Getting TV in Belgium in 2026: aerial, set-top box, apps or satellite
Aerial, set-top box, app or satellite dish: in Belgium there are several ways to watch TV, and they don't all work with every television. Here's the full picture as of October 2026, to help you choose the right solution and the right TV.
- Terrestrial RTBF free in Wallonia and Brussels (DVB-T2 HEVC)
- The set-top box still useful for recording and catch-up
- Pickx : no app on TVs
- Satellite: TV Vlaanderen and TéléSAT with CI+
The four ways to receive TV
| Solution | Cost | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial (DTT) | Free | No subscription, ideal as a backup | Four RTBF channels, Wallonia and Brussels only |
| Operator set-top box | Subscription | All channels, recording, catch-up | One more box and remote control |
| Apps on the TV | Free or subscription | No box, on-demand catch-up | Availability varies by TV brand |
| Satellite | Subscription and dish | Works without internet, anywhere | Dish installation, CI+ module |
Terrestrial TV: free TV over the aerial
In Wallonia and Brussels, the RTBF still broadcasts free of charge La Une, Tipik, La Trois and the BRF TV opt-out, with the programme guide. Since summer 2023, broadcasting has been in HD, using the DVB-T2 HEVC (H.265) standard, grouped on channel 42. The RTBF's official help page, updated on 28 September 2026, still presents DTT as a reception method, and no end date has been announced.
In Flanders, VRT switched off its free DTT signal at the end of 2018, and the paid over-the-air offer from TV Vlaanderen ended in September 2024: DTT is no longer an option there.
- What you need : a UHF aerial (rooftop, or indoor if you are close to a transmitter) and a TV with a tuner HEVC-compatible DVB-T2. This is the case for all recent TVs, including our little Radiola models.
- Best for : a kitchen without cables, a second home, a campervan, or as a backup if the internet goes down.
- Old TV : run an over-the-air channel search. If the RTBF channels appear but stay black, the tuner is not HEVC-compatible.
Operators' set-top boxes in 2026
TV Box V7 and V7c
Android box, Pickx platform. Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and YouTube run on it. Picture quality improved on 16 channels since February 2026 with fibre.
New TV Box
Running Android TV 14 since late June 2026. Free for new customers, €49 for existing ones. Auvio, VRT MAX, VTM GO, Streamz and RTL Play preinstalled.
Set-top box or streaming
The set-top box lets you record and catch up for up to 7 days; the streaming option does not. CI+ cards have not been sold since 1 January 2026 (existing cards remain active).
Box and app
The “TV met een kaartje” (CI+) option seems to be on its way out. Since May 2026, the “app without box” option is no longer offered to new subscribers.
The set-top box remains the simplest solution for recording, time-shifting and watching catch-up across all channels. Plug it into a standard HDMI socket on the TV and turn on HDMI-CEC to control everything with a single remote (see HDMI and connections).
Belgian apps by TV brand
Here is the status according to the official help pages of the channels and operators, as read in October 2026. Catalogues change often: before buying, we always check the app in the app store of the model on display.
| App | Google TV (Sony, TCL, Thomson) | Samsung (Tizen) | LG (webOS) | Philips (Titan OS) | Hisense (VIDAA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTBF Auvio | Yes | Yes (2019 and later) | Yes (2019 and later) | Not listed | Not listed |
| VRT MAX | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Announced, to be checked |
| Play (formerly GoPlay) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Conflicting information | Conflicting information |
| Streamz, VTM GO | Yes | Yes | To be checked | Listed by Titan OS | To be checked |
| Proximus Pickx | No | No | No | No | No |
| Telenet TV | Yes (Android TV 10 and later) | No | No | No | No |
| VOO TV+ | Yes (Android TV 8 and later) | No | No | No | No |
| Orange TV Go | Yes | No | Only some older OLEDs | No | No |
What works everywhere: the casting from a smartphone (Google Cast or AirPlay) and an Apple TV, supported by all Belgian operators. A Google TV Streamer or Chromecast dongle can also add an app missing from your TV.
If you want to do without a set-top box, the operating system matters more than the brand. Telenet, VOO or Orange customer: a Google TV set (Sony, TCL, Thomson) has the operator's app. Proximus customer: keep the box or get an Apple TV. And for Auvio, avoid Titan OS and VIDAA, or add a small streaming stick.
TVs for every way of watching
LED TV SONY K65XR35M2PB€1,107.00
TV QLED TCL 65P79L€799.00
TV LED THOMSON 55MG7C15€619.00
TV QLED SAMSUNG TQ65QN70H€875.00
TV QNED LG 65QNED72B6B€899.00
TV QLED PHILIPS 65PQS8601/12€743.00
LED TV RADIOLA RA24A2TV€149.00
LED TV RADIOLA RA24A3VG€109.00Which TV suits how you watch
| Your situation | What we recommend | Example in store |
|---|---|---|
| Proximus customer with the TV Box | Any brand: the box does everything. Choose the TV for its picture | Samsung TQ65QN70H, €999.99 |
| Telenet, VOO or Orange customer without a box | A Google TV set, to get the operator's app | Sony Bravia 3 II 65-inch, €1,199.99 or TCL 65P79L, €799.99 |
| DTT aerial and Auvio catch-up | Samsung, LG or Google TV, all of which have Auvio | LG 65QNED72B6B, €899.99 |
| Satellite TéléSAT or TV Vlaanderen | A DVB-S2 tuner and a CI+ slot, or Titan OS apps | Philips 65PQS8601, €799.99 |
| Motorhome or chalet | A small 12 V model with DTT (TNT), or even satellite | Radiola RA24A2TV, 149,99 € |
In any case, we check with you, on the model on display, that your apps and channels are indeed available.
Satellite: the solution without internet
Two Belgian offers from the M7 group (Canal+) are available by satellite: TV Vlaanderen, in Dutch, and TéléSAT, in French. You need a satellite dish and either a set-top box or a television with DVB-S2 tuner and a CI+ module with the operator's card. It is the ideal solution for a second home or a chalet without a fixed internet connection. The TV Vlaanderen and TéléSAT apps are also on the official list of Titan OS apps for Philips.
Fransat is the French satellite offer that carries the free channels of French DTT. It is aimed primarily at households in France: check its terms before investing in equipment.
The CI+ slot: still useful?
The slot CI+ at the back of the TV takes a module with an operator card. In Belgium its usefulness is declining: VOO has not sold any cards since January 2026, Telenet appears to be gradually phasing out its card-based service, and Belgian operators have not adopted CI+ 1.4. It remains mainly useful for satellite (TV Vlaanderen, TéléSAT) and for customers who still have an active card.
Triple tuner: check on small models
Almost all televisions sold in Belgium have a triple tuner : DVB-T2 (aerial), DVB-C (cable) and DVB-S2 (satellite). However, some small secondary models are the exception. At Nimestore, for example:
- Radiola RA24A3VG (24-inch, 129,99 €): DVB-T2 HEVC terrestrial only, 12 V power with cigar-lighter adapter. Ideal in a motorhome with a DTT aerial.
- Radiola RA24A2TV (24-inch, 149,99 €): triple tuner with satellite, Wi-Fi and Smart TV, also 12 V.
- Telefunken TFK32GPD24D (32-inch, 159,99 €): aerial and cable tuners only, no satellite, and no Smart TV.
Information gathered from the official pages of channels, operators and brands on 15 October 2026. Offers change quickly: check with your operator. Public prices on nimestore.com as of 15 October 2026; the product page is authoritative; Nimesclub members often get a reduced price.
Frequently asked questions
Can you still get free TV with an aerial?
Yes, in Wallonia and Brussels: RTBF broadcasts La Une, Tipik, La Trois and BRF TV for free on DTT, in DVB-T2 HEVC. No switch-off date has been announced as of October 2026. In Flanders, DTT no longer exists.
Can I watch Proximus Pickx without a set-top box?
Not with an app on the TV: Pickx is not available on Samsung, LG, Philips, Hisense or retail Android TVs. You need the Proximus TV Box, an Apple TV, a Chromecast or casting from your smartphone.
Is Auvio available on all televisions?
No. RTBF lists it on Google TV and Android TV, on Samsung (2019 models and later) and LG (2019 and later). It is not listed on Philips Titan OS or Hisense VIDAA: check the app store of the model on display.
Does my television receive RTBF DTT?
All recent televisions have a DVB-T2 tuner compatible with HEVC. For an older set, run an aerial channel search: if the RTBF channels appear in HD and display properly, you're all set.
Is satellite a good idea for a second home?
Yes, if you don't have a fixed internet connection. With a satellite dish, a television with a DVB-S2 tuner and a CI+ module, you can receive TV Vlaanderen (in Dutch) or TéléSAT (in French), by subscription.
Come and compare the screens in person
At our Temploux shop, we switch on TVs side by side with your content. Or ask our expert salesperson online, right now.
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