You can watch France 24 English live for free on france24.com, on the official France 24 English YouTube channel and in the free France 24 app. In the UK it is on Freeview, Freely, Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media. In the US it streams on Sling Freestream and, from October 2026, through a new PBS deal that lets member stations carry it. Here is where to find it on every platform as of October 2026, plus a guide to the daily schedule.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- France 24 English streams free on france24.com, YouTube and the France 24 app.
- In the UK it is on Freeview, Freely, Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
- In the US it is on Sling Freestream and, from October 2026, some PBS member stations.
About France 24
France 24 went on air on 6 December 2006 as France’s answer to international news channels like the BBC and CNN. It is run by France Médias Monde, a public company fully owned by the French state. Its studios and newsroom are in Issy-les-Moulineaux, on the southwest edge of Paris.
The network runs four 24-hour channels: French, English, Arabic and Spanish. The Spanish service launched in 2017 and is based in Bogotá. France 24 is publicly funded. Since France abolished its TV licence fee in 2022, that money has come from a share of VAT revenue.
The English channel is its own live service with its own anchors, not a dubbed version of the French one. It runs news bulletins every half hour, mixed with debates, interviews and reports. The tone is calm and international, with stronger coverage of France, Europe, Africa and the Middle East than most English-language channels.
Ways to watch France 24 English live
France 24 tries to be available almost everywhere at no cost to viewers. The table sums up the main options.
| Platform | Region | Cost | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| france24.com live stream | Most countries | Free | “Live” section of the English site |
| YouTube (France 24 English) | Most countries | Free | Live video on the verified channel |
| France 24 app | Most countries | Free | iPhone, iPad, Mac (Apple silicon), Android |
| Freeview | UK | Free (internet-connected TV or box) | Channel 255 |
| Freely | UK | Free | Channel 306 |
| Freesat and Sky | UK | Free / part of package | Freesat 205, Sky 512 |
| Virgin Media | UK | Part of package | Channel 624 |
| Samsung TV Plus | UK and several EU countries | Free with ads | Built into Samsung smart TVs |
| Sling Freestream | US | Free with ads | Sling app, no subscription needed |
| PBS member stations | US | Free | Digital subchannels and PBS streaming platforms at participating stations |
Channel numbers are from France 24’s own “how to watch” directory as of October 2026. They can change after retunes, so check your guide if the channel is not where you expect.
Online: website, YouTube and app
The quickest way in is the free live stream on france24.com. It plays in a browser with no account. France 24 has also streamed its channels live on YouTube since October 2014, and the English channel’s live video runs around the clock on its verified YouTube page.
The official France 24 app, published by France Médias Monde, carries live streams in all four languages, plus on-demand reports. The App Store version runs on iPhone, iPad and Apple-silicon Macs, and there is an Android version on Google Play. The Apple listing shows no in-app purchases.
Watch France 24 English live in the UK
UK viewers have more choice than most. France 24 English arrived on Freeview in early 2024 as a streamed channel, so you need a TV or box connected to the internet as well as an aerial. It sits on channel 255. It is also on Freely, the newer streaming-based platform, at channel 306, and other language feeds are grouped on Freely channel 556.
Satellite viewers find it on Freesat 205 and Sky 512, and Virgin Media cable customers on 624. Samsung TV owners can also open it free in Samsung TV Plus, where France 24 launched its first FAST channel in December 2023. That channel carries the full linear English programming. Remember that UK viewers need a TV Licence to watch any channel live, including free streams.
Watch France 24 English live in the US
For American viewers, the YouTube stream and the france24.com player are the simplest routes. France 24 has also grown its US reach through Sling Freestream, Sling’s free ad-supported tier, which needs no paid subscription.
The biggest recent change came in October 2026. PBS signed a distribution deal that lets its member stations offer a France 24 English livestream on their digital platforms and carry it as a broadcast subchannel. Not every station will join, and no start date or station list was announced. If you use an antenna, rescan your TV in the coming months and check your local PBS station’s channel guide.
France 24 has also been carried by some cable and satellite companies over the years, including Dish Network, and an hour of its English news has aired on nonprofit channels such as Free Speech TV and Link TV. Check current listings with your provider.
Watch France 24 English live elsewhere in the world
France 24 English is free-to-air on several satellites, including Astra and Hotbird for Europe and Arabsat for the Middle East and North Africa. Many cable and IPTV operators around the world carry it too. France 24’s how-to-watch directory lists the options country by country.
Coming soon: the NewsLive streaming app. We’re building one subscription for live international news on Android, Roku, Fire TV and desktop. The service is under development — follow NewsLive for launch updates.
Picking the best way to watch France 24 English live
With so many free routes, the right one depends on how you watch.
Picking the right screen makes France 24 English live easier to follow all day.
- On a phone or tablet: the France 24 app is the cleanest choice. You can switch between the English, French, Arabic and Spanish streams in a couple of taps, which helps language learners.
- On a laptop or desktop: open the live player on france24.com or the YouTube channel. Both work in any up-to-date browser.
- On a Samsung TV: look in Samsung TV Plus first, where it is available in the UK and much of Europe. Otherwise, use the YouTube app.
- On Roku, Fire TV or Google TV: YouTube is the most dependable route. In the US, the free Sling app with Freestream is another option.
- With an antenna in the UK: use Freeview 255, as long as your TV is online. In the US, watch for PBS stations adding France 24 as a subchannel.
Whichever you choose, stick with official sources. Unofficial uploads of “France 24 live” often loop old footage or get removed in the middle of a story.
The France 24 English schedule
France 24 English is organized into long anchored blocks, each with headlines every 30 minutes. Times below are Paris time (CET in winter, CEST in summer) for the regular Monday to Thursday line-up. Paris is usually six hours ahead of US Eastern time. Weekend blocks run on different hours, and breaking news can change any slot.
Check the schedule if you plan to watch France 24 English live for a specific show.
| Paris time (Mon–Thu) | Block |
|---|---|
| 6am–9am | Day Break |
| 9am–noon | The World Today |
| Noon–3pm | Paris Direct |
| 3pm–6pm | Around the World |
| 6pm–8pm | World View |
| 8pm–10pm | Prime News Paris |
| 10pm–midnight | World Roundup |
| Midnight–6am | Night Watch |
Programmes worth knowing
- The France 24 Debate: the channel’s flagship current affairs show, hosted by François Picard since 2010. Each edition puts a panel with different viewpoints on one of the day’s big stories.
- Half-hourly bulletins: every block opens and refreshes with world headlines, so you can tune in at almost any time and catch up quickly.
- Reports and magazines: shorter features on culture, business, the environment and Africa fill the gaps between bulletins.
For the exact running order on a given day, check the program guide on france24.com.
How France 24 compares
France 24 sits in the same group as other publicly funded international channels, such as DW, the BBC’s international service and Al Jazeera English. It stands out for coverage of French politics and Francophone Africa, and for its debate format. If you like it, you may also enjoy DW News live from Berlin or Euronews in English.
Our round-up of European news channels in English compares all of them. If you mainly want free options, read free vs paid live news streaming. Roku users can follow our guide to international news channels on Roku.
See also: Lula’s runoff win and Bolsonaro’s challenge, explained.
See also: why French students are protesting and what Paris has offered.
Frequently asked questions
Is France 24 English live free to watch?
Yes. France 24 streams its English channel free on france24.com, on YouTube and in its own app. It is publicly funded by France, so there is no subscription. UK viewers still need a TV Licence to watch live TV.
What channel is France 24 on Freeview?
France 24 English is on Freeview channel 255, as of October 2026. It is a streamed channel, so your TV or box must be connected to the internet. On Freely it is channel 306.
How can I watch France 24 in the USA?
Use the france24.com live stream, the France 24 English YouTube channel or the free app. It is also on Sling Freestream. Under an October 2026 deal, some PBS member stations will add it to their digital platforms and broadcast subchannels.
Who owns France 24?
France 24 belongs to France Médias Monde, which is wholly owned by the French state. It is funded with public money, now drawn from VAT revenue since France scrapped its licence fee in 2022.
Is France 24 English the same as the French channel?
No. The English channel has its own anchors, bulletins and debates, produced in English from the Paris newsroom. The four language channels share reporters and resources but run separate schedules.
Where is France 24 based?
France 24’s headquarters and studios are in Issy-les-Moulineaux, just outside Paris. The Spanish-language channel operates from Bogotá, Colombia.
Sources
- France 24: How to watch in the United Kingdom
- App Store: France 24 – World News 24/7
- The Desk: PBS adds France 24 English to digital streaming line-up
- AIB: France 24 launches its first FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus
- RXTV Info: New way to watch France 24 on Freely
- Digital TV Europe: France 24 lands on Freeview UK
- Wikipedia: France 24
- Wikipedia: François Picard (journalist)
