Watching 'traditional' television on Netflix will be possible in France next year

From 2026, the five channels that fall under TF1 will also be available via Netflix in France. This will allow sports fans to watch football matches, for example. In addition, French Netflix users will have access to programs from the French media company's own streaming platform, TF1+.

According to Netflix, this is the first time such a deal has been made. Netflix wants to see how this collaboration works out before making deals with other television companies.

TF1 is not a small player. According to its own statements, it attracts 58 million viewers per month with its own traditional TV channels and 35 million via TF1+. Netflix already had more than 10 million subscribers in France in 2022.

The media world worldwide will be watching the deal with interest. Traditional television stations, including in the Netherlands, are seeing their viewing figures decline. This is partly due to competition from large streaming platforms, which are rapidly gaining market share. Young people in particular seem to pay little attention to television programming and mainly watch when it suits them.

With the deal, TF1 CEO Rodolphe Belmer hopes to increase the number of viewers for programs from the French television channels. The same goes for TF1+, which TF1 set up in 2024 with the ambition to grow it into the largest free streaming platform in France. Analyses have shown that the agreement is "clearly positive for us in terms of audience figures," he told the French news agency AFP.

He speaks of a 'complementary' partnership and emphasizes that TF1 will not be swallowed up by Netflix. "TF1+ is and remains the core of our strategy."

It is clear that Netflix, like other streaming services, is increasingly interested in sports. Series are being made about Formula 1, cycling, football and tennis, for example.

In addition, a boxing match between influencer Jake Paul and boxing legend Mike Tyson was organized. With more than 108 million viewers, viewers "the most streamed sporting event ever", the American company wrote in the press release for the last quarter of last year.

Also during Christmas, two games from the top American football league (NFL) were streamed, attracting tens of millions of American viewers.

Still, Netflix is ​​cautious when it comes to live sports. According to executive Ted Sarandos, it is "extremely challenging" to make money from broadcasting full seasons (with all the games) of major sports competitions. Acquiring sports rights is a relatively expensive undertaking.

By working together with the French, these rights can still be profited from. How advertising and subscription revenues are divided and what other amounts are involved in the deal has not been disclosed.