TMC (TV channel)

TMC (originally short for Télé Monte-Carlo) is a Franco–Monégasque general entertainment television channel, owned by the French media holding company Groupe TF1.

History
The second oldest private channel in Europe (after Télé-Sarre, which was launched a year earlier), TMC was launched in 1954 on Monaco's national day, inaugurated by Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. During its first years, their headquarters was temporarily located on the premises of Radio Monte-Carlo, with a TV studio equipped with a telecine designed by Henri de France. From there, TMC broadcast its programming to the south of France from Menton, east of Marseille.

Two years later, in April 1956, TMC produced its first Eurovision broadcast, the wedding of Prince Rainier III and American actress Grace Kelly.

In 1984, as a result of an agreement between Prince Rainier III and the French President François Mitterrand, TMC was able to be broadcast as far west as Montpellier, France, tripling its coverage (three million potential viewers).

In 1987, the channel was carried for a few hours on M6, a French television service — which made it available to a greater part of France — and the channel was eventually carried by CanalSat and became available in all of France and the Indian Ocean area. The channel also won a spot on the French language digital terrestrial television scheme, demonstrating its wide appeal.

The channel was owned jointly by the TF1 Group (40%), the AB Groupe (40%) and the Government of Monaco (20%). In 2010, TF1 Group bought AB Group's shares, and in June 2016 became the sole shareholder of the channel after acquiring the Government of Monaco's shares.

Until 1995, TMC was a member of the European Broadcasting Union as a part of Radio Monte-Carlo (RMC). Until 2022, the Monégasque membership was held by Groupement de Radiodiffuseurs Monégasques (GRMC), a joint organisation comprising Monte-Carlo Radiodiffusion (RMC) and Radio Monte Carlo (RMC).

Since October 2022, TMC, as well as the free DTT channels of the TF1 Group, have been accessible free to air via the Astra 1 satellite. This broadcast follows a temporary interruption in encrypted broadcasting for Canal+ and TNTSAT subscribers following a commercial dispute. However, despite the resumption of encrypted broadcasts within the Canal+ and TNTSAT packages, this free-to-air broadcasting continues. TMC is therefore received free of charge in almost all of Continental Europe and the North African countries.

Programming
TMC shows a variety of programmes, including many imports. It also produces much original programming that include news magazines, cooking shows, and talk shows, including:


 * SUD: A cultural programme focusing on Monaco and the South of France, aired every Sunday.
 * Monacoscope: A weekly summary programme presenting the latest news of politics, sports and the monarchy of Monaco, aired every Saturday.
 * TMC Info: A programme presenting the latest news of politics, sports and the monarchy of Monaco, airs daily.
 * Notre région: A news magazine focussing on political, cultural and economic news of the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

TV shows

 * Downton Abbey
 * Saving Grace
 * Les filles d'à côté
 * Undercover Boss
 * MacGyver
 * The A-Team
 * Law & Order
 * Alarm für Cobra 11 - Die Autobahnpolizei
 * Army Wives
 * Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
 * Eleventh Hour
 * Agatha Christie's Poirot
 * The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes
 * The Return of Sherlock Holmes
 * Agatha Christie's Marple
 * The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
 * Une femme d'honneur
 * Life
 * Psych
 * ''Monk
 * Sherlock Yack: Zoo Detective

Association football

 * FIFA
 * FIFA World Cup qualification until 2022 (selected UEFA team (excluding France team) matches (shared with TFX, W9, and L'Équipe), France matches live on TF1 (including finals tournament) and M6)
 * FIFA Women's World Cup (selected matches at the finals tournament only, co-licensed with Canal+)
 * UEFA until 2022 (except for Men's Nations League and Women's Champions League until 2021)
 * Men's
 * UEFA European Championship (selected qualifiers not involving France team only (shared with TFX, W9, and L'Équipe), selected qualifiers and finals (including France team matches) live on TF1 and M6)
 * UEFA Nations League (selected matches (including Finals and excluding France team) (shared with L'Équipe (group stage only), TFX, and W9), France matches live on TF1 and M6)
 * Friendly matches (selected matches (including one France team in June 2019) (shared with TFX, W9 and L'Équipe), France matches live on TF1 and M6)
 * Women's
 * UEFA European Championship (selected matches at the finals tournament only, co-licensed with Canal+)
 * UEFA Champions League (final only, licensed from Canal+)

Motorsport

 * Formula 1 (Monaco GP only, French GP and other two races live on TF1, licensed from Canal+)

Rugby

 * Rugby World Cup (shared with TF1 in 2019)

Handball

 * IHF Men's and Women's World Championships (France matches at the finals tournament that not aired by TF1 only (if qualified) until 2025, licensed from beIN Sports)
 * EHF Men's and Women's European Championships (France matches at the finals tournament that not aired by TF1 only (if qualified) until 2024, licensed from beIN Sports)

Tennis

 * Davis Cup (France matches only from 2019 Finals, licensed from beIN Sports)