Inside

Television, Satellite and Cable TV in Luxembourg

Getting to grips with TV standards in Luxembourg, the different cable and digital TV options, understanding where and how to pay the cable TV fees, and what's available to the TV viewer in Luxembourg.

The television transmission standard in Luxembourg is PAL. In order for foreign television sets to work in the country, they should be compatible with this standard. There are three main television/video standards in use throughout the world.

NTSC: used in the USA, Canada, Japan and some other countries
PAL: used in most of Western Europe, Australasia and South Africa
SECAM: used in France, Africa and Eastern Europe

The three systems are not compatible with each other. It is not possible to watch television on an NTSC or SECAM appliance, or to use DVD or video players which are configured for these systems. Multi-standard TVs will be compatible with PAL (or NTSC) video recorders, DVD players, games consoles and other video equipment.

Television sets sold in Luxembourg and neighbouring countries can use both PAL and SECAM, but it is worth confirming before purchasing. Second-hand televisions bought in France and manufactured before 1994 are unlikely to work in Luxembourg.

In addition, not all PAL systems are equivalent. A UK-purchased PAL TV might not work in Luxembourg, depending on the age, the make and the model of the device.

All new TV sets now sold in Luxembourg are digital and conform to HD standards. Some TV sets are also compatible for 3D movies.

Luxembourg Television and Radio

RTL is the biggest private pan-European television and radio broadcaster, based in Luxembourg. It provides several French and German language TV channels, as well as a Luxembourgish-language channel.

RTL Lëtzebuerg has programming and news in Luxembourgish. Some programmes are bilingual; with some comments or interviews in French, German and sometimes in English.

Television Licence Fees

There is no public television and therefore no licence fee in Luxembourg.

Cable and Digital Television

Most Luxembourg households are connected to cable TV, with over 80 television and 40 radio channels available in French, German, English, Italian, Portuguese and other languages. English-language TV channels include BBC World, CNBC and Eurosport.

The major cable companies in Luxembourg are:

Eltrona (in French)
Tel: 49 94 66-1
Numericable (formerly Coditel) (in French)
At: 17 rue de Chimay, Luxembourg
Tel: 26 10 23 01
Customer service Tel: 34 93 93-1

Some Communes have an agreement with the cable operator; in this case the subscription procedure varies depending on whether the invoicing is carried out by the Commune or the company itself. Subscription can be organised online, by telephone or at one of the company's sales outlets. The cable TV fee is sometimes referred to as “antenne collective”.

Satellite TV

A large majority of households are connected to cable TV, although satellite TV is now widely used among the expatriate community. It is possible to have a satellite dish installed with the permission of the landlord in rented accommodation.