Portuguese speakers are among the largest groups of foreign residents in Switzerland, and the market answers with three different offers. They differ more than the names suggest, in how the channels are named and in the base subscription you need. This post compares them (state: October 2026).
01
Portuguese TV in Switzerland: the three offers
As read from each provider's page:
| Provider | Package | Channels |
|---|---|---|
| Zattoo | Portuguese channel package | 7: RTP Internacional, RTP3, Record TV, Record News, Kuriakos TV, TVI Internacional, SIC Internacional |
| Swisscom blue TV | Português+ | SIC Internacional, the best-known international Portuguese channel |
| Swisscom blue TV | Português XL | News, documentaries, shows, series, telenovelas and sitcoms from Portugal |
| Salt TV | Portuguese package | Entertainment shows, fiction and sport for the whole family |
02
Zattoo: the seven named channels
Zattoo lists its seven channels by name: RTP Internacional, RTP3, Record TV, Record News, Kuriakos TV, TVI Internacional, SIC Internacional. The package adds them to a Free, Premium or Ultimate account, with a 30-day free trial and monthly cancellation, and includes restart, live pause and recording according to Zattoo. Having the names in advance is a real advantage when you compare.
03
Swisscom: one channel or a full package
Swisscom splits Portuguese in two. Português+ gives SIC Internacional only; Português XL adds news, documentaries, shows, series and telenovelas. If you mostly want one channel, the smaller package is the fair deal; if you want variety, compare the XL channel list with Zattoo's seven names.
04
Salt: the package for Salt TV customers
Salt's package is an add-on to Salt TV and ends at the end of any month with one month's notice. Salt describes the content in general terms, entertainment shows, fiction and sport for the whole family, so ask for the channel list or look it up in the Salt TV app before you order.
05
How to choose
The decision usually follows the base provider:
- If you have no operator contract, Zattoo is the easiest way in: free trial, monthly cancellation and a named channel list
- If you already have Swisscom blue TV, Português+ or XL is the simplest add-on
- If you have Salt TV, the Salt package is the only add-on that works with it
- Add up the bill with the base subscription, see TV costs in Switzerland
06
Sport in Portuguese
Football rights are the reason many people want Portuguese TV. They are sold separately and by territory, and a language package does not promise live matches. For what exists, see live sport on TV in Switzerland, and check the match you want against the package's channel list.
07
Reading the channel names: international feeds
Three of Zattoo's seven names end in Internacional: RTP Internacional, TVI Internacional and SIC Internacional. An international feed is made for viewers outside Portugal. It is a sister of the domestic channel rather than a copy of it, so the schedule and some programmes differ, and live football or reality shows may be missing for rights reasons.
That is not a defect of the package, but it matters if you subscribe for one specific programme. Check the channel's own schedule during the free month and compare it with what you expect from home before you decide to keep the package.
08
Where to go next
See also Spanish TV in Switzerland, Foreign-language TV and TV for newcomers. For the whole picture, start from IPTV Switzerland: licensed providers compared.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which Portuguese channels does Zattoo have?
RTP Internacional, RTP3, Record TV, Record News, Kuriakos TV, TVI Internacional and SIC Internacional, in a package of seven channels.
What is the difference between Português+ and Português XL?
Português+ carries SIC Internacional only; Português XL adds news, documentaries, shows, series and telenovelas, according to Swisscom.
Do I need a Swisscom or Salt contract?
Only for their packages. Zattoo's package works with a free account and a 30-day trial.
Can I watch Portuguese football?
Not through a language package alone. Sports rights are sold separately; check the match against the channel list.
Sources
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