This Thursday morning, on his home page, Prime Video invited his subscribers to watch his fictions “We Les Liars”, “Heads of State” or even “everything except you” … and to view the flagship programs of France Télévisions! At the same time, the public audiovisual group and the Amazon platform sent a common press release, in which they welcomed an “unprecedented distribution agreement” … A year earlier, therefore, that that promised between the channels of the TF1 and Netflix group, scheduled for the summer of 2026.
What are the available programs?
All of the contents of France.TV is now accessible from Prime Video, or about 20,000, from the series “Astrid and Raphaëlle” to “naked and cheeky” documentaries, including the talk show “C to you”. This includes direct channels (France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5 and Franceinfo), preview and replay programs as well as exclusive content.
All programs, therefore, including “Le Serpent”, a series with Tahar Rahim broadcast on France 2 from July 21 and initially controlled by … Netflix.
Where to find them?
A carousel on the platform’s home page already promotes this partnership. Prime Video then undertakes to highlight the highlights of France.TV, as is already the case thanks to a banner which zooms in on “Drag Race”, “a so great sun” and “the Tour de France”.
Will the premium subscribers of Prime Video zap the advertisement on France.TV?
No. The option without advertising will not exempt advertising cuts from France.TV, neither during direct nor on replay.
What do France Télévisions and Prime Video win?
The same as TF1 and Netflix next summer: visibility, especially with a young audience, for the first and a catalog enriched for the second. “Part of the public makes its audiovisual life only on streaming platforms. It is not that these spectators decide not to watch the television channels anymore, it is that they have come out of their field of vision, underlines Philippe Bailly, president of the Cabinet NPA Conseil, specializing in digital transformation. Being present on a platform makes it possible to reintegrate their consumption circuit. »Cherry on the cake, the content France.TV on the Video premium are measured by Médiamétrie and recognized in the audiences.
The interest is almost symmetrical for paid platforms. “If, at the end of the month, you realize that you have barely been there, you unsubscribe, points out the expert. She must give you reasons to come back, for example by distributing the Tour de France or a daily soap opera. It increases the time you spend on the platforms, which have integrated advertising into their economic model. This is a crucial element with advertisers. »»
Why reveal this agreement now?
“We have been in negotiation for several months to reach this launch today,” said the Prime Video side, which keeps the secret on the duration of this agreement. “The real question is rather why Netflix and TF1 communicated a year before their offer is operational,” we tackle at France Télévisions, which recalls that the public audiovisual group aims for a most complete offer possible and has recently offered the contents of Arte, the parliamentary channel, France 24, soon to be joined by TV5 Monde, on its own platform.
Is an alliance between M6 and a platform now envisaged?
Nothing has been announced but it is very possible. Asked about the question in our columns last week, David Larramendy, the boss of the M6 group replied: “We do not prohibit it. It is a logical evolution. We, broadcasters, must find our viewers where they are. On the platform side, consumption has reached a tray or even decreases, and need new content. »»
Is this the end of linear television?
“I don’t think. Sport, info and part of entertainment only exist in direct, analyzes Philippe Bailly. We must not underestimate the part of the time when we do not want to start looking for a program, in an active attitude. TV remains a leisure object. Sometimes we just want to do P+ or P- On his remote control, to come across something that amuses us and to stay there. TV also brings a very simple moment of relaxation. »»
It is not France Télévisions which will say the opposite. The group recalls that “TV remains the most consumed media every day”. For Philippe Bailly, these agreements between linear chains and streaming platforms mark a move of borders. “Such an alliance was completely unimaginable ten years ago. Since then, the various distributors have learned to work together, especially on fiction. The real border today separates those which finance content, TV channels and platforms, from those who take no risk, such as YouTube, Tiktok and social networks. »»
