The future of television and streaming
French television channels are increasingly switching to streaming to vary their offers, services and content and to stand out from competitors.
Given the increasing popularity of streaming in the media, the major French television channels have been developing on-demand television services, and more particularly the so-called “replay» service.
To enrich and boost its range of non-linear services, the TF1 group was already working with other television channels such as M6, which is currently in the process of merging with TF1, and France Télévision, as well as with the Salto platform, a video-on-demand service (SVoD). Indeed, the TF1 group is currently testing MyTF1 Max, a commercial-free pay-per-view streaming service that completes its MyTF1 offer, which is free but includes advertising. It is rumoured that M6 is also in the process of creating a similar pay-per-view replay offer via 6Play, together with telecom operators. As for France Télévisions, its president Delphine Ernotte announced to Médias en Seine her intention to make the France Télévisions a “leader in free streaming” by offering more film content and series for online viewing. The combination of the projects of these different channels, together with a more intense collaboration with Salto, should bring each of them to a new level in the non-linear sector.
Either out of ambition or out of the need to adapt to market trends, the major channels are expanding into non-linear services to meet international competition, particularly from the US, which is leading the way in digital advertising and SVoD.
In terms of figures, the CNC [1] indicates that the turnover of French TV channels for catch-up TV is about 125 million euros, 1,560.3 billion euros for pay video on demand, including SVoD, and 3,027 billion euros for TV advertising. However, the French figures are still lower than those of other countries, such as the UK, which is further ahead in non-linear offer. Moreover, the use of replay, although increasing, remains moderate.
Under the influence of international [2] TV channels, the current challenge for French TV channels is to increase their visibility with operators and to be present on connected TV sets, in the hope that one day one of their offers will stand out [3].
IP/IT, Media Law team of UGGC Avocats
Sources :
https://www.mediasenseine.com/fr/
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2311799/swedens-nent-challenges-netflix-in-nordics
[1] Each year, the National Centre for Cinema and Moving Images (CNC) produces a comprehensive report on all audiovisual sectors, analysing trends in film attendance, the number of cinemas, production, video consumption, film distribution, TV broadcasting and exports. For more figures, see the CNC’s Bilan 2020, and the study on the economics of catch-up TV in 2020.
https://www.cnc.fr/documents/36995/153434/Le+Bilan+2020+du+CNC.pdf/dc0a7451-485a-bb49-44b5-a0eee8ae1755?t=1622801471026
[2] Le groupe TF1 s’est notamment inspirée des chaînes britanniques ITV, qui a ITV Hub+ (sans publicité), ainsi que de BritBox, lancé par la BBC et ITV, afin de concurrencer les services de streaming américains. Voir à ce sujet : https://www.lesechos.fr/tech-medias/medias/streaming-comment-les-chaines-de-television-se-reinventent-1356242
[3] A titre d’exemple, la société suédoise Nordic Entertainment Group (Nent) avec son service de streaming Viaplay, défie les géants du streaming tels que Netflix dans les pays nordiques. Nent a annoncé une augmentation du nombre d’abonnés et du bénéfice d’exploitation trimestriel alors qu’elle s’étend au-delà de la Scandinavie. Voir à ce sujet : https://tribune.com.pk/story/2311799/swedens-nent-challenges-netflix-in-nordics