TV in English and French: A Guide for Bilingual Households

One home, two languages

Across Canada, many homes live in both official languages. In Québec, New Brunswick, Ottawa and francophone communities everywhere, one parent may follow the news in French while the other prefers English, and the kids switch between both depending on the show. Finding TV that suits everyone, without paying for two of everything, is the real challenge.

How traditional TV handles two languages

With cable or satellite, the base package is usually built around one language. Channels in the other language often come as an extra pack, at an extra monthly price. For a bilingual home, that can mean paying for a large English package and a French pack on top, while watching only part of each.

How IPTV changes the picture

An IPTV plan delivers its full channel list over the internet, in one app. When a plan includes both English and French channels, there is nothing to add: everyone in the house uses the same subscription, on any TV, in the language they prefer.

Boreal IPTV plans include French-language channels for news, sports and entertainment, together with English Canadian, US and international channels, at the same price as the rest of Canada. Our IPTV Québec page has more details, and a French version for the francophone members of the family.

Organising English and French channels

A long channel list in two languages can feel crowded. Most IPTV player apps offer tools to tidy it up:

• Favourites: mark the channels each person uses. Some apps let you create several favourite lists, such as one in English and one in French.
• Groups and categories: channels are often grouped by country or language. Hide the groups nobody watches.
• Profiles: some players support separate profiles, so each person sees their own lists.
• The TV guide: filter the guide by your favourites, so it only shows the channels you care about. Our TV guide article explains how the guide works.

The exact options depend on the player app. If you want a player that handles favourites and profiles well, ask us when you set up your trial.

Second audio languages

Some channels and some movies offer more than one audio track. In many players, you can press the audio or options button during playback to switch between languages when a second track is available. Availability varies by channel and by program, so do not count on it for every show, but it is worth checking for movies and sports.

Keeping the kids' language strong

For many parents, TV is a simple way to keep the second language alive at home. A few habits help:

• Create a kids' favourite list with cartoons and youth channels in both languages.
• Pick one language for weekend movie night, and alternate.
• Use on-demand movies and series in French or English, so the kids can watch at their own hours.

Families who recently moved to Canada can find more ideas in our guide for newcomers.

When everyone wants a different language at once

If one parent watches the French news in the living room while the kids watch an English show in the basement, that is two screens at the same time. Count your busiest hour and choose a plan for that number. Our article on watching IPTV on several TVs explains how screen limits work.