French TV Channels: a Complete Guide to French Television

By Valentine B

SEO Project Manager

France offers more than 25 free-to-air channels on digital terrestrial TV (TNT), plus hundreds more through internet box bundles. Whether you've just arrived or are still getting your TV set up, this guide covers all the main French TV channels by category, how to stream them online and via app, and which internet providers include the best selection.

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Free French TV channels list: what's available on TNT

The easiest and cheapest way to access French TV channels is through the TNT (Télévision Numérique Terrestre), France's digital terrestrial TV network. You only need a compatible TV set or an external TNT decoder, available at any electronics store for around €20–40. No subscription is required.

Below is a complete list of the main free French TV channels available on TNT, grouped by type.

List of French TNT channels verified as of march of 2026. Source: CSA/Arcom official channel list. Free to receive with a TNT decoder or internet box.

Best French TV channels by category

Not all French TV channels are equal. Here is a breakdown of the most popular French TV channels by content type, so you can quickly find what matters to you.

French public TV channels: France Télévisions and Arte

France's public television network, France Télévisions, groups four main channels under a single brand:

• France 2 : the flagship public channel, with national news, prime-time dramas and major sports events.
• France 3 : the regional channel, with local news editions broadcast throughout the day. Particularly useful for expats settling outside Paris.
• France 4 : aimed at younger audiences, with French animated series and youth programming.
• France 5 : the most cultural and educational of the four, known for documentaries, debate shows and magazines.
• Arte is a joint Franco-German public channel, recognised as one of the highest-quality channels in France. It broadcasts documentaries, European films, arts programming and international series, often with subtitles or bilingual versions. It is one of the few French TV channels that naturally appeals to non-French speakers due to its multilingual output.

French TV news channels: BFM TV, France Info and LCI

France has several dedicated French TV news channels, all available free on TNT:

• BFM TV : France's most-watched news channel, with rolling coverage, weather and live breaking news. Useful for following French current affairs as a language learner.
• France Info : the public news channel, part of France Télévisions. A solid alternative to BFM TV if you prefer a more neutral tone.
• LCI : known for longer-format political debates and analysis.
• CNews : more opinion-led, with a format similar to Fox News or GB News.

For international news in English, BBC News, CNN International and Sky News are included in the base TV package of most French internet boxes at no extra cost.

French TV sports channels: free and paid options

For sports, France offers one strong free option and several paid channels through internet boxes:

• L'Équipe (free TNT) : daily sports news, analysis and replays. Available on TNT and all internet boxes without any extra subscription.
• beIN Sports (paid) : the main subscription sports package in France, covering Ligue 1, La Liga, Serie A, ATP tennis and more. Available as an add-on with all four major internet providers from around €15/month.
• RMC Sport (paid) : focused on the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. Previously called SFR Sport.
• Canal+ Sport (paid) : included in a Canal+ subscription, covering Formula 1, rugby, Top 14 and some football.
• Eurosport (paid) : cycling (Tour de France), tennis Grand Slams, Olympics coverage.

French kids TV channels: what's free and what's paid

For families, France has a solid range of French kids TV channels:

• Gulli (free TNT) : the main dedicated children's channel in France, broadcasting cartoons, animated series and live-action shows for 6 to 14 year olds. Available on all internet boxes.
• France 4 (free TNT) : part of the public network, with a mix of French-produced youth content and animation.
• TFX (free TNT) : targeted at teens and young adults, with American series and entertainment.
• Piwi+ (paid) : pre-school content from the Canal+ group, available as part of CanalSat packages.
• TiJi (paid) : aimed at 4 to 11 year olds, also part of the Canal+ group.
• Disney Channel (paid) : available as an option with most internet box operators.

French music TV channels

Dedicated French music TV channels are mostly part of paid packages, though a few free options exist:

• NRJ 12 (free TNT) : not exclusively a music channel, but features regular music programming and is one of the most popular youth channels in France.
• MCM (paid) : classic music videos and concerts, available through various internet box packages.
• MTV France (paid) : international and French music content, reality TV.
• M6 Music (paid) : music programming from the M6 group, available in certain cable and box packages.

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French TV channels live streaming: apps and online access

All the main French TV channels have official free streaming apps, making it easy to watch French TV channels online or catch up on programmes you missed. Most are available as both a website and a mobile app for iOS and Android.

App availability verified as of march of 2026. Most apps require a French address or French internet connection for live streaming. Check individual app stores for availability in your country.

French TV channels via your internet box: what's included

If you subscribe to a triple-play internet offer in France (internet + TV + phone), your box automatically includes access to all free TNT channels plus a range of additional French and international channels, typically between 100 and 300 depending on your provider and plan.

Each major French internet provider also offers paid optional TV packages (bouquets) for sports, cinema, children's content, and international channels. Here is a summary of what each provider includes:

Channel counts and package availability verified as of march of 2026. Source: operator websites. Figures are approximate and may vary by plan. Paid optional packages charged in addition to your base plan.

For a full breakdown of channels included per provider, see the dedicated pages below:

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Are there any English channels on French TV?

Yes. Most French internet boxes include English-language news channels in their base package at no extra cost. The table below shows which English channels are available per operator and whether they require a paid bouquet. For a full guide on watching UK and international TV in France, see our dedicated page.

Available channels

Operator	Channel	Availability	Channel number
	SKYNEWS International channel	Base package included Orange	233
	CNN INTERNATIONAL Information	Base package included Orange	234
	CNBC Information	Base package included Orange	235
	BLOOMBERG EUROPE Information	Base package included Orange	236
	BBC NEWS Information	Base package included Orange	237
	CNN INTERNATIONAL Information	Base package included Bouygues Telecom	256
	SKYNEWS International channel	Base package included Bouygues Telecom	257
	CNBC Europe Information	Base package included Bouygues Telecom	261
	BBC NEWS Information	Base package included Bouygues Telecom	263
	BBC NEWS Information	Base package included Free	352
	CNN Information	Base package included Free	354
	Bloomberg TV Information	Base package included Free	356
	CNBC Information	Base package included Free	357
	CNN INTERNATIONAL Information	Base package included SFR	541
	BBC NEWS Information	Base package included SFR	542
	Bloomberg Information	Base package included SFR	545
	Bloomberg HT	Base package included Free	590

Valid as of 20/03/2026. Check the operator websites for more details about TV channels.
Base TV package
Paid optional TV packages