How to read the French Press from abroad?
Since I’ve been traveling, I try to follow the news as little as possible.
It’s a waste of time (today’s information will be out of date tomorrow), it’s often anxiety-provoking, and in any case, important information will get to you at some point.
Anecdote on this subject: on July 15, 2016 in the morning, I am on a small square in the depths of Nepal. A man approaches me (he will offer me his services as a guide) and learning that I am French, asks me sorry if I am aware of the attacks in Nice that took place the evening before. The information had already arrived there!
I do have two exceptions to this media diet:
- The sports press: I enjoy reading L’Equipe every day
- When there are important events in France or in the world (attacks, movement of yellow jackets, elections, coronavirus, …) I feel concerned and can not help but follow what happens.
For a long time, I was simply subscribed to L’Equipe en ligne, it cost me €10 per month.
Until you discover two great services that are free if you do well.
SFR Press
SFR Presse is a service offered by… SFR !
It allows you to consult online or via an application (I mainly use my iPad for reading comfort) a wide selection of daily newspapers, weeklies and magazines. In all, about 80 titles.
The subscription costs 5 € per month.
BUT, the subscription was included in SFR’s mobile subscriptions until 2018
.SFR used it (and got 450 million euros for it) to commit VAT fraud by applying the reduced VAT rate for the press to part of the telephone subscription.
Subscriptions prior to 2018 still benefit from free access to SFR Presse.
My brother lends me his accesses, so it doesn’t cost me a euro.
Cafeyn (ex LeKiosk)
Cafeyn is a competitor of SFR Presse with a much larger catalog (1600 titles!).
The subscription also costs 10 € per month. I have been a customer for a long time.
BUT I noticed that the subscription is included for Canal Plus subscribers.
I have a friend who lends me his accesses, so it doesn’t cost me a penny. On the other hand, the catalog available with the Canal Plus subscription is reduced (there is neither L’Equipe nor Libération for example)
Which offer to choose?
SFR Presse is cheaper, but Cafeyn has a much larger catalog. It’s up to you to make your choice according to the titles you wish to read.
Personally, I mainly read L’Equipe, Le Figaro, Libération, SoFoot and Society by combining the “free” offers of SFR Presse and Cafeyn.
My only regret is that Le Monde isn’t proposed in either solution.
To know more..: The SFR Presse service was recently acquired by Cafeyn. It is possible that the former will disappear in favor of the latter in the coming months. It is therefore not impossible that I will have to pay again for a Cafeyn subscription to be able to read l’Equipe again ^^.
