TF1 Sees Record Streaming Growth Following Netflix Partnership

French broadcaster TF1 has reached its 18-month audience targets in less than three weeks following a new carriage deal with Netflix. According to TF1 CEO Rodolphe Belmer, the partnership sees Netflix in France carry live broadcasts and on-demand content from TF1 and its TF1+ platform, resulting in a 16 percent jump in unique daily streams for TF1 shows during the first week.

TF1 and Netflix Hit Record Streaming Figures

The collaboration has already produced a viewership milestone for TF1’s content. On June 25, the finale of Koh-Lanta, a Survivor-style reality game show, recorded 8.3 million unique daily streams, marking a new record for the network. TF1 reported significant audience growth for other titles as well, including the reality series Secret Story and the Hulu limited series Good American Family, which TF1 licenses in France.

The visibility provided by the streamer has pushed several TF1 titles onto Netflix’s most-watched lists within the French territory. “This strong start confirms the value of this unprecedented partnership and the public’s appetite for our content,” Belmer stated in an official company announcement.

Ad Revenue and the New Distribution Model

While TF1 did not release specific financial data, the company described ad sales for its shows on Netflix as “excellent.” TF1 noted that these revenue figures are comparable to the performance of ads on its own proprietary streaming service, TF1+.

This deal represents the first time Netflix has partnered with a free-to-air national broadcaster. The move signals a shift in strategy for traditional media companies, moving away from direct competition with global streamers toward a symbiotic “carriage” model.

Broadcaster Trends Across Europe

The TF1-Netflix deal follows a broader trend of strategic alliances between national broadcasters and American streaming giants in Europe. Amazon Prime Video has already established similar carriage agreements with France Télévisions and the commercial group M6 in France, as well as with RTVE, the national public broadcaster in Spain.

Industry analysts view the TF1 model as an alternative to the wave of broadcast consolidation sweeping Europe, most notably the $2.1 billion deal to acquire British broadcaster ITV by Comcast-subsidiary Sky, announced on Monday.

Comparison of European Broadcaster Strategies

The success of the TF1-Netflix venture may encourage other national broadcasters to seek distribution partnerships.