Netflix is planning to add live broadcast TV to its platform. Starting this summer, French subscribers will be able to watch five live broadcast channels from TF1 Group, France’s largest commercial broadcaster.

It’s a surprising, but strategic, move for Netflix. After helping to kill off TV, the streaming giant is now borrowing from its playbook.

Netflix and TF1

The partnership between Netflix and TF1 will give French users a more traditional TV experience inside the streamer’s service. As well as access to live broadcast channels, users will also get more than 30,000 hours of on-demand TF1 content by summer 2026. That includes popular reality shows like The Voice, scripted dramas, and live sports, giving users more choice and expanding Netflix’s footprint in France.

Netflix and TF1 have collaborated in the past. They co-produced French historical drama series Les Combattantes (known as Women at War internationally). But this new deal goes much deeper. It represents a full integration of live broadcast TV within the streaming interface — something few streaming services have attempted.

No financial details were disclosed, but the scale of the partnership suggests a long-term commitment.

“We see this as an opportunity to provide even more value to people, with even more content, so that we can drive more daily engagement,” said co-CEO Greg Peters. “By teaming up with France’s leading broadcaster, we will give French consumers even more reasons to come to Netflix every day and to stay with us for all their entertainment.”

For TF1, the deal represents a game changer in terms of visibility and ad revenue. Its live channels will continue to feature ads, which will allow TF1 to expand its reach and entice advertisers.

TF1 CEO Rodolphe Belmer said the deal aligns with the company’s digital strategy. “In a context where viewing is increasingly on demand and the audience is fragmented, this unique partnership will enable our premium content to reach unprecedented audiences,” he said. “Even though linear TV is in secular decline, we are now seeking to be relevant by also benefiting from the huge driving force of Netflix.”

Meeting Regulations and Millions of Viewers

The deal also allows Netflix to better meet regulations. French streaming services are required to reinvest between 20 and 25 percent of their revenue in France into local content. Working with TF1 allows Netflix to comply with that rule while adding more culturally relevant content to its library.

There’s also a huge growth opportunity in terms of viewership. TF1’s channels are viewed by 58 million people per month, while its streaming service TF1+ has 35 million users. Netflix has just over 10 million subscribers in France, according to co-CEO Ted Sarandos in 2022.

The integration will give TF1’s traditional viewers a taste of Netflix — and vice versa — creating a win-win feedback loop of engagement and exposure.

And that’s not the only win. Peters said the company will watch how the TF1 deal works before considering rolling out similar deals in other markets. If successful, the model could be expanded to other European countries and even the U.S.

Consumer behavior is also changing. Streaming accounted for 44.8% of total TV viewing in May, overtaking both cable (24.1%) and broadcast (20.1%) for the first time since Nielsen began tracking the category in 2021.

While some linear channels are already available on streaming services like YouTube TV, Netflix’s inclusion of live broadcast channels represents a bigger shift. Streaming services are no longer just replacing television — they’re eating it.

With the TF1 deal, Netflix is positioning itself as a one-stop shop for all types of content — bingeable series, live sports, and real-time TV.

For many French viewers, Netflix is already TV. Now it’s becoming the TV.