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English Language Radio in France
English language radio in France is a fairly recent phenomenen but has thrived in ex-pat communities like the Cote d'Azur and popular holiday destinations like the Alps. As a proud race of people, the French are very protective of their culture and language and have not failed to note the creeping influx of Anglo-Saxon erosion.So much so, that, in 1994, a new law was brought in requring radio broadcasters in France (including English language radio stations) to play a minimum of 40% of their music in French. As such, a number of thriving stations, like Riviera Radio have decided to locate just across the border in nearby Monaco or Geneva.
FACT: France alone has more than one and a half million resident English speakers, and that number continues to increase by around 200,000 people each year.
Frequency: 106.5 FM/106.3FM Located in: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Coverage: "From Menton to St Tropez". French Riviera, Western Italian Riviera
About: Music (60s/70s/80s/90s/Contemporary), News, Weather, Lifestyle, Community, Sport, Travel. Celebrating its 21st birthday this year, Riviera Radio circumvents French government restriction on playing non-French music by being based just across the border in Monte Carlo. Broadcasts BBC news and French local news in the English language. One of the most popular and largest English-speaking radio stations in Europe.
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Frequency: 100.5/100.7/100.9 FM Located in: Monte Carlo, Monaco Coverage: French Riviera, Western Italian Riviera
About: Music (70s/80s/90s), News, Weather, Travel. "Unlike most radio stations who serve a steady stream of fast paced excitement geared toward the young, Radio International offers a sophisticated program of music that is familiar to people between 30 and 65 years of age and comfortable to listen to." Broadcasts BBC World Service News in the mornings until 09:00.
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The Rock of the Riviera 
Frequency: 88.4FM Located in: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Coverage: French Riviera, Western Italian Riviera, Monaco
About: Classic Rock (50s/60s/70s/80s/90s/Contemporary). The station is co-owned along with Radio International. The Rock features classic rock - "the all-time best selling hits of Rock -- from Chuck Berry and Elvis, through the Stones, Beatles, Zeppelin, Van Halen, on up to Coldplay, Nickleback and Staind."
Website: n/a Listen to: n/a Contact: For 'Contact' use rock@radiointernational.net
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Frequency: 88.8 FM (Geneva - {Lake Léman region including: Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux, Switzerland}, Annemasse, Douvaine, Ferney-Voltaire, Evian, Gex, Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, Thonon-les-Bains, France), 88.1 FM (Annecy and adjacent lake area), 89.8 FM (Faverges, Seythenex), 99.7 FM Bellegarde,Cruseilles, Frangy, Seyssel), 87.8 FM (Chamonix, Argentière, Vallorcine), 87.7 FM (Châtel et Chapelle d'Abondance), 91.6 FM (Oyonnax). DAB 1463.232 MHz (block LG) in Paris and Lyon. Satellite See Radio 74 Frequencies
Located in: Haute-Savoie (4 miles South of Geneva)
Coverage: Northwest Alps (France), Haute-Savoie & Ain, Adjacent French-speaking Switzerland:
About: Educational, News, Public affairs, Religion, Culture, Talk. The first English-language radio station in France, set up in 1982. Operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Essentially a bilingual english-french educational radio network, oriented towards news and serious topics with thought-provoking conversation and interviews rather than entertainment. It is licensed by French authorities as a not-for-profit, educational and cultural station. It must derive most of its income from voluntary listener contributions.
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Frequency: 648 MW in many regions of France Located in: London, UK
Available: Throughout most of the world
About: Educational, news, public affairs, culture. For international news, analysis & information in English and 32 other languages. For exact frequencies, please see BBC World Schedule
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English Language Programming is also available at certain times, on the following local /regional networks:
Frequency: 96.1FM Located in: Riberac, Dordogne Coverage: Dordogne
About: Offers news in English Mon-Fri 12:15 & 19:30. English program "Do you speak English" and "Rock Show" Thurs 13:15-15:15 and a 2 hour talk and music programme in English every Friday from 12:30 to 14:30.
"Rock Show" repeated Friday nights 20:30-21:30.
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Frequency: 107.7FM Located in: Carrefour Ste-Anne Vedène Coverage: Throughout France
About: Traffic & Travel. Provides listeners with accurate real-time traffic information. A complete bulletin on driving conditions, traffic, weather and road works every half hour in English, and in French at all other times.
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Frequency: 90.8 FM Located in: Saint Martin d’Hères
Coverage: Grenoble, French Alps
About: English language broadcast for news and chat on Wednesday evenings (18:00-18:30) and Sunday mornings (11:00-11:30).
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The following English/French Language radio stations specifically target English speakers in the French Alps. Please note that these stations may only broadcast during ski season:
Frequency: 93.2 FM Located in: Courchevel Coverage: French Alps
About: News, weather and piste information in English and French with music through the night.
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Radio Tignes 
Frequency: 92.2 FM Located in: Tignes Coverage: French Alps
About: During the ski season international news, weather, travel and the latest ski/piste information are forecast in the English and French languages.
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Frequency: 98.9 FM in Meribel and 97.9 FM in Moûtiers
Located in: Tignes Coverage: French Alps
About: Run by a team of volunteers, Radio Meribel broadcasts from 7:30am to 1:30pm and in the evening from 5pm to 7pm with full details of what's going on in and around Meribel. There are lift, piste, weather reports, What's On Today and international news programmes in both English and French throughout the day. There are also traffic and travel updates. There is music through the night.
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Frequency: 96.1 FM Located in: Val d’Isère Coverage: French Alps
About: English language broadcasts between 08.00 - 09.30 with regular weather bulletins (in French and English) and the latest lift and piste reports.
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Also available are the following Online English Language radio stations specifically targetting English speakers Internet-users in France:
Frequency: Online & SW/MW (Listeners in the Paris region can hear programmes at 07h00, 14h30 and 16h30 UT on 738 MW). Located in: Paris Coverage: Throughout France
About: News, Talk, General. Radio France Internationale broadcasts mainly in French, but also offers several foreign language services. One of the largest foreign language serivices is the English Service, aimed mainly at Southern Africa and Kenya, but with programmes for the Middle East and South Asia as well. RFI broadcasts morning news, lunchtime, afternoon and early evening programmes: RFI's English service broadcasts for five and a half hours a day. Programme listing is available here: RFI Schedule
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Frequency: Online Located in: UK Available: Throughout France
About: English-language on-line radio broadcasts daily, 24 hours. "Programming is tailored specifically to expatriates in France and includes interviews with various legal, tax and property specialists and a weekend special of 60s and 70s music." A radio station that guides people through all apsects of expat life "from comedy to cookery and from health to holidays."
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Frequency: Online Located in: UK Available: Throughout the world, online
About: News, Talk, Music, Community. English-language non-commercial radio. "WRP is a non profit organisation founded in 2003 by English speakers living in France. WRP broadcasts quality radio programming 24 hours a day in Paris. WRP offers the best international shows from the BBC and National Public Radio in the USA as well as locally produced programmes of great interest to English speakers. WRP airs the best music mix in Paris: a blend of Smooth Jazz, contemporary adult pop, favorite oldies and a selection of the latest soft hits from both sides of the Atlantic, well before they get released in France. Listeners pay a 50 euro yearly fee, which gives them the title of "association member" and the right to elect some of the board members. This democratic way of functionning gives listeners a say in WRP's content and policies." This is the city's first and only English speaking radio station serving the needs of its 400,000 English-speaking expatriates.
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A number of International broadcasters also broadcast, in part, or entirely, English language programming - which are available in countries across the world. A list of these can be found here
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