French Channels

Installing French satellite tv in the Uk

New Fransat Satellite Now in Service

Currently the old (Eutelsat 5wA ) and the new (5B ) are in position and work has commenced to transfer transmission over to the new satellite

Commissioning will begin in January and continue for several months. 

For most  customers in the South of England and Wales no adjustment of decoder, frequency or dish should be necessary.  Once in place and transmitting, the transponders will be optimised and reception should continue without interruption. 

The new satellite has a different footprint and this was not expected, The problem is due to a fault, on deployment one of the solar panels failed, consequently the power available will only be 45% of the required level. The new satellite will however continue in use and is expected to have its full satellite life-span. Viewers of Fransat in Portugal, Spain and North UK are affected. Details from  Telesatellite.com website  

Eutelsat 5w ( OLD Satellite )
Eutelsat 5wB (NEW Satellite )

As can be clearly seen above the new satellite does not have the same coverage as the old one

If you live above latitude 53.2 ( Sheffield / Manchester /Liverpool, you may have a much reduced signal on Fransat and may require a bigger dish

Customers in Scotland would be advised to change to TNT on Astra 1 satellite. 

This change was unexpected and data does not yet exist to determine the exact size of dish that will be required.   Please email me for advice before ordering.

Faulty Southern Solar Panel Causes big Problems

What Can be Done if you are Affected?

 

If you ONLY have Fransat, you can change the dish for a larger one. 

If you have a parabolic ( normal standard type ) dish , with multiple lnbs,  you may have to go one or two sizes bigger, to regain the signal

If you have the Force Frontier Toroidal dish or Wave Frontier  version it will be simpler to change your receiver to TNT.

In Scotland I have yet to test the signal, but it is doubtful whether the new dish size , would be acceptable in a domestic situation, planning permission may also be required. 

Scottish borders:  Similarly the dish size may be increased .

Change to TNT:

If you currently have JUST Fransat and single lnb Fransat dish – it should be relatively easy to move the dish to receive TNT

If you are using a Technisat receiver and change to a TNT box the process would unfortunately lose the many advantages of that receiver, in terms of easy channel editing. But, picture quality and card costs are  very similar once installed. 

If you have a Multi-satellite dish which includes Astra 1 ( most of mine do ) then you should easily be able to integrate the new TNT box.

In all cases when replacing Fransat with TNT on a multi-sat dish, the ORDER of the lnb switch ports will need to be changed.

Please email me with full details of your system and i’ll advise and quote for changes.

French TV in 2024

Who are the big players in French TV and what are the in-demand services?

Les Grands Chiens

The state of satellite French TV today reflects a dynamic media landscape shaped by rapid technological advancements and evolving consumer preferences. As of October 2023, several corporate broadcasters dominate the satellite TV market, including established giants like Canal+, former state broadcaster TF1, and numerous niche channels catering to specific audiences.

Canal+, a pioneering force in French tv, continues to innovate with its on-demand services that blend traditional live programming with modern streaming options. The provider has secured exclusive rights to significant sporting events, such as Ligue 1 football and French Open tennis, appealing to avid sports fans. Furthermore, Canal+ has expanded its reach through international content offerings, including critically acclaimed series and films, allowing it to effectively compete in an increasingly globalized content market.

French TV in 2024
French TV the major players

Competition From ‘Media Libraries’

Despite the stronghold of these corporate broadcasters, competition is robust. Streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have invigorated the media landscape, drawing audiences away from conventional satellite offerings. These platforms provide viewers with vast libraries of content, including original series that challenge traditional programming models. As a result, traditional broadcasters are investing heavily in their content libraries, leading to a new era of quality productions.

Recent news highlights a strategic shift in the satellite broadcasting sector, with TF1 and M6’s proposed merger facing regulatory scrutiny. Such moves indicate the industry’s ongoing consolidation efforts amidst the competitive pressures of digital streaming. Additionally, the rise of internet protocol television (IPTV) services has provided consumers with more choices, as they favour packages that combine satellite, internet, and telecom services.

Traditional TV Fights back with Innovation

While satellite TV in France grapples with intense competition from streaming platforms and corporate mergers, its resilience remains evident through continuous innovation and adaptation to evolving market demands. With an ever-growing focus on content quality and consumer experience, the future of satellite French TV remains promising.

The landscape of television consumption in France is evolving rapidly, propelled by technological advancements and changing viewer preferences. Satellite TV has long been a staple for French households seeking reliable access to a wide array of channels and programming. However, as IPTV services gain traction, the future of satellite TV in France faces formidable competition.

News and Live Sport

Satellite television delivers a vast selection of channels, including regional and international broadcasts, that appeals to diverse audiences. Providers such as CanalSat and Astra have dominated the market by offering competitive packages that include movie channels, live sports, and on-demand content. The charm of satellite TV lies in its high-definition quality and the ability to access services in remote areas where internet connectivity may be limited. For many, it remains an essential source of news, entertainment, and cultural programming.

Conversely, the rise of IPTV represents a seismic shift in consumer behaviour. IPTV services, such as Molotov and SFR, leverage high-speed internet to deliver content directly to viewers’ devices. This flexibility allows users to watch shows on-demand and engage in interactive features, including personalized recommendations and time-shifted viewing. Moreover, the proliferation of content streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video has redefined media consumption patterns, compelling many to pivot from traditional broadcasting.

As satellite TV grapples with the challenges of an evolving market, it must innovate to maintain relevance. Hybrid models that combine satellite and internet services are emerging, enabling providers to cater to tech-savvy consumers while preserving the stability associated with satellite transmissions.

In Conclusion – The Future

The future of satellite broadcast French TV stands at a crossroads. While it continues to offer a wealth of programming, its survival hinges on adapting to the shifting tides of viewer preference and embracing the competition posed by IPTV. The coming years will reveal whether satellite TV can carve out a niche alongside the burgeoning influence of internet-based content delivery systems.

For the majority of French viewers based in the UK though, the traditional satellite platforms TNT and Fransat continue to be in high demand. Long-term they still give an excellent low cost solution.

Statistics from Wikipedia

TF1 is back! TF1 group of channels returns on TNT sat

Designed by Freepik

Hooray! ……

Canal+ and TF1 group have finally reached agreement, ending the months long blackout of the 5 TNT channels.

The channels parameters have not changed, so they should still be there in your channel list, if not, simply retune.

If you tuned into the FTA free to air channels, provided  temporarily by the broadcaster, retune now, to the standard TNT channels.

TF1 is back, All the TF1 group channels are now available to tune in

After the dispute with Canalplus, the TF1 group of channels can now be tuned in on TNT boxes and FTA(free to air) boxes on Astra 1.

I received this information, without explanation on 17th Oct and the details are now confirmed, I am able to tune in my FTA box (Technomate) and receive TF1 channels without a card here in England. The website KingOfSat.net also shows the new frequency on Astra 1, and lists all the TF1 group channels: TF1, TF1 series Films, TMC, TFX and LCI as ‘clear’ (of encryption) .

Details of the New TP (frequency)

The TF1 channels are on a new frequency, so tuning is necessary to receive the channels on your box

  • Polarity Vertical
  • TP 11376 MHz
  • Symbol Rate 22000

How to tune in

Strong, Thomson Menu 》Installation 》Installation manuelle 》Choisir le Transpondeur 11376/V/22000 》scan TP (touche verte)Les chaînes de TF1 se trouvent en fin de liste principale
SagemMenu 》Installation 》OK 》Recherche de chaines 》Installation par transpondeur 》 Modifier la fréquence et saisir 11376, entrer 22000 pour le débit symbole et modifier la modulation en DVBS2 》OK Les chaînes de TF1 se trouvent à la fin de la liste principale
CahorsMenu 》Installation 》Manuelle 》Choisir TP 11376 V 22000 》Scan bouquet (touche rouge)Les chaînes de TF1 se trouvent en fin de liste principale

Whether this is a permanent or temporary fix, is unknown, I will post any further info here as I receive it.

App – MyTF1.

For anyone unable to tune their TNT box, there is a free App called MyTF1, which is currently showing all the TF1 group channels free.

Streaming Website – TF1.fr

For €2.99 / month you can stream all the TF1 group channels directly on the website. Currently 1 month free.

Canal+ TF1 dispute blacks out TNT broadcasts

What’s it all about? Why have several major channels been blacked out on the TNT satellite service since the beginning of September this year, across France and the UK. It is a dispute between the broadcaster Canal+ and Channel TF1, which is demanding increased fees for its programming.

Canal Plus warned that it would no longer carry TF1 channels after they announced that they would “fundamentally review” their commercial demands. The TF1 group of channels affected are some of the most popular viewing for many French people across France and the UK:

TF1, TFX, TF1 Series Films, TMC and LCI.

Over 2 million viewers are affected, who receive the channels by satellite, those using the terrestrial service or the satellite Fransat are unaffected.

In the resulting Paris Commercial court battle it is reported that Canal Plus said that TF1 had asked for “very substantial remuneration” for it’s free-to-air channels: TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films and LCI, however the court ruled on 22nd September that Canal+ did not have to comply with their demands.

Canal+ stated that they would resume broadcasting on TNTsat as soon as TF1 allows them to do so, at no cost, as per previous agreement.

TF1 has suffered its second significant blow in the space of a week, with the Paris Commercial Court ruling against it and the M6 – TF1 merger plans resulting in failure.

TF1 group is appealing the court’s decision, meanwhile, the viewers wait!

Molotov TV Loses battle to broadcast TF1

TF1 has denied OTT operator Molotov’s claim to have agreed the distribution of the commercial broadcaster’s free channels in its premium pay-TV tier following Molotov’s January 7 legal defeat in its battle to carry on making the services available free of charge to its users.

The verdict of the January 7th battle between TF1 and Molotov TV has been in TF1’s favour. It follows Molotov’s recent December 2021 failure against M6 in another legal battle.

Although claiming to have agreed on the distribution of the main French channels on the Molotov TV iptv network, the Paris Courts of Justice have denied them the right to do so.

As it had been broadcasting the TF1 Group’s channels since July 2019 without authorization. Molotov was ordered to pay €8.5 million in fines. Further, it has been ordered to stop the relay of TF1 programmes in their unencrypted form.

With M6, Molotov appears to have added the channel to its pay-tv list.

TF1’s other channels Ushuaia TV, Histoire TV, and TV Breizh have been put into ‘pending’ following the decision of the courts.

-information from Digital TV Europe

PC7 Cards are here

Yes its changeover time yet again. If you get a message on screen saying …

Then check with Fransat to see if it has expired, go to CARD CHECK

Note : Jan 2022, PC7 is the new card type

Currently I can supply old customers @ £60 and new customers @ £80

Please give your installation invoice number. IF you no longer have the invoice just email me.

Fransat, for reasons of maintaining security from piracy and broadcasting rights, use a system requiring a change of card every 4 years. In this way they can change the electronics of the card used and integrate the latest secure methods.

Its just a pity that the French do not simply adopt an FTA (free to air) policy like UK Freesat, Germany, Turkey and others, where the signals are unencrypted, equipment costs are minimized and legitimate viewers from those countries living abroad can see their programmes without jumping through so many hoops.

TF1 to get France’s First UHD Channel

French Channels with UHD 4k

The following are established 4k channels running programmes ( rather than demo channels ) 

Europe’s UHD Channels

There is a slow movement towards 4k TV throughout Europe. Italy has RAI 4k, Germany has several channels 

  • UHD 1
  • Pro 7 UHD Austria
  • RTL UHD
  • Sky Sport Bundesliga
  • Sky Sport 
  • QVC and QVC2
  • SES demo

Since 4k Tvs appeared in the High Street stores, around 2017, HD has been slipping down in market share, 4k has been gaining and by 2019 passed the 50% mark (in Germany passed the 75% ) of all new TV sales.

Picture quality attracts viewers, many Netflix customers go for the premium HD content, for example. Advertisers follow the same trend, quality allows them to sell more goods. And so the cycle goes around. 

The retention rate of customers is also higher, so broadcasters that adopt the new 4k systems early, get better customers and higher advertising rates.

World First 8k TV network

NHK the Japanese company became the first to launch the experimental 8k channel back in 2017, on the Eutelsat 12w satellite. For the tech readers they use DVB s2x modulation in 16APSK and HEVC encoding.

The resolution is 7680 pixels over 4320 lines !! with 10 billion colour depth !!

How to tune in TNT when using a multisatellite dish

Normally , with a single LNB dish, the default “Quick Install” in the Installation menu of any TNT box, is all that is required.

I have been asked a few times , what to do if your TNT box ( potentially any dedicated service box ) is connected to a multi satellite dish, via a diseqc switch ( LNB switch )

If the LNB for Astra 1 19.2 east satellite , is connected to the port 1 ( sometimes marked A or AA on diseqc 1.1 type switches ) then it will work as usual

If the Astra 1 satellite is on port 2,3,4 ( any other port than 1 ) then simply set it up first in the antenna settings

These instructions are for the Strong SRT 7404 , a very popular box, but will apply equally to all TNT boxes.

Strong TNT 7404  HD

Select Switch Type then “DiSEqC 1.0” or “Tone Burst” according to your switch type

Select Switch Input then “Port 2, 3 or 4” depending on the switch port through which you receive Astra 19.2

Save by pressing the “red” button on the remote control, then exit the menu to begin your search for TNTSAT channels

Select “Quick Install”

Press the “red” button on the remote control to start the search. Once completed, the SRT7404 will start on ch 1.

Updated 2022:

Tuning on the new range of receivers, Strong 7406

Strong TNT 7406 HD

Easy to use, complete with card, will record if USB disc is connected, will connect to old ( scart ) or new ( HDMI) type tvs.  Even has IR extension lead so the box  can be hidden away if required and the IR Infra Red remote control will still operate.  
Standard TNT Channel list: TF1: TF1, TFX, TF1 films series, CanalPlus: Canal+ ( en clair ), Cstar, Cnews, France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5,  France Ô, Arte, M6, C8, W9, Monte Carlo, NRJ12, LCP, BFM, Gulli, L’equipe, 23, RMC Decouverte, Cherie 25, 6Ter, LCI , FranceInfo, All the regional France3 channels. Plus : i24, RT France, France24, CCTV, TV5monde Europe, TV5 France Belgique Suisse, M6 Boutique, EuroNews  Almost all channels are now HD

However, when using this receiver for multi-satellite, the recent changes in the software of the box will prevent some channels from being viewed.

In particular, the Italian main channels, RAI 1 , 2 and 3 which are FTA (free to air) will not show.

Some German channels will be affected, but fortunately not the main ZDF and ARD channels

The Spanish free channels TVE and TVE news are unaffected.

A few Freesat channels, from the UK, though most remain ok.

In general, if your FTA channel shares a TP ( frequency ) with any Encrypted channel, it will not be viewable.

Fransat Satellite Replacement Launching 2019

The latest Eutelsat satellite, built by  Airbus Defence and Northrop Grumman,  has  been delivered on schedule  to the launch site at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. 

This is to be the awaited replacement  Eutelsat 5 west  B for the current Fransat satellite (A) 

On top of providing France’s second national coverage of tv by satellite, besides Astra 1 with TNT and Canal+ , Eutelsat 5wB will be assisting sat-nav app performance with its EGNOS system – linked with GPS and Galileo.

Other TV on the Eutelsat satellite, includes the Italian channels, currently free to air , for users with multi-stream capable tuners.

The satellite is due to come into service in Jan 2020 and has 35 transponders, which will become active over several months

BIS Card Update for 2019

In order to make sure that any BIS subscriber can now get access to the service they paid for, it is now compulsory to provide, along with the smart card number, the brand and model of the receiver or CAM being used . The activation or renewal will be confirmed only with the compatible equipment listed below:

– For those using Fransat licenced products, refer to the list of Fransat payTV compliant products below

ALDEN SATMATIC HD ASTON XENA hd TWIN CONNECT ASTON MAYA CONNECT HD ASTON MAYA HD TWIN CONNECT ASTON MEOSAT HD CONNECT ASTRELL 013143 ASTRELL 013143.3 CAHORS TVS 7800 HD2 CAHORS VEOX HD CAHORS VEOX 2VA CGV E-SAT HD W3 CGV E-SAT HD W4 DIGIHOME DSF300 HD DIGITRONIC DF650 HD ENGEL RS1020 ESSENTIEL B SIMPLY HD CONNECT FREESAT TSF8600 HDU FUJIONKYO F8600 HD FUJIONKYO F8700 HD HUMAX FR1000 HD IDHD IDHD CONNECT LENSON LD2400 HD LENSON LD2500 HD LENSON LD2520 HD LISTO F-155 HD METRONIC TERBOX HD CONNECT 441666 METRONIC TERBOX HD 441667 METRONIC TERBOX 3 HD 441664 PHILIPS DSR 3031F PHILIPS DSR 3331 F CONNECt SEDEA SF4100 HD SEDEA SF4200 HD SERVIMAT SIRIUS HD SERVIMAT TSF8600 HDU SERVIMAT VIAGGIO HD STARCOM 9947 HD STARCOM 9985 HD CONNECT STRONG SRT 7405 HD TECHWOOD TK25FHD01B TECHWOOD TK30FHD02B TECSAT TFH9700 HD PVR TECSAT TFH9900 HD TELEFUNKEN TSF HD 2300 B TELEFUNKEN TSF HD 3000 B THOMSON THS805 HD TRIAX THC 1000 TRIAX THR 7500 HD TRIAX THR 7600 TRIAX THR 7610 WISI OR06 HD WISI OR07 HD

These Ci modules are fully compatible:

CGV E.MOD 1.3 ESSENTIEL B MINI-DECODEUR SIMPLY HD

NEOTION MODULE NOUVELLE GéNéRATION CI plus 1.3

METRONIC CAMSAT HD 441652

SEDEA MODULE CI plus 1.3

The White cards ( BOM) will no longer be available and have been replaced with prepaid cards, which can only be activated online, again please provide ALL necessary equipment details when activating these.

Fransat Card Updates 2019

All Fransat Customers...

Please check your Fransat Card now!  If you have the latest card PC6 no action is required.  If you have the PC5 Card you need to update to the latest version PC6 before 15th April or you will not be able to view your Fransat channels.

The reason for the update is to bring all decoders up to date with the latest Viaccess Secure encryption type VO (Orca). After 15th April support for the old encryption “viaccess” will be switched off.

The serial numbers of the cards that need to be changed are between

333 53 XX XXX  and 333 58 XX XXX.    ( X is any number )

The cards expiring clearly state the issue PC5   also the old encryption type “Viaccess” , is now updated with “VO  or Viaccess Orca” encryption, on the PC6 cards , which has been better able to stop the card hackers.

It looks like Fransat have decided to go for the same 4 year model as TNT , so in future all cards will need to be renewed on a 4 year basis. 

Cards will be available from us, drop me an email at 

info@satellitetveurope.co.uk

or via our contact form on Frenchchannels.co.uk

Aston Maya gets new Multistream tuners

Yesterday  I installed the latest version of the twin  tuner Fransat box from Aston – the Maya twin connect.  Surprise surprise ! The new box has the multistream  tuners fitted and the Italian channels  from Eutelsat came through just  fine. I did the quick tune procedure straight out of the box and the Italian channels were  available in the  bouquet list.

  • Fransat HD
  • BIS
  • Italia

Channels include 

Rai 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Rai Sport, Rai Scuola, Rai Storia
Rai Gulp, Rai Yoyo, Rai Premium
Rai News, Rai 3 regional channels
Rete 4, Canale 5 and many more….

 

For a complete list of the Italian  multistream channels, broadcast without encryption –  kingofsat.net

TV5 Monde and Subtitles

TV5 Monde has undergone many recent changes. I am frequently asked about the subtitles available, now that Sky and Virgin no longer supply these popular channels. TV5 monde Europe and TV5 monde France Belgique Suisse ARE available on other satellites quite easily.  Here is my guide to whats on each satellite:

HD /SD High Def/Standard Def.  subtitles are either the usual DVB type or the older Teletext block characters marked TXT

Astra 1 (19.2east)

Tuning 11538 V 22000 SD free to air

DVB Subs French, English, German, Spanish, Russian, Romanian

TXT subs French, English

Tuning : 12129  V  DVB-S2 8PSK 29700 HD free to air

DVB Subs: French only

Hotbird (13east)

Tuning: 11137H 27500 sd free to air

DVB Subs French, English, German, Spanish, Russian, Romanian

TXT subs French, English

 

*** 2020 UPDATE !! ***

TV5 MONDE is longer available on Hotbird please switch to Astra.

Eutelsat (9 east)

Tuning : 12092 H dVB-S2 8PSK 27500  free to air

DVB French only

Eutelsat (5 west) FRANSAT

Tuning : 10971 V DVB-S2 8PSK 29950  Fransat encrypted

DVB French only

Hellas 3 (39 east)

Tuning: 12241 H DVB-S2 QPSK 13381  HD free to air

No Subtitles

Tuning: 12688  V   DVB-S QPSK 30000 Encrypted (Dolce) Romania

DVB Subs Romanian only

RMC Sports Now on Fransat

RMC is now live  on Fransat, easy to activate and no contract. 

You can buy just one  month, try it out and purchase 1,3 or 12 months if you like it.  Super Sports bundle, English Premier League, Champions League, French Ligue, Bundesliga, Formula One, tennis……….