The CEO of TF1, Rodolphe Belmer took the stage of Series Mania Forum, during “Lille Dialogues” at Series Mania Forum last day to talk about the internationalization of his OTT TF1+. Exec said that Streamer will begin an international rollout in the middle of this year ahead of a broader series of launches in 2025.
Belmer explained the move they are preparing for their streamer in different French-speaking countries, including Belgium and Luxembourg, followed by Switzerland a few months later and by 2025 it will be launched in other markets where the French language is dominated.
TF1 had launched the service just a few weeks ago in France, but that did not limit the aspirations of its international debut, Belmer said. ‘It is time for Europa to have its streaming platforms in its language and with its content. That’s why reaching out to the French-speaking world is the next step’, he said.
The executive did not offer details about the platform’s programming strategy abroad, but he did say that its local audience had ‘quadrupled since its launch’, The OTT debuted with more than 200 programming packages with iconic shows like Plus Belle La Vie.
The OTT works under an advertising-based model, so the audience growth is because the French population is ‘prone to free platforms’, Belmer said. ‘Our goal is to capture a larger portion of the digital advertising pie given the decline in the linear advertising market’.
The executive was emphatic when referring to finance content they need to develop in the international market, especially in adjacent ones. ‘Video advertising represents 2 billion euros per year in France and there is a growth of 15% each year’.
Regarding local competitors, Belmer expressed that he viewed them favorably, but also mentioned that companies like YouTube or Meta are also ‘strong’ players with whom the local market competes.
