Netflix to Start Streaming Linear and On-Demand Content from French TV Group TF1

Netflix announced today a groundbreaking partnership with French TV group TF1 to distribute its live channels and on-demand content. TF1’s programs will become available for all Netflix members in France starting in Summer 2026.

For context, TF1 is the biggest TV group in France, and it tried to merge with its main competitor M6 three years ago to better compete with international platforms like… Netflix. The merger project was cancelled back in September 2022 after French Competition Authority’s board advised the two companies to divest their main channels so that the new group wouldn’t end up in a dominant position.

Well, fast forward to 2025, TF1 Group is now striking a deal with the company it used to see as a major competitor in the entertainment space. However, the French media group will continue to offer its live channels and on-demand content on its freemium TF1+ platform, which has 35 million users.

« As viewing habits shift toward on-demand consumption and audience fragmentation increases, 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, » said Rodolphe Belmer, CEO of TF1 Group.

Greg Peters, the co-CEO of Netflix described the deal as « 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.”

This new alliance between Netflix and a traditional broadcasting group may give us an idea of how Netflix plans to expand its content offering. Ultimately, the company may want to become an all-in-one entertainment platform with live TV channels, similar to what Google is trying to do with YouTube TV.