Pink TV will include films, drama, music and pornography

The country's TV watchdog, the Higher Audiovisual Council (CSA), agreed to allow Pink TV to broadcast 208 programmes of pornographic content every year.

But the station must double-encrypt the shows and only broadcast them between midnight and 0500.

Pink TV must also give viewers the choice of taking subscriptions with or without these programmes, and cable operators cannot offer it in conjunction with channels aimed at children or teenagers.

The station has also agreed to put 23.5% of its turnover into French-based film and television production.

World view

In a separate move to change French TV output, the government has renewed its efforts to set up an international French TV channel.

It is keen to promote France's "world view" at a time of major international change.

French President Jacques Chirac had made reference to the idea during his campaign for re-election last year, but war in Iraq and the diplomatic crisis that preceded it appear to have given fresh impetus to the plans.

Media groups have been asked to put forward proposals for a new channel by 22 April.

According to reports, the hope is that the station - which would rival the Anglophone coverage provided by the BBC and the US network CNN - could be up and running by next year.