In a bit of an unexpected turn, Netflix is getting ready to offer live broadcast TV. Starting in the summer of 2025, the streamer will add five live linear broadcast channels from the largest commercial broadcaster in France, TF1 Group.

It’s an interesting turn for Netflix, which has helped revolutionize TV — and now wants a little bit of what it helped kill.

Netflix and TF1: A New Partnership

As reported by the Financial Times, Netflix and TF1 have inked a deal that will bring the experience of regular television to subscribers in France. Not only will the new agreement offer live access to the channels, but by the summer of 2026, it will give Netflix users access to more than 30,000 hours of on-demand content from TF1, including its biggest hits like The Voice, scripted dramas, and sports — giving consumers more choice and adding depth to Netflix’s library in France.

The two companies have worked together in the past, producing the French historical series Les Combattantes (called Women at War internationally). But this agreement is different. It’s a deep integration of live TV within the Netflix interface — something few streamers have attempted.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed, but the deal is substantial enough that it likely involves a long-term commitment.

“It is an exciting opportunity to deliver more engagement every day,” said Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters. “By partnering with France’s largest broadcaster, we will be able to offer French consumers even more reasons to come to Netflix every day, and to stay with us for all their entertainment.”

The agreement is also a big deal for TF1. The live channels will remain ad-supported, which is the only way for the company to advertise and stay relevant in a streaming world.

“We believe this alliance is a perfect match for our digital transformation and will enable us to significantly amplify the visibility of our exceptional content and make it accessible to our entire audience,” said TF1 CEO Rodolphe Belmer. “As viewers are increasingly turning to on-demand viewing and audience fragmentation is on the rise, this unprecedented alliance will allow our premium content to reach audiences of unprecedented size.”

“The real experience of linear television is in secular decline,” he added. “And I think this alliance will enable us to stay in the game, to benefit from the very strong tailwind that Netflix brings to us.”

A Regulated and Reach Deal

Netflix also benefits from this deal in a regulatory way. Under French law, streaming services have to reinvest 20 to 25 percent of their revenue in France into local content. This deal allows Netflix to meet that requirement while still bringing in more culturally relevant content.

The deal also means that Netflix can have access to a lot of potential viewers. TF1’s linear channels have 58 million viewers per month, while its streaming service, TF1+, has 35 million users. That’s more than Netflix, which has about 10 million subscribers in France, according to co-CEO Ted Sarandos in 2022.

The integration of TF1 could also bring in TF1’s traditional viewers to Netflix — and vice versa. It’s a mutually beneficial exchange of viewership and exposure.

That’s not the only reason why this is happening. Peters also said that the company will watch how the deal works out before seeking similar partnerships elsewhere. If it goes well, the deal could be replicated in other European markets and the U.S.

The shift makes sense as consumer behavior changes. Nielsen says that streaming represented 44.8% of all TV viewership in May, beating both cable (24.1%) and broadcast (20.1%) for the first time since it began tracking in 2021.

Some linear channels are already available on streaming services like YouTube TV, but this deal is different. Streaming services are no longer killing television, they’re integrating it.

If the deal works out, Netflix could become the one-stop shop for all entertainment, from bingeable shows to live sports and regular TV.

For many French viewers, Netflix already is the television. Now it’s going to be one.