Soon, Netflix subscribers will be able to watch Koh-Lanta and Plus Belle La Vie, encore plus belle between two episodes of Stranger Things or Mercredi.... and without leaving the red N app. This Tuesday, June 18, the two entities announced a unique partnership. After producing several series together, from Bazar de la charité to the most recent Tout pour la lumière and Tout le bleu du ciel, the leading channel and the most popular subscription streaming service in France are joining forces to conquer new market share. This is the first time Netflix has integrated another platform in this way, the first time it has agreed to make room for one of its competitors.
Live
The biggest part of this partnership is to integrate live access to the group's channels. Thus, starting in 2026, Netflix users will be able to watch TF1, TMC, LCI, TFX, and TF1 Séries films directly from the Netflix interface. Netflix had already tried linear streaming in the past, focusing primarily on "watch parties" of its most-watched series. It didn't work, and the public, too accustomed to on-demand access, relied little on this broadcast model. Live streaming disappeared shortly after.
Here, the platform is giving itself a new opportunity by integrating substantially new content. From iconic shows to reruns of famous series, this time could well be the right one. Sports, a core priority for many giants like Disney+, will also be an integral part of this new strategy. All matches available live on TF1 or via TF1+ will be offered on the Netflix interface.
And streaming
The series offered and developed by TF1 will also be integrated into the Netflix catalog starting next summer. This applies to shows popular with viewers, such as Koh Lanta, Secret Story, Danse avec les Stars and Star Academy. This merger follows the simultaneous (or almost) broadcast of TF1's new soap opera: Tout pour la lumière. The announcement of this series, in the vein of Plus Belle la Vie or Ici, tout commence, was an indication of Netflix's desire to tread on the toes of linear television and attract those viewers still very attached to linear television into its nets.
TF1+ nipped in the bud?
This merger raises questions, as TF1 launched its free streaming service last year. With TF1+, the company hoped to tread on the toes of the American giants by focusing on a formula entirely supported by advertising and early access to its programs. Focusing primarily on its original series and shows, the offer had proven to be the most used on French soil. By offering the same content on Netflix, isn't TF1+ shooting itself in the foot?
Rodolphe Belmer, CEO of TF1, assured AFP that TF1+ remains "at the center of our strategy.". He rather describes the partnership as a "complementary" resource to increase audiences for its programs and "finance the best possible program offering for the French-speaking public." He added that this decision was carefully considered. "We have, of course, asked ourselves the question of cannibalizing TF1+ and we have done a lot of analysis." According to him, the operation will be "clearly positive for us in terms of audience."
The amount of the transaction has not been disclosed. Let's remember that the two entities weigh heavily on the sector with 10 million subscribers in France for Netflix and 33 million monthly streams for TF1+.
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