks the gardens, following a topographical study previously.

The Zoological Gardens has contracted a company, NGE Fondations, to carry out the work and the company expects to complete it by May 2019. The gardens will re-open then.

The Zoological Gardens were established in 1954 by Prince Rainier III on his return from one of his trips to Africa.

The zoo is a hectare in size, set over four levels on the rock. All animals have come from donations or been rescued.

The gardens are home to nearly 250 animals representing about 50 species: exotic birds, turtles, caimans, hippopotamuses, reptiles, primates and farm animals. None of the animals who live at the zoo were purchased.

Several new football stars could be coming to Monaco soon, as Thierry Henry spreads his wings across the footballing world to sign new stars.

Looking to shore up his team for better results in the second half of the season, the AS Monaco manager has signed Lyle Foster from South African team Orlando Pirates.

He is also rumoured to be close to a deal to bring Cesc Fabregas to Monaco from Chelsea.

That’s not all. Henry is said by several sport publications to be desperate to sign experienced centre-back Mamadou Sakho.

In further news, publications reported that 36-year-old Brazilian Naldo is leaving struggling German side Schalke for Monaco.

Charlotte Casiraghi has called off her engagement to her film producer fiancé Dimitri Rassam, according to Spain’s Hola! magazine.

The split comes two months after the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco gave birth to the couple’s son. Dimitri is himself the child of a star – Carole Bouquet.

The couple  had previously postponed wedding plans to allow for the birth. The jet-setting couple were planning on a Monaco wedding followed by a party on an Italian island.

Charlotte has an elder son, Raphael, who was born in 2013. He is the son of Gad Elmaleh. As with Raphael, second son Balthazar will not enter the line of royal succession until his parents marry. That now looks unlikely to happen.