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The Facts

The only sure way to obtain access to UK TV in France, is via a digital satellite receiver and dish. Terrestrial TV (ie. through an aerial) will simply not work, nor will you obtain a reception via a UK 'Free to View' box (the sort you can purchase in Currys or Argos for around £30), even in the most Northern parts of France. Both these systems utilise an aerial and the signal is simply too weak to effectively reach these shores.

The most popular method of receiving UK TV is via a SKY digibox which contrary to what many people believe, is perfectly legal to own and use in France (there are other issues, but more of those later).

The same 'free to view' (meaning no monthly subscription) channels can also be received by any decent non-SKY digital receiver irrespective of whether it was purchased in the UK or France. Through these, you will be able to receive all the BBC & ITV channels, several news channels (Sky News for example), some film channels including Film4, a few other varied channels (shopping, religion etc) and numerous UK radio channels. These can all be received by aiming the satellite dish at the Astra 2 group of satellites at about 28 degrees east of south. You will receive exactly the same channels using a SKY digibox.

Whilst there are a few English language channels available via other satellites, these are very limited and are predominantly news based.

As noted above, the use of a SKY digibox is the most common way of receiving UK TV in France as people moving to France often bring them with them. The added bonus of a SKY digibox is that unlike non-SKY decoders, you will have the option to upgrade to a subscription package should you so desire or request a viewing card enabling you to receive channels 4 & 5.
For those who bring theirs from the UK, once you have installed a new, bigger, dish to receive the signal from the Astra 2 satellite (the SKY mini-dish is not recommended across most of France although it will work in some places), you will receive exactly the same service as in the UK, save for the fact that your telephone line can no longer be connected to the SKY digibox. This will place restrictions on ordering events via SKY Box Office and many interactive services. However, it does not mean that 'pay per view' events cannot be seen, as a phone call to SKY will suffice - though there are dangers in calling from overseas.

Technically, SKY are not allowed to broadcast outside of the UK and for anyone with a SKY subscription, the small print in the contract will state that you are not allowed to take the viewing card outside of the UK and Channel Islands. In reality though, SKY cannot fail to be aware of the fact that many people are taking their digiboxes, viewing cards and therefore continued monthly subscription, abroad.
How do I get it?

Perhaps the best way to obtain your SKY digibox is to purchase one from a specialist company in France – such as ourselves for example. These companies have direct access to brand new SKY digiboxes from wholesalers in the UK. The benefit to the customer is of course that these boxes will come with a full guarantee. We offer brand new SKY digiboxes (and we mean brand new, not ones that are 2 years old but have simply remained in their boxes) from €225. All come with a full 12 month warranty.

You can of course though purchase SKY decoders yourself in the UK from a variety of different sources.

Non-SKY decoders are also available from outfits such as ourselves, or can be purchased from French retailers. Again, many people living in France prefer to purchase such decoders from companies like ourselves to avoid any language issues whether it be for the actual purchase or the instruction booklet!

SKY viewing cards (which give you access to many more channels and premium services such as SKY Sports and SKY Movies) are ONLY genuinely available from SKY. However, there are a few reputable companies in France which can help arrange a genuine SKY package for you – please feel free to contact us for further information.

If you choose to obtain a viewing card through SKY, you will have to pay a monthly subscription depending on your chosen package. See the web-site http://www.sky.com for full package details. Please be advised that however you obtain your SKY viewing card, your monthly subscription package should be exactly the same.

Installation

There are many people who wish to carry out the installation of their equipment themselves and perhaps bring it from the UK, or purchase the required pieces here in France. However, many people do not, and will therefore require the services of a professional installer. There are many companies offering such services across France (including ourselves) who will happily discuss your requirements and then carry out the work for you whether it be supplying and installing a complete system, or simply helping you to align your dish.

Installation is possible for those of a DIY nature. The dish will usually be mounted on either a wall bracket, or on a chimney bracket. One cable will then run from the LNB on the dish to the digibox. Aim the dish at the Astra 2 satellite which can be found at about 28 degrees east of due south, angle the dish back a little (c.30 degrees) and with a little fiddling you will obtain a reception. For those using a SKY digibox, this can be seen by pressing 'services' on your SKY remote, then 4, then 6. The important factor is 'signal quality'. This should ideally be at least 50% (about the middle of the word OK below it) but higher is of course better.

Please note that when aligning the dish, you must have a 'clear line of sight'. This means you cannot point the dish through a tree and expect it to receive a signal.
If required, we can supply you with a full DIY kit containing everything you will need to install your own system. Also supplied is a full guide to self-installation. Telephone support is available to anyone purchasing such a kit from ourselves.
As a word of warning, if you employ the services of someone else to fit your system etc, then only use the services of an installer who is registered in France with a Siret number. This ensures they are working legally and just as importantly, insured. If using a French installer for SKY, be sure to explain that he is looking for the Astra 2 satellite at 28.2 degrees and not Astra 1 (19 degrees) which distributes many popular French subscription channels.

Obtaining French TV

For those of you wishing to view French TV, then a good method is via the cheap analogue satellite packages sold at the local bricolage stores. However, at some point these signals will be turned off (a date as yet unknown, but likely to be quite a way off). The same channels can also be received through a standard aerial, but reception via this method can be poor in many parts of France.

Be aware, that to receive mainstream French TV via satellite, then you will only require an analogue system. The channels available via this method are completely free, therefore no subscription or viewing cards, but limited in their number.

You can also have French satellite TV via a digital satellite receiver which benefits from a slightly better picture quality and stereo sound. However, the popular channel of TF1 is not available on this platform and is only free via satellite on the analogue platform. Digital receivers are more expensive than analogue ones.

Once you have purchased your package, aim the dish to 5 degrees west of south and take it from there. Again though, many people will seek the services of a professional installer, for the installation of French satellite TV is virtually the same as that for UK satellite TV. A full DIY kit for obtaining French TV is available from ourselves.

There is now a new service called TNT which is similar to 'freeview' in the UK. This can be received either by traditional rooftop aerial (depending on coverage) or via digital satellite. This carries around 20 popular French TV channels (including those considered the 'main' ones) and works from a different satellite.

Be advised though that for those of your bringing your TV from the UK, many UK TV's are PAL only meaning that analogue satellite reception will be in black and white. French TV is broadcast in SECAM. Some UK TV's are dual system (PAL & SECAM) but most are not - your instruction booklet will tell you.

However, a PAL only TV will work perfectly well with UK TV via satellite and does not need to be SECAM compatible.
© Stuart Wallace @ The French House Satellite TV

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