Television in France

Television in France was introduced in 1931, when the first experimental broadcasts began. Colour television was introduced in October 1967 on La Deuxième Chaîne.

French programming

France (13éme Rue as Mary McDonnell)

NBC

USA Network/Syfy

TNT

Lifetime

Fox

A&E

CBS All Access

Hulu

ABC

CBS

UPN

    Canadian Series

    African Series

    British Series

    Australico

    News

    Magazine

    Documentaries

    Sports

    Entertainment

    Game shows

    Talk shows

    Music

    TV series

    (Pokémon)

    Dramas

    Soap operas

    Sitcoms

    Game shows
    • 60 secondes du Colisée (2007)
    • Les Bons génies (1996)
    • Avec ou sans joker (2013)
    • Carbone 14 (2006)
    • Chéri(e), fais les valises ! (2011)
    • Code de la route (2003-2004, 2011)
    • Des chiffres et des lettres (1965-2006)
    • Dingbats (1992)
    • En toutes lettres (2009-2011)
    • Et 1, et 2, et 3 ! (1999)
    • Face à la bande (2014)
    • Intervilles (2004-2005-2013)
    • Jeux sans frontières (1965-1999)
    • Joker (2015-2016)
    • La Cible (2003-2007)
    • La Gym des neurones (2000-2002)
    • La Part du lion (2007)
    • La télé est à vous ! (2009-2010)
    • Le 4e Duel (2008-2013)
    • Le Brise-cœur (2004)
    • Le Coffre (2003-2004)
    • Le Cube (2013)
    • Le Grand Blind Test (2003)
    • Le Jeu (1992-1993)
    • Le Juste Euro (2001-2002)
    • Le Numéro gagnant (2001-2002)
    • Les Bons génies (1996)
    • Les Cinglés de la télé (1999)
    • Les Forges du désert (1999-2000)
    • Les Trésors du monde (1994)
    • Le Trophée Campus (1995)
    • Millionnaire (2004-2008)
    • Mot de passe (2009-2016)
    • Motus (1990-2019)
    • N'oubliez pas votre brosse à dents (1994-1996)
    • Passe à ton voisin (1997)
    • Pop Show (2015-2016)
    • Presto! (2008-2011)
    • Pyramide (1991-2003, 2014-2015)
    • Que le meilleur gagne (1992-1995, 2012, 2014)
    • Qui est le bluffeur ? (2006)
    • Qui est qui ? (1996-2002)
    • Réveillez vos méninges (2010-2011)
    • Seriez-vous un bon expert ? (2011-2013)
    • Slam (2009)
    • Tout vu tout lu (2003-2006)
    • Trivial Pursuit (2002-2003)
    • Un mot peut en cacher un autre (2015-2016)
    • Un pour tous (1993)
    • Volte-face (2012)

    Sports

    Universal Channel

    TF1

    M6

    Digital terrestrial television
    TNT logo.

    The digital terrestrial television platform was launched on 31 March 2005 after a short testing period. Like Freeview in the UK, it provides many new channels, as well as the current terrestrial television stations. Like the rest of Europe, France uses the DVB-T transmission technology.

    The 13 first digital free channels were launched on 31 March 2005. In October, 4 additional free channels were added: the 24h news channels BFM TV and I-Télé, the music and entertainment youth channel Europe 2 TV, and the free children channel Gulli, joint-venture between Lagardère Active and France Télévisions. Pay channels were progressively added until 2006: TPS Star, Paris Première, Canal+ Sport, Canal+ Cinéma, AB1, Planète, TF6, Canal J, LCI and Eurosport.

    Regional channels started to launch on the TNT in 2007.

    Due to the unsuccess of the pay-DTT, the terrestrial broadcast was abandoned by AB1 in October 2008 and Canal J on 30 April 2009.

    On 14 December 2010, the CSA selected CFoot to relaunch a pay terrestrial channel. This channel was owned by the Ligue de Football Professionnel, to raise the stakes of French football leagues, and was launched in July 2011 on the LCN 34 of the TNT (formerly assigned to AB1). With the arrival of BeIN Sports, CFoot closed on 31 May 2012. In addition, TPS Star closed illegally in the same month.

    TF1 and M6 closed their pay channel TF6 on 31 December 2014. In early 2015, Eurosport ceased its terrestrial broadcast after TF1 sold it to Discovery.

    By 2012, the digital terrestrial television services were expected to cover at least 95% of the French metropolitan population. Five high-definition (HD) channels (four free-to-air and one subscription) were launched in October 2008 using also the H.264 format. In September 2005, pay television channels were launched that use the MPEG-4 format, unlike most of Europe, which uses MPEG-2.

    Pay-per-view terrestrial channels use H.264. TNT is the first service to implement Dolby Digital Plus as an audio codec on its high-definition channels. Viewers must buy a TV set (or set-top box) that supports both MPEG-4 H.264 and DD+ to enjoy HD channels.

    Analog broadcasts were switched off on 30 November 2011 on all platforms, whether it is terrestrial, satellite or cable. Overseas departments and territories (such as French Guiana and Martinique) also terminated all analog broadcasts on the same day.

    DTT transition

    By 2008, 34% of the French population was using analogue TV as an only reception mode. The next year, the city of Coulommiers switched to digital-only TV, serving as a test city for TDF. By the end of 2009, analog TV was shut off in the Nord Cotentin, and TDF reported no major reception problems. Citizens in DTT test zones were informed that analog TV would shut down by early 2009, and consequently they adapted their installation.

    For the rest of the country, the shut-off progressed by regions, more precisely France 3 regions. It means that every transmitters broadcasting France 3 Méditerranée Provence-Alpes went digital-terrestrial on the same date, another date for those that broadcast France 3 Bourgogne Franche-Comté. The analog shut-off occurred in 2010 in the north; the south was the last to phase out analog television broadcasts.

    For three months before shutting down an analogue transmitter, it transmitted the DTT multiplexes so that viewers could adapt their installation on time. Also, a message was displayed as marquee on analog channels warning the viewer that he would no longer receive TV if he or she did not switch to digital. To help people installing their DTT reception equipment, the French government created "France Télé Numérique". It made didactic videos, television advertisements, and went through the local markets, to meet people and solve their problems regarding DTT reception.

    Elderly people and those with restricted financial conditions, received help from the French government; so that they could switch to DTT easily.

    The most common adapters sold in the market only decode MPEG-2 and have only one SCART output socket. Old TV sets (before 1980) need a UHF modulator between the TV and the set-top box, as they have no SCART socket. Unlike VCRs, DVB-T set-top boxes rarely include such a modulator, and a SCART to RCA adaptor is often needed to feed the modulator with the signal. The solution recommended by France Télé Numérique is just to buy a new TV set instead of using a modulator.

    On 30 October 2008, the TNT HD was launched with four national channels: TF1, France 2, M6 and Arte.

    On 8 June 2010, the overseas France dedicated channel France Ô became available nationally on TNT channel 19, taking the vacant frequencies of the pay channel AB1 which left the pay-DTT. Before, it was available locally in Île-de-France starting from 24 September 2007.

    On 30 November 2010, the digital terrestrial television launched in Overseas France, with 8 public channels: La Première, France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5, France Ô, Arte and France 24 (replaced by France Info on 8 April 2019). Most territories also have up to three local private channels.

    On 12 December 2012, six new HD national channels were launched (HD1, L'Équipe 21, 6ter, Numéro 23, RMC Découverte and Chérie 25).

    On 5 April 2016, the Metropolitan France fully transitioned to MPEG-4 with HDTV for almost all channels, and LCI became free-to-air.

    On 1 September 2016, France Télévisions launched its news channel France Info on channel 27. France Ô was downgraded to SD to make place for France Info.

    France Ô closed on 24 August 2020. France Info was upgraded to HD in Metropolitan France, and La Première were upgraded to HD in Overseas France.

    On 1 February 2021, France Télévisions launched Culturebox on channel 19, to promote cultural events during the COVID-19 pandemic. France 4 and France Info were downgraded to SD to make room on the multiplex. On 1 May, Culturebox starts timesharing with France 4, which upgraded to HD with France Info.

    DTT on satellite

    TNT channels are also available for reception by satellite, broadcast from the Astra satellites at 19.2° east with TNT SAT and from Atlantic Bird 3 with FRANSAT. Some of the channels are encrypted but there is no subscription charge, and both the set-top box and viewing card (valid for four years) that are required are available from hypermarkets. The public channels France 2, France 3, France 5, France Ô, LCP and the Franco-German channel arte are free-to-air on Atlantic Bird 3.

    During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, France 2 and France 3 were blacked out to viewers outside France. France 2, 3 and 4 were also blacked out outside France during the 2018 FIFA World Cup when they shared French TV rights for the tournament with TF1 and beIN Sports.

    Other technologies

    Most internet service providers in France now offer digital television (IPTV) packages through triple-play set-top box as part of fibre link packages or DSL link packages. However, some DSL subscribers have too much attenuation distortion on their lines to benefit from the service, and France does not yet have 100% DSL coverage. The main IPTV providers are Orange, SFR, Free and Bouygues Telecom.

    French cable providers France Telecom Cable, Noos SA and UPC France SA and Numericable merged to become the largest cable operator in France which was then merged info SFR. SFR cable offer is part of their very high speed offer and provides cable television and IPTV using FTLA approach EuroDocsis 3.0 compatible set top boxes.

    Digital satellite television in France was launched in 1996. HDTV transmissions began in April 2006, when CanalSat launched its first HD channel (Canal+ HD). Télévision Par Satellite and CanalSat have merged in 2007, leaving Nouveau Canalsat and Bis Télévisions as the two main competitors for the satellite television market in the country.

    Media groups

    Dominant groups

    Four companies dominate the French TV market :

    - Groupe TF1 (owned by Bouygues), which owns TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films and LCI

    - France Télévisions, which regroups state-owned channels meaning France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5, franceinfo: and 45% of Arte's shares

    - Groupe M6 (owned by RTL Group), which owns M6, W9, 6ter and Gulli

    - Groupe Canal+ (owned by Vivendi), which owns Canal+, C8, CNews and CStar

    Other important groups

    - NextRadioTV (owned by Altice): BFM TV, RMC Story, RMC Découverte, and many BFM regional declensions

    - NRJ Group: NRJ 12, Chérie 25

    Minor group

    Groupe Amaury (L'Équipe)

    Market shares by groups in 2019

    Viewing shares

    Yearly viewing shares in 2019 (not including subscription channels):[1]

    LCP-Public Sénat and France Ô are uncounted because they are not destined to be profitable.

    CanalChannel PositionOwner Theme(s)Share of
    total viewing (%)
    in 2019    		 Evolution in

    comparison

    to 2018 (%)

    1TF1 1TF1 Group General programs19.5 -0.7
    2France 2 2France Télévisions (state-owned) General programs13.9 +0.4
    3France 3 3France Télévisions (state-owned) General programs, Regional9.3 -0.1
    6M6 4M6 Group General programs8.9 -0.2
    5France 5 5France Télévisions (state-owned) General programs, Culture, Family3.6 +0.1
    10TMC 6TF1 Group General programs3.1 +0.1
    8C8 7Canal+ Group General programs, Entertainment2.9 -0.1
    7Arte 8Arte (state-owned) Culture2.6 +0.2
    9W9 9M6 Group General programs, Music2.5 -0.1
    15BFM TV 10NextRadioTV 24/7 news2.3 -0.3
    24RMC Découverte 11NextRadioTV Documentaries2.3 +0.1
    11TFX 12TF1 Group Entertainment, Reality TV1.8 -0.1
    20TF1 Séries Films 13TF1 Group Fiction, Movies1.8 =
    226ter 14M6 Group Family1.7 +0.1
    14France 4 15France Télévisions (state-owned) General programs, Entertainment, Youth1.6 =
    12NRJ 12 16NRJ Group General programs, Reality TV1.5 =
    18Gulli 17M6 Group Family/Children1.4 -0.3
    21L'Équipe 18Amaury Group Sports1.4 +0.2
    23RMC Story 19NextRadioTV General programs, Diversity1.3 -0.1
    4Canal + 20Canal+ Group General programs, Movies1.3 +0.1
    17CStar 21Canal+ Group Music1.2 +0.1
    25Chérie 25 22NRJ Group Women, Movies1.1 =
    26LCI 23TF1 Group 24/7 news1.0 +0.3
    16CNews 24Canal+ Group 24/7 news0.8 +0.1
    27 franceinfo: 25 France Télévisions, Radio France,

    INA, France Médias Monde (state-owned)

    		 24/7 news 0.5 +0.1
    19France Ô -France Télévisions (state-owned) Overseas, DiversityUncounted -
    13 LCP-Public Sénat - French Parliament Politics, News Uncounted -

    See also

    References
    1. "Audiences annuelles 2019 : Les chaînes TF1 et M6 au plus bas, le service public en forme, record pour LCI et L'Equipe". ozap.com.
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