Netflix, the streaming giant, has recently announced a landmark carriage deal with TF1. This "first-of-its-kind" agreement will allow Netflix to carry the French commercial broadcaster's linear channels and on-demand content. The partnership is set to bring live French national team soccer and Fiba basketball competitions to the streaming platform.
This agreement marks a significant milestone as it is Netflix’s first carriage deal with a traditional broadcaster. All five TF1 channels along with content from TF1+ will be available at no extra cost to French subscribers. According to Greg Peters, Co-CEO of Netflix, this move is an experiment that could pave the way for future collaborations if successful.
For subscribers in France, this means they now have access to all five of TF1’s free-to-air (FTA) channels and more than 30,000 hours of content from the TF1+ streaming platform as part of their existing subscription plan. This includes additional live sports events such as games involving France’s men’s and women’s sides at International Basketball Federation (Fiba) competitions. Furthermore, exclusive rights held by TF1 for broadcasting French national team soccer matches until 2028 will also be accessible on Netflix. Other notable broadcasts include games from upcoming international tournaments like UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 and 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Impact on traditional broadcasters
The advent of streaming platforms like Netflix has long been viewed as a threat by linear broadcasters due to declining audiences and advertising revenues caused by shifting viewing habits. However, this new partnership suggests that rather than competing against each other, these platforms can coexist symbiotically.
Greg Peters, co-chief executive of Netflix, said:
“This is a first-of-its-kind partnership that plays to our strengths of giving audiences the best entertainment alongside the best discovery experience. By teaming up with France’s leading broadcaster we will provide French consumers with even more reasons to come to Netflix every day and to stay with us for all their entertainment.”
Netflix itself has evolved its business model over recent years by introducing lower-priced ad-supported tiers alongside its premium plans where viewing isn't interrupted by adverts. This deal with TF1 could potentially open doors for Netflix to serve as an aggregator for other traditional television channels in the future.
Financial aspect
While the financial details of this agreement remain undisclosed, it's clear that both parties see potential benefits. TF1 currently reaches 58 million monthly viewers on television and boasts 35 million users on TF1+. On the other hand, Netflix has surpassed 10 million subscribers in France alone.
Rodolphe Belmer, TF1 Group chief executive, expressed optimism about the partnership and does not anticipate it cannibalising their existing audience. Instead, he believes that "this unprecedented alliance will enable our premium content to reach unparalleled audiences and unlock new reach for advertisers within an ecosystem that perfectly complements our TF1+ platform.”
This landmark carriage deal between Netflix and TF1 is a significant step forward in how streaming platforms can collaborate with traditional broadcasters to deliver diverse content to their subscribers. It also opens up exciting possibilities for sports fans who can now enjoy more live sports events as part of their existing subscription plans.
