By How does TV work in France?
- TV comes free with your internet plan. Fibre with a TV decoder starts at €24.99/month, and every major operator includes TV in its standard plans.
- 100 to 340 channels depending on the plan, plus replay on every major French network.
- Free without any subscription: terrestrial TV (TNT) gives you 25+ channels for the price of a €20–40 decoder — or €0 if your TV was sold after 2012.
- No TV licence in France since August 2022 — no annual fee for owning a television, whatever your provider.
- English and UK channels are never included by default. Expect a paid pack (Orange, SFR) or a satellite dish.
Entry price checked according to the Selectra comparison tool across 20 fibre plans bundling TV — last updated August 2026. Channel counts and prices vary by plan and promotional period.
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 (some subtitled programmes) | Short stays, minimal setup |
| Internet box (internet + phone + TV) | €24.99–55/month | 100–340 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 according to operator websites and ARCEP data — last updated August 2026. 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.
There is also nothing extra to pay for the set itself: France abolished its television licence (redevance audiovisuelle) in August 2022, so you no longer pay any annual fee for owning a television, 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 340 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+, Amazon Prime Video 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
That is the short list. For the complete channel line-up broken down by category (public, news, sport, kids, music), which channels each operator carries and how to stream them online, see our dedicated guide to French TV channels.
What's on French TV: listings, replay and live streaming
Once your TV is set up, there are three ways to find something to watch: the programme guide built into your decoder, a French TV listings website, or the replay app of the channel you missed. None of them costs anything extra.
Where can I check French TV listings?
Every internet box decoder has a built-in electronic programme guide (EPG), usually reached with the Guide button on the remote: it shows what is on now and for the next seven days across all your channels. Online, the two reference French listings sites are Télé-Loisirs and Programme-TV.net — both are free, in French, and cover the full TNT line-up plus the main pay channels. The Molotov app also carries a complete live guide, which is handy if you would rather read your listings in one place on a phone or laptop.
One quirk worth knowing: French prime time starts late. The main evening film or show generally begins at 21:00 or slightly after, following the 20:00 news on TF1 and France 2.
Catching up: replay and live streaming
All major French channels run free catch-up apps — TF1+, France TV, M6+, Arte and BFM TV — on iOS, Android and smart TVs, typically keeping programmes available for 7 to 30 days after broadcast. Most require a French internet connection for live streaming. Molotov TV is a free app that aggregates every TNT channel live, plus their catch-up content, on any device and with no decoder at all.
Watching English and UK TV in France
No French internet box includes British entertainment channels by default. You get a handful of English-language news channels free (BBC World News, CNN, Sky News, Euronews), and beyond that there are three routes: a paid English pack from Orange (around €5/month) or SFR (around €5.99/month); a satellite dish pointed at Astra 28.2°E, which picks up BBC One, ITV and Channel 4 free to air across much of France; or a UK streaming service, though BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4 are geo-restricted outside the UK.
Each of those routes has real trade-offs on cost, reliability and legality, and they are compared side by side in our full guide to English and UK TV in France.
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 is a direct comparison of the four operators, compared on channels, English packs and price:
| 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 | 160 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 | 200 channels | ⚠️ News only (no English pack) | -€5/month on Canal+ (12-month commitment) | €24.99/month |
Selection of offers verified according to operator websites — last updated August 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.
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📖 TV channel line-ups, operator by operator:
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 340 channels including replay, for around €24.99–55/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.
Where can I find French TV listings? Read more Close
Three free options: the electronic programme guide built into your box decoder (the Guide button on the remote, showing the next seven days), the French listings websites Télé-Loisirs and Programme-TV.net, or the Molotov app, which carries a full live guide on phone, laptop and smart TV. Note that French prime time starts late — the main evening programme generally begins at 21:00, after the 20:00 news.
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 340 channels, plus replay TV. Premium streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video are bundled with certain higher-tier plans.
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