ABOVE: Television and radio
French TV and Radio
Watching French television and listening to the radio are among the most enjoyable ways to improve your language skills. Not only does it allow you to keep up-to-date with current affairs but it also improves your knowledge of modern language usage and terminology. Often the hardest part of conversing in French is understanding the language at the speed spoken by the average Français(e). The words and phrases can merge into one, making it difficult to understand.
The best way to overcome this common difficulty is to listen to as much ‘real-life’ French as possible—just ten minutes a day can make a real difference. So if you’re keen to find out more about what’s on offer, the following guide to French television and radio will help you get started.
TÉLÉVISION
Watching French television can greatly help your understanding of spoken French—even if you cannot understand everything that is being said, people’s reactions and gestures will often give many clues to what is going on.
TV CHANNELS
TF1(Télévision Française): France’s first private channel, and also its most popular. Largely conservative, good-quality programming.
France2 (Formerly Antenne 2): France’s second-most popular channel. Less traditional than TF1, with various interviews and documenting of cultural events.Also shows films on weeknights.
France3: Large focus on regional programming as well as documentaries and environmental issues. More high-brow than other channels..
Canal+: Canal+ is Europe’s biggest pay channel. Most programmes are scrambled.To watch unscrambled programmes, you need a decoder (around 15€) as well as a subscription costing around 30€ per month. Programmes include sport and films.
ARTE : (Also called France 5).ARTE started as a Franco-Germanic cultural station and is now owned by governments across Europe, broadcasting films and cultural documentaries in a variety of languages.The most intellectual channel.
M6: Mostly entertainment shows, M6 is seen as low-profile and low-budget. TV5: 24-hour general entertainment French language TV channel. Programmes include news, chatshows, sit-coms, drama and documentaries.
TO ACCESS FRENCH LANGUAGE PROGRAMMES FROM THE UK
Digital viewers: The BBC Learning Zone broadcasts French language-learning series between Monday night and Tuesday morning 1-6am on BBC2. Channels such as BBC Four, Channel 4 and Film 4 occasionally broadcast films in French.
Sky subscribers: TV5 is part of Sky Digital’s style and culture mix, channel number 805.The audio for Euronews on channel 528 can also be switched to French by changing the audio settings.
Satellite non-Sky subscribers: You can choose a non-Sky satellite system to receive free-to-air TV which broadcasts TV5 and other French channels. Packages start around £150 plus installation as a one-off payment.
Cable-NTL subscribers: TV5 is currently available as part of the family package on channels 845 and 210.
Cable-Telewest subscribers: TV5 is available as part of the supreme package on Telewest channel 825.
Online: A selection of French TV stations broadcast some programmes via their website. However, the reception quality is often poor.
RADIO
French radio is dominated by the five stations run by state-owned Radio France but there are also numerous independent stations.