French OTT TF1+ is rapidly solidifying its position as the leading free streaming platform in France, a major achievement just six months after its launch. Boasting an average of 33 million monthly streamers during the first half ofthe year, the service has seen a 19% growth compared to the previous year. In May, the streamer reached a record of 35.4 million monthly users, marking a milestone for the French digital media landscape.
The platform, part of the TF1 Group, offers an large catalog of 18,000 hours of premium content, with a focus on accessibility across multiple devices, including Smart TVs, where the number of streamers has tripled since January. This focus on audience engagement has allowed service to stand out as a family-oriented platform, especially popular among younger demographics. Each day, 1.7 million users aged 25-49 and 1.3 million aged 15-34 engage with the platform—numbers that clearly exceed those of TF1+’s competitors in the French market.
Rodolphe Belmer, Chairman and CEO of TF1 Group, attributes the success of TF1+ to a well-thought-out digital strategy. ‘We have big ambitions for our platform. In just a few months, the platform has established itself as the leading free streaming platform in France’, stated. Belmer also emphasized the platform’s role in serving younger audiences, noting that the goal is to create a space that combines information and entertainment for all French families.
This expansion is not limited to France. After its successful launch in Belgium and Luxembourg earlier this year, TF1+ has now entered the Swiss market, offering more than 15,000 hours of content.
Precisely, the international growth is part of TF1 Group’s broader ambition to become the top free streaming platform for French-speaking audiences and with this, put face to foraigner services. This strategy was accompanied by a significant content aggregation move, with TF1+ adding content from trusted brands like L’Équipe, Le Figaro, and music streamer Deezer.
Belmer described this partnership as a ‘critical step’ in TF1+’s development. ‘Aggregating content from trusted providers with extensive audience reach will make our platform even more attractive and expand the range of programs available to our users 24/7’, he said. This approach not only expands the content offering but also provides a new revenue stream for these partners, leveraging OTT’s advertising capabilities. For instance, L’Équipe now streams its linear channel and key sports events such as the Le Mans 24-hour Rally and the Nations League on TF1+, which means that the service is currently exploring an aggregation vertical.
Deezer, another partner, brings its Deezer Sessions to the platform, offering live performances by popular artists, while Le Figaro contributes with its TV channel, focusing on news and culture. These partnerships enhance the content library of TF1+ and provide additional appeal to its diverse user base.
Looking ahead, the TF1 Group has its sights set on further expansion and innovation within the streaming sector. As Belmer puts it, ‘these first aggregation tie-ups mark a step change in our digital acceleration strategy. TF1+ offers formidable exposure to our new partners, and I’m delighted with these agreements, which can only increase the power of the popular, high-quality content that lies at the heart of what we do’.
