Could Netflix’s Latest Deal Change the Relationship Between Streaming and Linear TV?

Published: June 23, 2025

dima-solomin-sOU09hnONrQ-unsplash — Photo from Dima Solomin via Unsplash

By India McCarty

Netflix just teamed up with French channel TF1 to stream their content on the platform — could similar deals be in the works for the rest of the world?

“This is a first-of-its-kind partnership that plays to our strengths of giving audiences the best entertainment alongside the best discovery experience,” Greg Peters, co-CEO of Netflix, said in a press release. “By teaming up with France’s leading broadcaster we will provide French consumers with even more reasons to come to Netflix every day and to stay with us for all their entertainment.”

All five of TF1’s channels will be available to stream on Netflix, as well as over 30,000 hours of on-demand programming.

“I am delighted about this new partnership with Netflix, with whom we have already established strong relationships through ambitious co-productions in recent months,” Rodolphe Belmer, CEO of TF1 Group, said. “As viewing habits shift toward on-demand consumption and audience fragmentation increases, this unprecedented alliance will enable our premium content to reach unparalleled audiences and unlock new reach for advertisers within an ecosystem that perfectly complements our TF1+ platform.”

Netflix-TF1: Landmark Deal Sets Stage For More Partnerships Around The World – Analysis https://t.co/TRGiWRnPn9

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) June 19, 2025

This deal has the potential to cause some major waves in the world of streaming.

NBCUniversal Creative Products Director S.J. Mckenzie told LinkedIn the move “should have every U.S. media exec on alert,” adding, “While U.S. teams are still stuck optimizing bundles and measuring ‘attention,’ Europe is building the next evolution of streaming.”

However, The Hollywood Reporter wrote, “There are ample reasons to think that while similar deals may be struck in markets around the world, the U.S. won’t be one of them. At least not anytime soon.”

The outlet pointed to Netflix’s “scale and reach,” as well as the economic relationship between broadcast and pay-TV, “which have been optimized in the U.S. in a way that is unlike most other world markets.”

THR also explained that Netflix is likely “nearing a ceiling in the U.S.” when it comes to subscriber count.

“Netflix does not break out subscriber numbers by country, but it is reasonable to assume that it has not reached its ceiling in many large markets. France may be one of them,” they wrote. “There are surely others. Adding a broadcast network may be a way to pick up share as consumers naturally migrate toward streaming.”

While Netflix and TF1’s new partnership marks a big change in the relationship between streaming and traditional broadcast TV, it’s safe to assume the streamer won’t be inking a similar deal stateside any time soon.

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