French TV available on Cox

TV5USA, a division of the French television station TV5Monde, will now be available in the Acadiana area through Cox Digital and Dish Network. The station offers French programming in films, sports, news and documentaries.

“Our station reflects on different French speaking regions throughout the world,” says TV5Monde COO, Patrice Courtaban. “We recognize Louisiana’s French heritage and feel that many will appreciate our programming.”

TV5Monde is a public station, which promotes programming from French speaking countries such as Canada, Belgium, Switzerland and France. Recently, the station has covered Festivals International in Lafayette and ran a program entitled, “Portraits of Cajun People.”

“We’d like to do more programming set in Louisiana because of its rich culture,” says Courtaban. “We want to encourage people of the area to begin speaking French again.”

According to Courtaban, many teachers of French immersion programs in American schools are using the channel to help with teaching. The program is called, “Teach and Learn” and offers students an opportunity to hear the many different accents of French speakers.

Approximately one hundred thousand households in the Acadiana region have access to TV5USA. Although most programs are in French, seventy percent of the prime time programming will be sub-titled in English. Courtaban hopes to increase the percentage of shows with sub-titles as TV5USA expands across the U.S.

TV5USA is now offered as part of Cox Digital’s sports and information package and Dish Network’s international package. The channel might also be available with other cable and satellite providers as a premium option. For more information on the different programs offered on TV5USA, check out their website at www.tv5.org/usa