Arte is a French-German TV network, which facilities are located in Strasbourg, that aims to promote quality programming related to the world of arts and culture.

Because it is a joint international venture, programs are created in such a way as to be equally watchable from both countries. This implies double-titling, not unlike walking eg. Brussels streets, opposite-language subtitling and dubbing, hosts speaking both languages alternatively and generally two separate audio tracks (only one is available over the air in France, but either one can be selected on satellite television and digital cable).

Programming remains relatively hermitic and elitist, and is sometimes the subject of popular jokes.

Arte has started in 1992, under the socialist rule, filling frequencies left unused by the demise of La Cinq , the first French commercial television network (created in 1986). Arte has survived the 1993 transition to a right-wing government in spite of some fears, and quite a number of later changes too.

Programs are created by La Sept (theoretically La Société d'édition des programmes de télévision, but also a word play, given that the name intuitively means the seventh network and indeed La Sept existed while the fifth network was still La Cinq; it allegedly made satellite programs at the time) and by ARTE Deutschland Gmbh , a subsidiary of the two main public German TV networks ARD and ZDF.

In France, programming is available permanently on cable, but over the air only in the evening, as France 5 operates the frequencies during the day.

Arte is more popular in France (market share of about 5%) than in Germany (about 1%).

Note

1 Source Médiamétrie