TV in France: How to Watch Television as an Expat

How does TV work in France?

Television in France is built around three main options: free digital terrestrial TV (TNT), internet box bundles (the most common choice), and streaming platforms. Most expats settling in France opt for a triple-play internet plan: it covers all everyday needs in one subscription.

Option	Cost	Channels	English content	Best for
TNT (free-to-air)	Free + €20–40 decoder	25+ French channels	Arte only (partially)	Short stays, minimal setup
Internet box (triple play)	€25–55/month	100–300+ channels + replay	English packs available (Orange, SFR)	Most households ⭐️ Recommended
Streaming (Netflix, Molotov…)	Free (Molotov basic) or €8–18/month	On-demand + live French TV (Molotov)	Available in English (Netflix, Disney+)	Cord-cutters, flexible viewing
Satellite dish	Installation cost + optional subscription	French TNT + UK free-to-air	BBC, ITV and others (free-to-air)	UK expats in houses, rural areas

Information verified as of april of 2026. Source: operator websites and ARCEP. Prices are indicative and may vary by plan and promotional period.

TNT: free digital TV in France

TNT (Télévision Numérique Terrestre) is France's digital terrestrial network. It gives you access to over 25 free French channels (TF1, France 2, France 3, M6, Arte, BFM TV, and others) with no subscription. You just need a compatible TV (most sets sold since 2012 have a built-in tuner) or an external TNT decoder, available at any electronics retailer for €20–40.

TNT is a practical option for short stays or as a backup while you set up a full internet subscription. For longer stays, most households prefer an internet box for the much wider channel selection and replay TV.

💡 Good to know: no TV licence in France since 2022

France abolished its television licence (redevance audiovisuelle) in August 2022. You no longer pay any annual fee for owning a television set, regardless of your provider or how you receive channels.

Internet box: the most complete option for TV in France

The vast majority of French broadband subscriptions are "triple play" packages: internet, landline, and TV bundled together. When you sign up for a standard fibre plan, a TV decoder is included at no extra cost, giving you instant access to 100 to 300+ channels depending on your provider.

All four major French operators (Orange, SFR, Free, Bouygues Telecom) include TV in their main fibre plans. Depending on the offer, premium plans also give access to streaming discounts or bundled subscriptions see the full comparison below). Optional paid packs are available for English-language channels, sports, or cinema.

For on-demand content, the main platforms available in France include Netflix, Disney+ and Molotov TV, the latter being a free app that streams all TNT channels live with catch-up, on any device, no decoder needed.

French TV channels: what's available on TNT and internet boxes

France has a rich mix of public and private channels. The 25+ TNT channels cover news, entertainment, culture, sport and children's programming, all free to air. Subscribing to an internet box significantly expands your options, adding regional, international and thematic channels, plus replay and catch-up services for every major network.

Some highlights worth knowing about:

✓TF1: France's most-watched commercial channel, with news, dramas and reality TV
✓France Télévisions (France 2, 3, 4, 5): public broadcaster, strong on news and culture
✓M6: popular entertainment, reality shows and American series (dubbed)
✓Arte: Franco-German cultural channel; one of the few to offer bilingual (French/German/English) content
✓BFM TV: rolling 24/7 French news
✓Canal+: premium paid channel (cinema, sports, series); available as an add-on via most internet boxes

All major French channels have free catch-up apps (TF1+, France TV, M6+, Arte, BFM TV) available on iOS, Android and smart TVs. Most require a French internet connection for live streaming. Molotov TV is a free alternative that aggregates all TNT channels and their catch-up content in one place, on any device.

📖 Full guide: French TV channels: complete list by category, apps and live streaming

Watching English and UK TV in France

English channels via your internet box

Most standard internet boxes already include a handful of English-language channels (BBC World News, CNN, Sky News, Euronews) at no extra cost. For a broader selection (entertainment, series and lifestyle channels) Orange and SFR offer dedicated English bouquets as paid add-ons:

→Orange English Pack: around €5/month, includes BBC Entertainment, Sky News and others ;
→SFR Bouquet Anglais: around €5.99/month, adds 8 English-language channels including Boomerang, TCM Cinema and Fashion Box.

Watching UK TV (BBC, ITV, Channel 4) in France

Free-to-air UK channels like BBC One, ITV and Channel 4 are available via satellite in many parts of France, using a dish pointed at Astra 28.2°E. This is the most reliable solution for UK expats who want live UK TV without a subscription. UK streaming platforms (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4) are geo-restricted outside the UK, but can be accessed via a VPN or through expat-specific UK TV box services.

💬 Our take on UK TV in France

For casual English viewing, the English pack from Orange or SFR is the simplest option. For regular BBC and ITV access, a satellite dish is the most reliable long-term solution. Streaming via VPN works but requires a stable connection and the right provider.

📖 Full guide: How to watch UK and English TV in France: BBC, ITV and more

Sports and premium TV packages in France

Live sport in France is split across several paid channels, and no single subscription covers everything. The main ones to know:

→Canal+: Ligue 1, Champions League, Top 14 rugby, MotoGP and more. Available as an add-on via most internet boxes from around €20–25/month.
→beIN Sports: Ligue 1 (shared rights), La Liga, Serie A, international football. Available via SFR or as a standalone subscription from €15/month.
→RMC Sport: Premier League, UFC, NBA. Often bundled with SFR plans.
→Eurosport: cycling (Tour de France), tennis Grand Slams, winter sports. Available via most internet boxes.

Full details on pricing, rights and how to add each pack to your internet box are covered in our sports TV packages guide.

Which internet box gives you the best TV in France?

All four major French operators include TV in their standard fibre plans, but the number of channels, replay depth and available add-ons vary significantly. Here's a quick comparison to help you choose:

Provider	Base TV channels	English pack available	Streaming	Starting price (with TV)
Orange	200 channels	✅ Yes (€5/month)	Discounts up to -€5/month on Netflix and Disney+	29,99€/month
SFR	180 channels	✅ Yes (€5.99/month)	Discounts up to -€5/month on Netflix and Disney+	27,99€/month
Free	300 channels	⚠️ News only (no English pack)	Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Universal+ included (Freebox Ultra only)	29,99€/month
Bouygues	180 channels	⚠️ News only (no English pack)	-€5/month on Canal+ (12-month commitment)	24,99€/month

Selection of offers verified as of April 2026. Ranked by English pack availability. Prices shown are promotional rates valid for the first 12 months; standard rates apply thereafter. Source: operator websites. Free listing.

If watching English-language content is a priority, Orange and SFR are the only two operators offering a dedicated English channel bouquet. Orange also provides an English-speaking customer service line, which is a practical advantage when you first arrive in France. Compare all internet providers in France to find the plan that fits your needs.

Livebox Classic Fibre 12-month commitment	2 Gbit/s 800 Mbit/s WiFi 7	200 channels TV decoder	On sale at 29,99€	Selectra Service
View details Hide details
Download: up to 2 Gbit/s shared Upload: up to 800 Mbit/s Compatible with WiFi 7	29,99€/month for 12 months then 42,99€/month Calls to landlines
Freebox Pop Fibre No commitment	5 Gbit/s 900 Mbit/s WiFi 7	300 channels TV decoder	On sale at 29,99€	Selectra Service
View details Hide details
Download: up to 5 Gbit/s shared Upload: up to 900 Mbit/s Compatible with WiFi 7 Répéteur WiFi 7 inclus Cafeyn inclus 3 mois	29,99€/month for 12 months then 39,99€/month Calls to landlines + mobiles Prime inclus 3 mois HBO Max inclus 3 mois 100h d'enregistrement
Livebox Up Fibre 12-month commitment	8 Gbit/s 8 Gbit/s WiFi 7	200 channels TV decoder	On sale at 39,99€	Selectra Service
View details Hide details
Download: up to 8 Gbit/s Upload: up to 8 Gbit/s Compatible with WiFi 7 Répéteur WiFi sur demande	39,99€/month for 12 months then 51,99€/month Calls to landlines + mobiles 100h d'enregistrement TV
Freebox Ultra Essentiel No commitment	8 Gbit/s 8 Gbit/s WiFi 7	340 channels TV decoder	On sale at 39,99€	Selectra Service
View details Hide details
Download: up to 8 Gbit/s Upload: up to 8 Gbit/s Compatible with WiFi 7 Répéteur WiFi 7 inclus	39,99€/month for 12 months then 49,99€/month Calls to landlines + mobiles Prime inclus 3 mois HBO Max inclus 3 mois Free Ciné inclus 320h d'enregistrement
Setup fee waived
Fin de Série Bbox WiFi 5 12-month commitment	1 Gbit/s 700 Mbit/s WiFi 5	200 channels TV decoder	On sale at 24,99€	Partner offer
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Download: up to 1 Gbit/s Upload: up to 700 Mbit/s Compatible with WiFi 5	24,99€/month for 12 months then 29,99€/month Calls to landlines
Série Spéciale Livebox Lite Fibre 12-month commitment	1 Gbit/s 700 Mbit/s WiFi 5	200 channels TV decoder	29,99€	Selectra Service
View details Hide details
Download: up to 1 Gbit/s Upload: up to 700 Mbit/s Compatible with WiFi 5	29,99€/month with no duration condition. Calls to landlines
Box SFR Fibre Power S 12-month commitment	1 Gbit/s 1 Gbit/s WiFi 6	160 channels TV decoder	31,99€	Selectra Service
View details Hide details
Download: up to 1 Gbit/s Upload: up to 1 Gbit/s Compatible with WiFi 6	31,99€/month with no predefined duration. Calls to landlines + mobiles 100 heures d'enregistrement

Non-exhaustive selection of offers, sorted by Selectra Score. Learn more about our scoring methodology

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Frequently asked questions about TV in France

How does TV work in France for expats? Read more Close

TV in France is accessible in three main ways: free digital TV (TNT) with a decoder (~€20–40), an internet box included in most broadband subscriptions (the most common choice for expats), or streaming platforms. Most households opt for a triple-play internet plan, which bundles internet, phone and TV, giving access to 100 to 300+ channels including replay, for around €25–55/month.

Is there a TV licence fee in France? Read more Close

No. France abolished its television licence (redevance audiovisuelle) in August 2022. You no longer pay any annual fee for owning a television, regardless of whether you use TNT, an internet box, or streaming services.

Can I watch UK TV in France? Read more Close

Yes. You can watch UK TV in France via a satellite dish (free-to-air UK channels including BBC and ITV are available on Astra 28.2°E), via an English channel pack from Orange (~€5/month) or SFR (~€5.99/month), or by using a VPN or expat UK TV box service to access BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4. See our full guide to English TV in France for a detailed comparison.

What is TNT in France? Read more Close

TNT (Télévision Numérique Terrestre) is France's free digital terrestrial TV network. It provides access to over 25 free channels (including TF1, France 2, M6, Arte and BFM TV) with no subscription. You only need a compatible TV or an external decoder available from around €20 at any electronics retailer.

Do French internet boxes include TV? Read more Close

Yes. All major French internet subscriptions (Orange, SFR, Free, Bouygues Telecom) are triple-play offers that include a TV decoder at no extra cost. Depending on the plan, you get between 100 and 300+ channels, plus replay TV. Premium streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video are bundled with certain higher-tier plans.

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