Netflix signs first-of-its-kind deal to host live TV channels in France
This makes Netflix the first major global streamer to offer traditional linear TV channels within its app.
Netflix built its empire by killing off live TV. Now, it's bringing them back—at least in France. In a move that feels both full circle and forward-thinking, Netflix has struck a landmark deal with France’s largest commercial broadcaster, TF1 Group, to host live TV channels inside the Netflix app.
Yes, you read that right—reality shows, live news, soaps, and sports will soon sit alongside Stranger Things and Lupin. Starting summer 2026, subscribers in France will get access to five of TF1’s live free-to-air channels, plus more than 30,000 hours of on-demand TV shows from TF1+.
For TF1, the collaboration is a chance to tap into a massive new audience: Netflix’s French subscriber base topped 10 million in 2022, which is roughly 13% of the entire population. The partnership also opens up commercial opportunities for TF1, as the company is reliant on advertising income.
Meanwhile, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters called the deal a way to “expand daily engagement” and keep subscribers opening the app regularly.
This move makes Netflix the first major global streamer to offer traditional linear TV channels within its app—a sharp contrast to its earlier disruptor image. But the logic is clear. While streaming dominates on-demand entertainment, many viewers still want the “lean-back” experience of live content, from scheduled sports to primetime shows.
In other parts of Europe, local providers like RTL+ in Germany and Viaplay in the Nordics have dabbled with combining linear and streaming content. In the U.S., however, such integrations are rare—giants like Disney, NBCUniversal, and Paramount prefer to silo content within their apps, limiting Netflix’s options stateside.
That aside, the acquisition is not the first time Netflix has partnered with TF1. Both companies co-produced shows like Les Combattantes, L’Agence, and Tout le bleu du ciel.
For users, the result is simple: one app, one interface, and a whole lot more to watch—whether you’re in the mood for live news, a reality show, or a Netflix original.
Oluwaseun Bamisile
