Being an expat in a non-English speaking country always usually presents its challenges in terms any television-viewing experience. TV time is meant to be relaxing, a way to kick back, unwind and not have to think (especially in another language). Therefore, if your only free viewing options of your favorite programs were to be in dubbed-over Castellano or Catalan, it would not be uncommon to have a meltdown!
However, the good news is that as of April 2010, Spain made the switch from analog television to TDT, also known as televisión digital terrestre (terrestrial digital television). The quality of TDT is much higher than analog (both image and sound), and the number of free channels for viewing have now increased by almost four times. Perhaps one of the biggest pluses for foreign residents is the option of being able to watch imported programs in their original language. Although this service is not currently offered by all the digital channels (Td8 still shows many dubbed-over imports) there are enough original version shows to satisfy any English-speaking TV addict.
While the channels are free, there is one catch – the TDT signal/set-up is not. You will need to ensure that: a) your building or home has a TDT receiver and b) you have either a TDT decoder box on your old TV or one of the new televisions that have TDT built into them. The TDT signal set-up will require a technician, and if you are not too handy with technical set-ups, sometimes it’s best to also have a technician help you set up your TDT box to your TV (if it doesn’t have one built in) so that you can enjoy problem-free viewing!
For more information on TDT, please refer to: http://www.tdt.cat (website in Catalan)
If you want to spend a bit extra and sign up for Canal Plus (satellite service), you can easily do so by contacting :+34 902 46 77 (http://www.plus.es/). Canal Plus offers all the latest foreign programs and movies, as well as many sporting events like FC Barcelona, tennis Grand Slams, and more. You will need to pay for the satellite box and Canal Plus card (which you insert to receive the channels). Set up will require a technician to come to your home and set it all up before you can view your newly acquired programming. Canal Plus also offers a service similar to Tivo in the United States, which means that you can record all your favorite programs on your television and view them at your convenience.
- Antena 3
Game shows, talk-shows, American drama series´ like CSI (all dubbed into Spanish).
No programming in dual language. - BTV Barcelona TV
Public TV channel, with the usual collection of hits and misses from amateurs with small budgets and lots of enthusiasm.
Entirely in Catalan - Cuatro
Current affairs, news, local drama series, international series, lots of sport.
No programming in dual language. Entirely in Spanish. - TV Channel 33
Local content and international movies and series. Owned by Televisió de Catalunya, who also own the channel TV3, TV 33 is the leading Catalan language TV station in Barcelona.
All foreign TV programmes on channel 33 have dual language options so that you can watch them in their original language. - TV3 – Televisió de Catalunya, S.A.
A slightly more ´serious´ version of TV 33, TV3 offers current affairs, news and lots of sport. This is the leading Catalan language TV station in Barcelona.
All foreign TV programmes have dual language so that you can watch them in the original language.
All radio stations in Barcelona are Catalan or Spanish speaking.
Top 40
- 40 Principales Barcelona 93.9 Mhz
- 40 Principales Manresa 91.7 Mhz
- 40 Principales Osona 89.6 Mhz
Traditional and some modern Music, Local information and news
- Catalunya Cultura 92.5 Mhz
- Catalunya Informacio 92 Mhz
- Catalunya Musica 101.5 Mhz
- Catalunya Musica 102.4 Mhz
- Catalunya Radio 89.5 Mhz
- Catalunya Radio 91.7 Mhz
- Catalunya Radio 99.7 Mhz
- Catalunya Radio 102.8 Mhz
- Catalunya Radio 102.8 Mhz
- Cerdanyola Radio 105.3 Mhz
Dance and Modern Music
- Club 25 FM 90.6 Mhz
- Club 25 FM 95.5 Mhz
- COM Radio 882 Khz
- COM Radio Barcelona 91 Mhz
- COMRàdio Barcelona 91 Mhz
- Cope Barcelona 102 Mhz
- Cope Barcelona 783 Khz
- DigitalFM 103.2 Mhz
- Europa FM Catalunya 94.9 Mhz
- Exa Radio 89.5 Mhz
- Flaix FM Barcelona 105.7 Mhz
- Flaix FM Manresa 105.9 Mhz
- Flaix FM Vic 105.9 Mhz
- Grama Radio 107.4 Mhz
- M80 Radio Barcelona 90.5 Mhz
- Matadepera Radio 107.1 Mhz
- Máxima FM Barcelona 104.2 Mhz
- Ona Barcelona 103.5 Mhz
- Ona Catalana 92.3 Mhz
- Ona de Sants Montjüic 97.4 Mhz
- Ona Musica 96 Mhz
- Ona Musica 102.5 Mhz
- Ona Torello 107.4 Mhz
- Onda Cero Catalunya 96.3 Mhz
- Onda Cero Radio Barcelona 540 Khz
- Onda Cero Radio Catalunya 93.5 Mhz
- Onda Rambla Barcelona 89.8 Mhz
- Onda Rambla Centre 92.2 Mhz
- Onda Rambla Vilanova 1485 Khz
- Mixed music, talk shows, news
- Rac1 Barcelona 87.7 Mhz
- Rac1 Catalunya Central 101.1 Mhz
- Rac1 El Garraf 94.1 Mhz
- Radio 7 107.6 Mhz
- Radio Abrera 107.9 Mhz
- Radio Alegría 97.4 Mhz
- Radio Amistad Barcelona 107.9 Mhz
- Ràdio Arenys 91.2 Mhz
- Ràdio Barberà 98.1 Mhz
- Radio Barcelona 96.9 Mhz
- Radio Barcelona 666 Khz
- Radio Calella 107.9 Mhz
- Radio Carmel 90.1 Mhz
- Radio Ciutat de Badalona 94.4 Mhz
- Radio Club FM 103.2 Mhz
- Ràdio Cubelles 107.5 Mhz
- Radio Estel 106.6 Mhz
- Radio FlaixBac Barcelona 106.1 Mhz
- Radio FlaixBac Manresa 99.8 Mhz
- Radio FlaixBac Vic 93.2 Mhz
- Ràdio Gelida 107.6 Mhz
- Radio Intereconomia Barcelona 98.2 Mhz
- Radio Kanal Barcelona 106.9 Mhz
- Radio La Mina 102.4 Mhz
- Radio Litoral 107.2 Mhz
- Radio Manlleu 107 Mhz
- Radio Marca Barcelona 89.1 Mhz
- Radio Molins de Rei 91.2 Mhz
´Serious´stations – classical music and national news & talk
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio 3 Barcelona 97.5 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio 3 Barcelona 98.7 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio 3 Barcelona 103.1 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio 3 Barcelona 105.1 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio 4 Barcelona 100.8 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio 4 Barcelona 103.8 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio 4 Barcelona 104.7 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio 4 Barcelona 106.3 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio 4 Barcelona 106.9 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio 5 Barcelona 576 Khz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio Clásica Barcelona 90.9 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio Clásica Barcelona 93 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio Clásica Barcelona 95.2 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio Clásica Barcelona 97.9 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio Clásica Barcelona 99 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio Nacional Barcelona 88.3 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio Nacional Barcelona 89.4 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio Nacional Barcelona 94.3 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio Nacional Barcelona 99.2 Mhz
- Radio Nacional de España – Radio Nacional Barcelona 738 Khz
- Radio Pineda 94.6 Mhz
- Radio Pista 107.4 Mhz
- Radio Pomar 101.2 Mhz
- Radio RM 88.7 Mhz
- Radio RM 94.2 Mhz
- Radio RM 101.3 Mhz
- Radio RM 105.4 Mhz
Community Radio
- Radio Roda 107.6 Mhz
- Radio Sabadell 94.6 Mhz
- Radio Salut 100.9 Mhz
- Radio Sant Cugat 91.5 Mhz
- Radio Sant Feliu 105.3 Mhz
- Ràdio Súria 107.8 Mhz
- Ràdio Taradell 106.7 Mhz
- The industrial end of the dial where cabbies communicate
- Radio Tele Taxi Barcelona 97.7 Mhz
- Radio Tele Taxi Catalunya Central 88.5 Mhz
- Radio Tele Taxi Osona 105.3 Mhz
More community radio
- Radio Terrassa 89.4 Mhz
- Radio Tordera 107.1 Mhz
- Ràdio Trinitat Vella 91.6 Mhz
- Radio Union Catalunya 88 Mhz
- Radio Vic 90.3 Mhz
- Radio Vila 90.8 Mhz
- Radio Vilafranca 90.2 Mhz
- Ràdio Vilamajor 95.2 Mhz
Hip-hop and Rap
- RAP 107 107.3 Mhz
Golden Oldies and Classic Hits
- Rock and Gol Barcelona 783 Khz
- SCRadio 95.2 Mhz
- Styl Classics 95.2 Mhz
- Styl FM 100.6 Mhz
