The market in France regarding satellite channels is rather more confusing than in the UK, with various companies providing different combinations of free and subscription channels.

The free channels are available on Fransat at 5 degs west. If you want more choice, then there is TNTSat on 19.2 degs east, which also offers a subscription service with Canalsat, plus other free channels being broadcast on a satellite at 13 degs east and another company offering subscription channels but I can't remember the name!!

Problem is that as far as a I can gather, no one satellite has all the channels.

If you just want the French free channels, then Fransat on the 5 degs west satellite is the best choice, but if you want UK and French on a single dish then buy a Canalsat receiver and use the satellite at 19.2 degs with an extra LNB for the UK freesat channels.

If you are in a digital terrestrial area then that may be the simplest option for the free French channels.

Another easy option is to get TV as part of the internet package through Orange or SFR - we get the free channels that way and there are also a number of paid-for options for the extra or special interest channels, plus pay per view films etc.

Thats true, but at the moment we can't receive the TV channels via our Internet connection even though it is part of the package, so it is advisable to check that first.

Thanks Martin, very helpful. I'll try antennae route first; I only want the main French channels at the moment to help with French language. Radio is a pain, as like UK it is fast speech. But options you indicate are good.
We have internet via SFR, so an upgrade to include TV may be a way forward. Worth checking cost and availability/reliability.

I have SFR package but the phone lines are not fast enough for tv reception via Neufbox and I live in a large town with new(ish) phone lines. In the countryside you probably have no chance of tv via Neufbox.
If you have a neighbour without an internet connection go on to the Internet Provider's site (SFR or Orange or Darty) and they let you check what services you can get, Use the neighbour's phone number (if you dont pay line rental to FT. What is the word? Is it degroupé?) and check availability. If they can get TV then you should be able to also.
I check from time-to-time in the vain hope that I can add TV to my Neufbox

After a false start using the Metronic box, I have now disconnected same and put coax directly into back of the LCD TV. Having programmed Metronic box before on earlier TV, it picked up channels, then broadcast them via new TV. Also having fathomed the new TV menu and massive options list, I have 32 channels stored, though some not available as scrambled. No radio though, although search was for digital and analogue via the antennae. Canal is there, but other Canal and Eurosport scrambled.
For ease I have the on screen language as English, but have set subtitle as French, which I hope will help wiuth language learning.
Picture quality is high, given it is an antennae, though more modern than many I see.
I may try to have French and BBC TV on simultaneously for the rugby on Saturday, just to see the difference in coverage.