French archived TV is available 'pour tous' .
Prices range €1-6 for a clip and there are few models available - purchase and 48h 'rent'. Registration requires a French address.
Few clips like '68 and Edith Piaf we tried are in 576x432 / 1128kbps quality setting.
Oldest record dates back to 1927 - Fête de Guillaume le Conquérant à Falaise (Normandie).
Service is provided by Institut National de l'Audiovisuel http://www.ina.fr/