Today, we’re going to talk about ARTE, a European public service channel dedicated to European culture. Because Buying European is also about Watching European, consuming quality entertainment and celebrating our cultural diversity.
Broadcasting for the first time in 1992 for the French and German markets, it was first initiated in 1988, during a Franco-German summit in Bonn, where the President of France François Mitterrand and the German Chancellor Helmut Kohl agreed on “a Franco-German cultural channel”, that would then tasked to become the core of future European cultural television.
33 years later, true to this vision, ARTE is a spearhead of European culture. 95% funded by France and Germany, as told by their presentation video, its identity is unequivocally European: 85% of its programs are produced in Europe, collaborating with cultural channels and institutions over the continent to broadcast, finance and/or produce documentaries, movies, series, theater plays, operas and even video games.
Now more than a TV channel, it’s a big part of the European cultural landscape, hosting news shows and debates, organizing the ARTE Kino movie festivals, providing educative content for universities and training centers through ARTE Campus and making podcasts since 2002 with ARTE Radio.
It also grew beyond its original market. Accessible by satellite on the entire continent since 1995, 70% of Europeans can now watch ARTE programs in their mother tongue. It is currently available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Polish.
Firmly entrenched in European values and the defence of our rights, we can only recommend that you give it a look. But where to get started? Well, Ecu Radio has several recommendations for the English language only:
- Documentaries:
- Trade Wars. A historical yet topical subject, this 2019 documentary studies trade wars throughout history, from the First Opium War to the present day.
- Sunken Warships in the North Sea. This documentary delves into the environmental and historical significance of WWI and WWII sunken warships in the North Sea, highlighting how they threaten the local fauna and humans alike, thanks to the insights of of marine scientists.
- Journeys to the North. A 5-episode series exploring Europe’s northern frontiers. Drom Iceland and Norway to Sweden and Finland, discover life under harsh latitudes while taking in some of the most breathtaking landscapes seen by humankind.
- Movies:
- ArteKino 2025. A collection of classic films from Germany, Italy, Albania, and Tajikistan. Why not? Experience cinema differently and expand your horizons with their curated selection. Among the Four, we especially recommend “The Murderers Are Among Us”, one of the first post-World War II German films, which follows Susanne Walters as she returns from a Nazi concentration camp to find her home occupied by Dr. Hans Mertens, a former soldier suffering from PTSD.
- Series:
- Kyiv – An Opera House in Wartime, narrating the difficulties of defending Ukrainian culture when under attack in 4 episodes. It showcases that resistance can take many forms and offers a message of hope for Ukraine’s future.
- Tracks East. Focusing on Eastern Europe and the lives of its citizens in a world turned upside-down by the fall of the USSR, this series explores the region’s cultural and historical identity through its diverse traditions, stories, and contemporary struggles.
- Opera:
- Carmen, by Andreas Homoki, based on Georges Bizet’s opera. This version revisits the tale of bohemian brigadier Don José during the Prussian occupation of France. With modern elements woven in, Carmen’s defiance of societal norms becomes a contemporary statement on equity and freedom.
- Norma, by Vasily Barkhatov at the Wiener Theater. Originally set in ancient Gaul, this modern adaptation moves the action to the 20th century. It tells of a forbidden love between a Druid priestess and a Roman proconsul, culminating in Norma’s heartbreaking decision.
- Video games:
- Inua – A story in Ice and Time, which blends Inuit folklore with a moving story of family and tradition. Awarded the “Cultural Impact Award” by Apple and the “Best Scenario” prize by Google Play in 2022.
- Ordesa, an interactive thriller that immerses players in a deeply personal journey through memory and landscape, crossing the line between film and video games. Winner of the Best Mobile Game at the Pégases. The prequel is available for free here.
And that’s only the very tip of the iceberg. We hope that you have a great time with ARTE’s content and will see you next week for another Buy European bulletin.
The ARTE logo is used here strictly for editorial purposes. This article is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or officially endorsed by ARTE. All rights to the logo and related trademarks remain the property of ARTE G.E.I.E.
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