Netflix is venturing down a somewhat unexpected path. The company is set to introduce traditional, linear TV broadcasts within its app -- across all of its supported platforms.
This move stems from a partnership deal between Netflix and French media group TF1. Under the agreement, starting summer 2026, viewers will be able to watch TF1's TV channels live through Netflix -- much like how users can watch live TV content on many of the traditional broadcasters' own apps.
The collaboration also extends into streaming: Netflix users will have access to shows and series from TF1's streaming platform, TF1+, as if they were part of Netflix's own library.
Notably, the deal won't increase Netflix's pricing in France. Instead, TF1's content will simply become part of the broader offering on Netflix France. TF1's channels are free and ad-supported, focused primarily on entertainment and news within French-speaking markets.
While the shift may seem small, it could signal a larger transformation in the media landscape. Until now, every media brand has largely sought to build and maintain its own apps and distribution channels. This approach comes with steep costs -- delivering proper streaming coverage demands development and support across Android, iOS, web, and a wide array of smart TV platforms.
But perhaps the bigger issue is content fragmentation. Are viewers really willing to download "yet another app" to their TVs or phones, create a new account, and so on? And even if they do -- will they ever actually open those rarely used apps again?
In this context, Netflix clearly holds a commanding position as a platform for visibility. With the world's largest subscriber base among streaming services, and no sign of slowing growth, it presents an easy opportunity for smaller media companies to boost the reach of their content.
There's also a possible -- and somewhat cynical -- motivation behind the partnership: France's language laws. The country typically requires media services to ensure a certain share of their content is in French. In theory, Netflix could argue that its TF1 deal satisfies these linguistic quotas quite neatly.
The collaboration also extends into streaming: Netflix users will have access to shows and series from TF1's streaming platform, TF1+, as if they were part of Netflix's own library.
Notably, the deal won't increase Netflix's pricing in France. Instead, TF1's content will simply become part of the broader offering on Netflix France. TF1's channels are free and ad-supported, focused primarily on entertainment and news within French-speaking markets.
A step toward content consolidation?
While the shift may seem small, it could signal a larger transformation in the media landscape. Until now, every media brand has largely sought to build and maintain its own apps and distribution channels. This approach comes with steep costs -- delivering proper streaming coverage demands development and support across Android, iOS, web, and a wide array of smart TV platforms.
But perhaps the bigger issue is content fragmentation. Are viewers really willing to download "yet another app" to their TVs or phones, create a new account, and so on? And even if they do -- will they ever actually open those rarely used apps again?
In this context, Netflix clearly holds a commanding position as a platform for visibility. With the world's largest subscriber base among streaming services, and no sign of slowing growth, it presents an easy opportunity for smaller media companies to boost the reach of their content.
There's also a possible -- and somewhat cynical -- motivation behind the partnership: France's language laws. The country typically requires media services to ensure a certain share of their content is in French. In theory, Netflix could argue that its TF1 deal satisfies these linguistic quotas quite neatly.
