France's TF1 reckons the Netflix effect is real and has the numbers to back it up
One of the most interesting industry moves of 2026 has been the partnership between TF1 in France and Netflix. From June 19, Netflix began streaming TF1’s suite of live, linear channels and a hefty on-demand catalogue with a revenue split for ads carried on the platform.
It was a world first partnership for Netflix and many have seen it as a trial to see if it is a way forward for Netflix in other international territories.
Well, we’re less than a month into the deal and TF1 is already declaring it a success. As per THR:
TF1 said it posted a 8.3 million unique daily streams for the finale of Koh-Lanta, a Survivor-style reality game show, on June 25, a new record, and saw significant audience boosts for its new reality show Secret Story and Good American Family, the Hulu limited series it licenses in France.
In the first week of the TF1-Netflix collaboration, the number of unique daily streams for TF1 shows jumped 16 percent, the company said, noting that several of the network’s titles were appearing in Netflix’s most-watched lists for the territory.
The numbers are well ahead of where TF1 had projected:
“We achieved our audience targets [for the Netflix deal], originally set for an 18-month timeframe, in less than three weeks,” TF1 CEO Rodolphe Belmer said in a statement. “This strong start confirms the value of this unprecedented partnership and the public’s appetite for our content.”
TF1 said its ad sales on its shows on Netflix were “excellent” and comparable to those on TF1+, but did not give detailed figures.
Back in the mod 2010s online publishers were radically overhauling their strategies, shifting resources (ie firing a lot of staff), and investing in all of the wrong places as Facebook sold itself as a destination platform for third party publishers. The “pivot to video” era of media was a decade too soon with investment in the wrong ways and the wrong channels.
I’d hesitate to encourage TV networks across the globe to go all in with Netflix… all it takes is a bad quarter and a decision to pivot and third parties are then left high and dry. But… they should be paying attention to this deal over the next few months and have some quiet chats with TF1 about how they’re feeling about it. There’s unquestionably a lot of potential in partnering with Netflix like this.
I’m also curious to see how Netflix adapt and evolve its own service following the introduction of linear channels onto the platform. I’ve advocated in the past for Netflix to launch linear FAST channels as a way to boost time spent on platform. Netflix now have the metrics at hand… is it something they persue?
News Desk
Thanks to Australia’s online laws, local Grand Theft Auto VI players will have to verify that they are adults to play the R18+ game. The game is available for pre-order. Read: News.com.au
US states concerned that Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery will hurt competition could sue to block the deal as soon as next week. Read: Reuters
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette creator Connor Hines has just had a series greenlit at Netflix, Jupiter Island, which has an interesting logline: On the ultra-exclusive Jupiter Island, the privileged world of professional golfers and their wives fractures when a mysterious outsider arrives - and a secret threatens golf's reigning power couple. Read: thefutoncritic
Julianne Nicholson will reprise her Mare of Easttown role in season two of Task – both shows are set in Delaware County, with both written by creator Brad Ingelsby. Read: THR
Chuck co-creator Chris Fedak is writing the Disney+ adaptation of kids book series Spy School. Read: Deadline
Canadian-Australian animated preschool series Zip & the Tiny Sprouts has been picked up by ABC Kids in Australia and HRT in Croatia. How long until the inevitable crossover with Ginger and The Vegesaurs? Read: C21
FYI
If in your life you are mad keen on owning a 28mm "Heroic Scale" miniature model of Count Binface, Troublemaker Games has you covered with this £7 model. It advises that £3 from each purchase of Count Binface will be donated to UK based NHS-supporting charities.
So, buy something stupid for a good cause.
Trailer Park
Sterling Point debuts on Prime Video August 5. The YA drama is from My Old Ass director Megan Park. Park was also an actress in The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
Follow 17-year-old Annie Jacobson, raised in New York City with her twin brother and loving adoptive father; Annie’s life takes a turn when she inherits her mysterious grandfather’s island in Canada.
The Gentlemen returns to Netflix for season 2 on September 3.
The Undeclared War returns July 21 on Channel 4 in the UK for season 2… a four year break since season one. Simon Pegg stars.
A Shop For Killers returns for season 2 on Hulu July 22.
Snoopy Presents: There’s No Place Like Home debuts July 31 on Apple TV.
Masterplan debuts on Prime Video October 16.
The heist of the century is always better as a family affair. Masterplan with Stanley Tucci, Simona Tabasco, and Victor Belmondo.
That’s the newsletter for the today.
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