Netflix to Stream Live TV Channels in France
▼ Summary
– Starting in 2026, Netflix subscribers in France will gain access to TF1 Group’s live TV channels and on-demand content as part of their existing subscription.
– The partnership marks Netflix’s first deal to host third-party network channels, expanding its offerings with sports, dramas, and unscripted shows.
– Netflix may use this deal to help meet legal requirements to invest a portion of its French revenue into local content production.
– TF1 holds 24% of the French linear TV market, making this partnership significant for Netflix’s reach in France.
– The deal reflects a broader trend of traditional networks partnering with streaming services to adapt to shifting viewer habits and audience fragmentation.
Netflix is set to revolutionize streaming in France by adding live TV channels to its platform through a groundbreaking partnership with TF1 Group. Beginning summer 2026, French subscribers will gain access to TF1’s free-to-air channels and on-demand content directly within their Netflix accounts, no additional subscription required. This move marks the first time Netflix has integrated a third-party broadcaster’s live programming into its service.
Greg Peters, Netflix CEO, emphasized the strategic value of the deal, stating it strengthens the platform’s appeal by combining premium entertainment with seamless discovery. French viewers will now find major live sports, popular dramas like Broceliande, hit soaps such as Demain nous appartient, and reality competitions like The Voice alongside Netflix’s existing catalog. While financial specifics remain confidential, the agreement may help Netflix meet French regulations requiring investment in local content production.
The collaboration mirrors what a hypothetical deal with CBS in the U.S. or ITV in the U.K. would look like, except TF1 dominates nearly a quarter of France’s linear TV market, outperforming major American networks in their home territory. This positions Netflix to capture a significant share of traditional TV audiences as viewing habits continue shifting toward streaming.
TF1 Group CEO Rodolphe Belmer highlighted the partnership’s potential to expand reach in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. By aligning with Netflix, TF1 ensures its content stays relevant while offering advertisers access to a broader, engaged audience. The deal builds on Netflix’s earlier experiment with linear-style programming in France, Direct, but goes further by incorporating an established network’s full channel lineup.
As cord-cutting accelerates globally, this alliance could inspire similar agreements between streamers and broadcasters worldwide, helping traditional networks adapt while giving streaming platforms a competitive edge with live content. For now, French Netflix users are the first to experience this hybrid model, blending on-demand convenience with the immediacy of live TV.
(Source: The Verge)
