By Free French TV channels list: what's available on TNT
Beyond the seven big-name channels, France's free TNT lineup also includes dedicated 24/7 news channels (BFM TV, CNews, France Info, LCI), a sports channel (L'Équipe), and children's programming (Gulli, France 4) — 25 free channels in total, with no subscription or monthly fee. The table below lists all 26 national TNT channels in their official channel order: 25 are free to watch, and only the last one (Paris Première, channel 26) needs a paid subscription.
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.
| Ch. | Channel | Type | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TF1 | Private | General entertainment, reality TV, French & international series |
| 2 | France 2 | Public | General, news, culture, prime-time entertainment |
| 3 | France 3 | Public | Regional news & programming, local events |
| 4 | France 4 | Public | Youth content, animation, French series |
| 5 | France 5 | Public | Documentaries, culture, education |
| 6 | M6 | Private | Entertainment, reality TV, lifestyle, series |
| 7 | Arte | Public (Franco-German) | Culture, arts, documentaries, European cinema — often subtitled or bilingual |
| 8 | LCP-Assemblée nationale / Public Sénat | Public | Parliamentary broadcasts, political debates |
| 9 | W9 | Private | Series, reality TV, music |
| 10 | TMC | Private | Entertainment, series, variety shows |
| 11 | TFX | Private | Youth entertainment, reality TV, series |
| 12 | Gulli | Private | Children's programming, cartoons, family shows |
| 13 | BFM TV | Private | 24/7 news, breaking news, weather |
| 14 | CNEWS | Private | News, political debates, opinion shows |
| 15 | LCI | Private | News, current affairs, political analysis |
| 16 | Franceinfo | Public | 24/7 rolling news |
| 17 | CSTAR | Private | Music, entertainment, American series |
| 18 | T18 | Private | News and documentaries — launched on the TNT in June 2025 |
| 19 | NOVO19 | Private | General entertainment — launched on the TNT in September 2025 |
| 20 | TF1 Séries Films | Private | TV series and films |
| 21 | L'Équipe | Private | Sports news, analysis, magazine shows |
| 22 | 6ter | Private | Family entertainment, cooking, travel |
| 23 | RMC Story | Private | History, documentaries, American series |
| 24 | RMC Découverte | Private | Science, technology, adventure documentaries |
| 25 | RMC Life | Private | Lifestyle and wellbeing — replaced Chérie 25 in October 2025 |
| 26 | Paris Première | Paid | Culture and entertainment — the only national TNT channel requiring a subscription |
Channel numbers follow the official TNT numbering in force since 6 June 2025. List verified as of October 2026. Source: Arcom official channel numbering. Free to receive with a TNT decoder or internet box.
Read next How to set up internet in FranceBest French TV channels by category
French TV channels each have their own editorial identity. Here is a breakdown of the main 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 sports TV channels available 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 (the French domestic rugby league) 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 Canal+ group 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:
- →CSTAR (free TNT, channel 17): the closest thing to a free music channel on the TNT, mixing music videos with entertainment and American series. W9 (free TNT, channel 9) also airs regular music programming alongside its series and reality TV. NRJ 12, long the reference for music on the TNT, left the network in June 2025.
- →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.
French TV channels live streaming: apps and online access
You can watch French TV channels online for free through each channel's official app: France TV, TF1+, M6+, ARTE and the BFM TV app all offer live streaming and catch-up at no cost. Live streams are generally restricted to viewers connecting from France, while catch-up content is often available more widely. Most apps work as both a website and a mobile app for iOS and Android.
France's international news channel streams free and unrestricted worldwide at france24.com/en/live (and on YouTube), in English, French, Arabic and Spanish — no French IP address or VPN required, unlike most domestic apps.
| Channel(s) | App / Platform | Cost | Live streaming? |
|---|---|---|---|
| France 2, 3, 4, 5, France Info | France TV | Free | ✅ Yes |
| TF1, TMC, TFX, LCI | TF1+ | Free | ✅ Yes |
| M6, W9, 6ter, Gulli | M6+ | Free | ✅ Yes |
| Arte | Arte | Free | ✅ Yes |
| BFM TV | BFM TV app | Free | ✅ Yes |
| Canal+ | Canal+ app | Subscription required | ✅ Yes |
| beIN Sports | beIN Sports app | Subscription required | ✅ Yes |
App availability verified as of October 2026. Most apps require a French address or French internet connection for live streaming. Check individual app stores for availability in your country.
Prefer to stream? Beyond the free channel apps, these subscription platforms give you French channels and premium content on any device — most with no commitment:
All the main French channels in one free app, with premium add-ons for more live channels.
See Molotov →
French and international films, series and live sport — F1, Top 14 rugby, football.
See Canal+ offers →
Films, series and 8–9 Ligue 1 matches per round, included with Prime.
See Prime Video →
France's main Ligue 1 broadcaster, plus Serie A and boxing.
See DAZN →
UEFA Champions League and Europa League football, plus combat sports.
See RMC Sport →💡 How to watch French TV in the UK or from abroad
Most official apps — TF1+, France TV, M6+ — restrict live streaming to French IP addresses because of broadcasting rights, so having a French address on file isn't enough once you've left the country. Two options work reliably from the UK or elsewhere:
- →France 24 and ARTE stream live worldwide with no restriction, in French and (for France 24) English — no VPN needed.
- →A VPN connected to a French server unlocks TF1+, France TV, M6+ and most other apps, though this is subject to each platform's terms of service.
French TV channels via your internet box: what's included
If your internet plan bundles internet, TV and phone together (in France this is called a triple-play offer), your box automatically includes access to all free TNT channels plus a range of additional French and international channels, typically between 100 and 340 depending on your provider and plan.
Each major French internet provider also offers paid optional TV packages — called bouquets in French, the word you will see on your bill — for sports, cinema, children's content, and international channels. Here is a summary of what each provider includes:
| Provider | Base channels (approx.) | Optional TV packs available |
|---|---|---|
| Orange (Livebox) | 200+ | Cinema, sports (beIN, RMC), English bouquet (€5/month), Canal+ |
| SFR | 200+ | Cinema (OCS), sports, English bouquet (€5.99/month), Canal+ |
| Free (Freebox) | 230–340 (depending on plan) | Large à-la-carte selection, Canal+, beIN Sports, international packs |
| Bouygues Telecom (Bbox) | 170–180 | Grand Angle pack (42 channels), Canal+, beIN Sports, international packs |
Channel counts and package availability verified as of October 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:
📖 French TV channels by provider:
If TV matters to you, look beyond entry-level plans: these fibre offers bundle a rich TV package with streaming services included (Netflix, Disney+, Canal+ and more depending on the plan), which is where a box really adds value over the free apps.
No offers match the selected filters.
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 gives the channel number for each English-language news channel, operator by operator — all of them are in the base TV package, at no extra cost. A dash means the channel is not carried by that operator. Satellite reception, UK streaming services and the paid English bouquets are covered in the full guide linked at the end of this section.
| Channel | Orange | Bouygues Telecom | Free | SFR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBC News | 237 | 263 | 352 | 542 |
| Sky News | 233 | 257 | — | — |
| CNN International | 234 | 256 | 354 | 541 |
| CNBC | 235 | 261 | 357 | — |
| Bloomberg | 236 | — | 356 | 545 |
Valid as of October 2026. Check the operator websites for more details about TV channels.
Base TV package
Paid optional TV packages
Frequently asked questions about French TV channels
What are the main French TV channels available for free? Read more Close
The main free French TV channels are available via TNT (digital terrestrial TV) and include TF1, France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5, M6, Arte, BFM TV, CNews, Gulli, LCI, L'Équipe and France Info, among others. All 25 free TNT channels are accessible with a basic decoder or any internet box, with no subscription needed.
What is the most popular French TV channel? Read more Close
TF1 is the most-watched French TV channel, with an 18.0 % audience share over the first half of 2026, ahead of France 2 (14.9 %), France 3 (8.9 %) and M6 (8.0 %), according to Médiamétrie, France's official audience measurement body. For news, BFM TV leads the dedicated news channels at 2.9 %. Audience rankings can vary by season and major broadcast events.
Can I watch French TV channels online for free, in France or from abroad? Read more Close
Yes. All major French TV channels offer free streaming via their official apps or websites: France TV (for France 2/3/4/5), TF1+, M6+, ARTE and BFM TV are entirely free. From outside France, France 24 and ARTE stream live worldwide with no restrictions, while TF1+, France TV and M6+ generally require a French IP address for live streaming — a VPN connected to a French server is the most common workaround, subject to each platform's terms of service.
Which French TV channels have content in English or with English subtitles? Read more Close
Arte regularly broadcasts programmes in French and German with subtitles in multiple languages including English, making it the most accessible French TV channel for non-native speakers. France 24 also produces content in English, Arabic and Spanish. Most other French channels do not offer English-language versions, though some international series are available in their original language — look for the VO label in the app menus via the catch-up apps.
What French TV channels are available for kids? Read more Close
For children, Gulli and France 4 are available free on TNT and suit ages 3–14. TFX also targets a younger audience with American series and entertainment. For younger children (under 6), Piwi+ and TiJi are available as paid add-ons through Canal+ group packages on most French internet boxes.
Do I need an internet box to watch all French TV channels? Read more Close
No. You can access all 25 free TNT channels with a standard digital decoder (around €20–40 at any electronics store). However, an internet box gives you access to a significantly wider range of French TV channels (100–340), replay TV, on-demand content and the ability to add premium paid packs such as Canal+, beIN Sports or English-language bouquets.
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