ARTE is the Franco-German public service channel, jointly run from Strasbourg by broadcasters in France and Germany, and its streaming service arte.tv is free to use. arte.tv carries documentaries, films, series, concerts and magazine shows, with a strong cultural and current-affairs focus.
The full catalogue is available in France and Germany, and around 85 percent of the content can be watched elsewhere in the EU, with subtitles in several European languages. For anyone who wants serious, ad-free European programming without a subscription, it is one of the best options on the continent.