Netflix Makes History With First-Ever Partnership With a Local Broadcaster

Netflix has taken a major step that could change how streaming platforms work in the future. For the first time ever, the company has added live TV channels and catch-up content from an outside broadcaster directly into its service. The historic partnership is with French broadcaster TF1 Group and its streaming platform TF1+, giving Netflix subscribers in France access to a wide range of traditional television content without leaving the app.

The rollout officially began on June 20, following an announcement made during TF1 Group’s annual upfront event in Paris. According to reports, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters made a surprise appearance at the event to discuss the growing partnership. The launch comes exactly one year after the agreement between the two companies was first revealed at Cannes Lions in 2025.

French Netflix users can now watch content from TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films, and LCI directly through Netflix. The channels and their on-demand libraries have been integrated into a dedicated TF1+ section inside the streaming platform. The new area is easy to find on smart TVs and mobile devices, where users are greeted with recommendations and featured programming from the broadcaster.

The deal is designed to help TF1 reach audiences that may no longer watch traditional television. In an interview with Le Parisien, TF1 Group CEO Rodolphe Bellmer explained the thinking behind the partnership.

“Netflix subscribers consume few traditional television offerings.”

He added that the company expects the collaboration to increase viewing time for TF1 content and introduce its programs to a much wider audience.

Netflix also sees the partnership as an opportunity to expand the variety of content available on its platform. Peters said the technical side of integrating TF1’s catalog was relatively simple. The bigger challenge was making sure the content felt natural inside the Netflix experience.

“The point was to conceive this experience to make TF1 programming easily accessible and entice our subscribers to watch it.”

While the integration is already live, some features are still missing. Live channels are not yet available on the Netflix mobile app, and the dedicated TF1+ section does not currently appear on the web version of Netflix. Some TF1+ features, including certain ad-supported streaming channels that run content around the clock, have also not been transferred to Netflix.

One thing that has carried over is advertising. Viewers will see commercials during TF1 programming and live broadcasts, even if they subscribe to Netflix’s premium plans. This mirrors the experience already offered through TF1+.

Netflix has also added an option for users who are not interested in the broadcaster’s content. According to Numerama, subscribers can disable TF1+ recommendations through their profile settings. The content will still appear in search results, but Netflix will stop actively suggesting it.

Industry observers are already watching the partnership closely. Many see it as a test that could lead to similar deals in other countries if the results are positive. While no additional agreements have been announced, the success of the TF1 experiment could influence how streaming services and traditional broadcasters work together in the years ahead.

For now, France has become the first market where Netflix combines its original streaming model with live television from a major local broadcaster, marking a significant moment in the platform’s evolution.

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