Netflix will start showing live TV next year. Next summer, French subscribers will be able to watch five linear broadcast channels on the platform of the streaming giant, after an agreement was signed between Netflix and the largest commercial broadcaster in France, TF1 Group.

This is a turning point in Netflix’s strategy — a company whose rise was fueled by breaking TV, is now tapping into the core of the experience. Netflix and TF1: a joint venture.

A deal that will give Netflix subscribers access to live broadcast content, as well as 30,000 hours of on-demand content by summer 2026. That means reality shows, drama series and even live sports, more options for the user and more content for Netflix.

In the past, Netflix and TF1 have worked together on French series co-production Women at War. However, this new deal is much more than that. This will be an integrated live TV in the interface, something that few streaming services are trying to do.

No financial details were released but, with such a large scale, the deal seems like a long-term commitment.

“This will give us an opportunity to drive even more daily engagement with our members, one of our key metrics as we no longer share members,” said Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters.

By teaming up with France’s leading broadcaster, he added, “we will give French consumers more reasons to come to Netflix every day and to stay with us for all their entertainment needs.”

“as the way of watching TV changes towards on-demand and fragmentation of the audience grows, this unprecedented alliance will enable our premium content to reach unprecedented audiences.”

Belmer added that linear TV was in “secular decline”, and that “we are going to be able to benefit from the massive impact of Netflix to stay relevant in this area”.

Help with Regulation and Hundreds of Millions of Viewers

For Netflix, this deal is also a regulatory tool. Indeed, in France, the streaming platforms must reinvest 20% to 25% of their French revenue in French content. With this deal, Netflix will be able to meet this rule while expanding its catalog with known, locally relevant content.

But the real advantage for Netflix will be the reach, because TF1’s five linear channels attract 58 million viewers per month. On the streaming side, the TF1 Group’s channels attract 35 million users. Netflix has only 10 million subscribers in France, co-CEO Ted Sarandos announced in 2022.

This could be a good first step to get TF1’s traditional audience to stream on Netflix and vice versa, creating a virtuous circle.

However, the move may not be isolated. “We’ll see how it works and then we can talk about other territories,” Peters said. The United States could be one of them.

While other channels are already available on services like YouTube TV, this integration of live broadcast channels by Netflix is part of a wider shift. Streaming platforms are no longer just disrupting television — they are replacing it.

With this deal, Netflix may position itself as the single destination for all types of entertainment, from binge-watching series to live sports and live TV for real time.

For many French people, Netflix already looks like television. It will soon be that.