Netflix — the company that brought on-demand TV to the world — is adding on-demand TV from the largest French commercial broadcaster to its lineup. Starting next summer, TF1 Group’s channels will stream on Netflix to its French users.

This is a big deal, but not entirely unexpected. Streaming and linear TV are increasingly intertwined.

5 Linear TF1 Channels + 30K Hours of On-Demand Content

Starting this summer, Netflix will offer its French subscribers five of TF1’s channels live. This is effectively adding live TV to the streaming service’s on-demand-only platform.

But that’s not all. By 2026, Netflix will also offer over 30,000 hours of TF1’s on-demand content. This means that French users will be able to watch reality shows, scripted dramas, live sports, and a broad range of entertainment in real-time or on-demand directly on Netflix.

According to the Financial Times, the two companies have previously collaborated on a historical French series, Les Combattantes (Women at War). But this deal takes their collaboration to the next level.

No specific figures have been shared regarding the deal, but both sides have made it clear that this isn’t a trial run.

“We’re building more reasons for our members to come to Netflix every day and stay with us for all their entertainment,” said Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters. “By partnering with France’s top broadcaster, we will give French viewers even more reason to tune into Netflix.”

This is a major benefit for TF1, too. The channel will continue to air ads in its linear programming, and the content will now have the potential to reach millions of Netflix users. In other words, this means monetization opportunities and increased visibility for French advertisers.

“The agreement is an unprecedented opportunity for TF1, as it allows the Group to maximize its content distribution and pursue our strategy to ensure that all TF1 programs reach as many viewers as possible in this fragmented environment,” said TF1 CEO Rodolphe Belmer. “This agreement strengthens TF1’s position by complementing our platform TF1+ with Netflix’s unique distribution capabilities.”

He also noted that linear TV is “in secular decline,” and he has attempted to offset this through a number of other initiatives. “We have already tried to remedy this by trying to catch up and benefit from the tremendous force of Netflix,” Belmer said.

In fact, the partnership may help Netflix comply with French regulations that require streaming services to invest 20–25% of their revenue from French viewers into local content.

The figures are large. TF1 Group’s TV channels attract around 58 million viewers each month, and its streaming platform TF1+ adds another 35 million users per month. Meanwhile, Netflix boasts 10 million subscribers in France, according to co-CEO Ted Sarandos back in 2022.

If this partnership goes well, Netflix could look to sign more deals like this across Europe — or even in the U.S. “We’re certainly open to that but it’s a bit early for us to talk about that,” Peters said. “But we’ll have to see how this plays out.”

The partnership is coming as traditional linear channels lose ground worldwide. Just this week, Nielsen reported that 44.8% of total TV consumption in May was streaming, beating both cable (24.1%) and broadcast (20.1%) for the first time since Nielsen started tracking this data in 2021.

Other linear channels have been signing on to services like YouTube TV, but this deal offers an immediate line of sight into millions of living rooms. It may even be a model for struggling broadcasters trying to remain relevant — and profitable — in a streaming-first world.

“As I think many French people see Netflix as the place to get TV, this just brings that even more true,” Peters said.