Imagine waking up in the morning and, instead of reaching for tablets and smartphones, children sit down by a radio that understands them. No ads, no algorithms, just stories, science, and music. This very concept reaches a new level on October 26, 2026, as the French public broadcaster's children's station expands into modern digital broadcasting.
Originally launched in October 2025, Mon petit France Inter opens a new chapter. After a successful year during which it garnered more than 3 million listens, it is now becoming available via DAB+ technology. This move aims to give families easier access to high-quality content not only at home, but especially on the road in cars, where digital radio delivers stability and superior sound quality.
With more than 3 million listens, Mon petit France Inter expands to DAB+ to offer children a safe space free of ads and algorithms.
A Safe, Screen-Free Space
The cornerstone of the project is creating a safe educational environment for the youngest generation. With this initiative, Radio France is responding to parents' growing concerns about excessive screen time. The station is entirely ad-free and features curated content driven by children's developmental needs rather than commercial algorithms. The programming is tailored to accompany listeners from their morning wake-up to bedtime.
Alongside the new DAB+ digital broadcast, the station remains accessible on the Radio France website and app. What makes the current offering unique is the integration of content for all age groups, including shows previously broadcast under the Mon tout petit France Inter banner, designed for toddlers. Families thus gain a single, cohesive channel for all their children.
Programming Highlights and Updates
With the transition to DAB+ digital broadcasting, the station introduces several programming innovations designed to further enrich children's daily routines. Drawing from rich archives as well as current productions across all Radio France networks, the schedule blends fiction with popular science formats.
Listeners can look forward to the following new features and core staples:
- Morning Host — The voice of Céline Da Costa, guiding children as they start their day.
- Premiere Shows — The new show Badaboum, hosted by Marine Baousson.
- Musical Identity — A brand-new sound design for the station, recorded by the Maîtrise de Radio France choir under the direction of composer Christophe Mince.
- Live Culture — Planned exclusive concerts and new seasons of hit podcast series.
The Role of Public Service in the Digital Age
For Radio France, expanding its youth programming is not merely a technological step, but the fulfillment of its core public service mandate. The group reports that its overall youth content across all channels has reached a cumulative total of over 290 million listens. Heavily championed by radio executives since 2018, this youth-focused strategy aims to support children's cognitive development and provide them with tools to understand the world around them.
Radio France’s total youth offering has reached 290 million listens, serving as a key pillar of its development strategy since 2018.
“With the arrival of Mon petit France Inter on DAB+, we are taking a new step in our commitment to younger audiences. Since 2018, Radio France has relentlessly pursued an ambitious strategy to support all children in their development, offering them free, screen-free access to stories, knowledge, and information.”
What Lies Ahead for Listeners
DAB+ availability is part of a broader modernization trend across the French radio landscape. Beyond youth broadcasting, Radio France is also focusing on other formats, such as video podcasts tackling disinformation on France Culture or themed specials like Nuit des Maléfiques. Crucially for families, the children's catalog is constantly updated with beloved titles, including the return of Le Petit Nicolas (Little Nicholas).
In the weeks following the launch on October 26, 2026, attention will focus on technical coverage and feedback from parents, who can now tune into the station via DAB+ multiplexes across France. Media inquiries and further technical details are handled by Tom Malgorn from the Radio France press office. The future of children's broadcasting thus lies in pairing traditional spoken-word radio with modern digital distribution that removes the need for screens.