http://www.dvdhometheateronline.com/secam-digital/
Do Digital TV's use an International Standard, avoiding the old PAL / SECAM problems?
Old analogue tv's used different systems in different European countries, like PAL and SECAM, so a multi-system tv was required when travelling around Europe in a motorhome.
Do portable digital tv's suffer from a problem like this, or is there an international standard for digital tv reception?
Specifically, if I bought a 12 V portable digital tv in France, would it work in England too? (I know an older analogue tv definitely wouldn't work)
Nathan, This is my way of asking before I buy. I don't speak enough French to discuss this in a French shop. 
It is unclear from your answer if France and England use different systems for digital tv. Can anyone give a definitive reply perhaps?
The European Union (EU), through various regulatory and standards organizations (EBU, ETSI, etc.,) has widely adopted a digital video broadcasting standard known as DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial) for terrestrial broadcasting throughout Europe and other parts of the world. DVB is as close as we have come to a truly universal international digital television standard that offers greatly improved access to video content worldwide.
Aside from multi-standard analog support make sure that any portable digital television that you’re considering purchasing is fully compliant with the DVB standard, i.e., DVB-T, DVB-H tuners, and supports a variety of over-the-air digital television services such as Freeview (UK), Télévision Numérique Terrestre (France), etc., which provide free access to non-encrypted DTV channels. By the way when it comes to portable DTV (or PCTV) it is extremely likely that you will need to purchase a separate outdoor antenna or a low-noise amplified indoor antenna for your portable DTV device in order to boost the weaker digital TV signals and guarantee good reception.
If you own a notebook PC you also have another alternative to purchasing a turnkey portable digital TV and that is to purchase a (diversity) analog/DVB-T receiver/tuner* (typically in the form of a USB device. Please see the resources below if you would like more information.)
One final point worth noting: due to the fact the DVB—and digital television in general—has not yet fully matured, especially when it comes to some of the more non-traditional means of distributing and receiving digital television and radio (in your case portable/mobile DTV,) you should expect to encounter a few minor issues here and there along the way.
######################## RESOURCES ########################
DVB - Digital Video Broadcasting - DVB Worldwide
http://www.dvb.org/about_dvb/dvb_worldwide/
Digital TV Status
Comparison of Worldwide Digital Terrestrial Television Systems
http://en.dtvstatus.net
[PDF] Mobile TV standards: DVB-T vs. DVB-H
http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_2008-Q4_DiBcom.pdf
Wiki: Freeview
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeview_(UK)
Wiki: Télévision Numérique Terrestre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision_Num%C3%A9rique_Terrestre
August International Portable Digital Freeview & Analogue TVs
http://www.augustint.com/products/tv.htm
What is Freeview TV
http://www.augustint.com/information/what_is_freeview_tv.htm
________________________
*Examples of DVB receiver/tuners for portable PCs:
MSI DIGIVOX mini III
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=1477&maincat_no=132
Freecom DVB-T & Analog TV USB Stick (Hybrid)
http://www.freecom.com/ecproduct_detail.asp?ID=2823
Pinnacle PCTV Products
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/uk/Products/Consumer+Products/PCTV/PCTV/
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