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There are a few ways to obtain French TV via satellite.
TNTSAT - This is a digital satellite service from the Astra1 satellite and will provide you will the 21 TNT channels which can be considered as the 'mainstream'. All TNTSAT channels are in high-definition.
Certain TNTSAT receivers (but not all) can now also be used to receive both TNTSAT and free to air UK TV channels on the same satellite dish with the use of other appropriate equipment. Please see the end of this page for details.
The TNTSAT receiver comes with a viewing card which is valid for 4 years from the date of activation. No monthly subscription fees are payable.
You can also receive many European language channels that broadcast free to air from the same satellite. For further information you can click on the following link www.tntsat.tv
Fransat - This provides the same domestic French channels as TNTSAT above, but is used with satellite dishes aligned to the old Atlantic Bird 3 satellite (now called Eutelsat 5). This is the satellite that used to transmit the now defunct analogue satellite service. The intention of Fransat was that those who used to receive the analogue satellite service could simply replace the receiver with no need to re-align the dish. This service also has a 4 year viewing card. All Fransat channels are high-definition.
Please find further details here at www.fransat.fr
Please note, a TNTSAT receiver will not work on a system for Fransat and vice-versa.
Canal+ - Is a subscription service roughly comparable to SKY TV in the UK. Click here for further information www.canalplus.fr/
Bis TV - Is a rival satellite service to Canal Satellite. Bis TV is offers a low cost monthly subscription (starting at less than 5 euros) and will provide 14 of the TNT channels plus some of its own. It did operate from two satellites, HotBird at 13° east and Atlantic Bird at 5° West, however at present, only Hotbird is detailed on the Bis web-site which can be found here www.bis.tv/#accueil
TNTSAT & UK TV Combined - With the use of DiSEqC (effectively a switching box) and the appropriate dish, certain TNTSAT receivers can also receive the free to air UK TV channels such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five etc. The single satellite dish can hold 2 seperate LNBs, one for UK TV and one that is slightly off-set to receive TNTSAT. Using a DiSEqC switch, you then only need 1 cable run from the dish to your satellite receiver. If you choose to watch BBC1 for example, the satellite receiver will select the appropriate LNB on the dish and receive UK TV. If you select one of the French channels, it will switch to the other LNB and receive those transmissions instead.
One receiver, one remote control, one cable, one dish.
Please note however, that one slight drawback of this service is that at present these satellite receivers do not have the ability to offer an electronic program guide similar to those found of SKY or Freesat receivers. Nor do they present the UK channels in a logical order when first downloaded. However, you can of course modify this to your own requirements.
