In the game-changing partnership that will see Netflix France start carrying TF1 Group’s content in summer 2026, Netflix stands to benefit the most, according to the industry’s producers and distributors.

Kidscreen readers weighed in on a poll asking who will come out on top in the buzzy carriage deal. The consensus that emerged: Netflix wins, because the streamer will get more content and increase its value with French kids and families. 

Guillaume Schmitt, a former senior in-house counsel for Mediawan Kids & Family who started the Paris-based animation studio Kenchana last year, sums up the benefits for the streamer, which hinge on building up its catalogue.

“Netflix will get a lot of new programs, including animation and live events,” he says. “It will enlarge its reach and it will become even more essential in France. Whereas TF1 might just gain some visibility (maybe) and additional advertising revenue.” 

Schmitt also expressed another consensus respondents shared, which is that if anyone loses out with this deal, it could be the producers and distributors of kids content. “Why would Netflix continue to buy [a lot of] separate French content when it can get it from TF1—especially kids animated content?”

Miraculous Corp CEO Andy Yeatman, who’s also a former director of kids and family content at Netflix, agrees that the streamer stands to gain the most from this deal and expressed reservations about what the agreement could mean for the industry. “It’s just another step in training people to view Netflix as the first option to watch any kind of television, and allow Netflix to own the relationship with the consumer (and their viewing data),” he says.

He also didn’t mince words when it comes to addressing who could lose out in this alliance. 

“I don’t see how this helps producers. There’s a scenario where it takes a potential buyer out of the market.”

However, there are some in the industry who are hopeful that this particular tide will lift all boats. 

“No one loses” in this partnership, argues Brenda Bisner, chief content officer at APMC-owned kids streamer Kidoodle.TV. “The goal is always to make the best content possible and grow a strong loyal audience base. Kids win because it’s another access point, besides YouTube. Producers and distributors who already work with TF1 have a higher chance of getting funded because there is access to capital and a more robust audience. TF1 is now in streaming with a very popular streamer.” 

Research org The Insights Family previously shared data with Kidscreen detailing how this deal could benefit both companies. It says that Netflix has a bit more to gain in the long run from a subscriber boost, and that more deals like this are almost certain to follow. 

Some in the industry agree with that prediction, too. “Netflix and TF1 just made a power move that has laid the groundwork for more of this to happen,” Bisner says. “Bravo.” 

Image courtesy of Tumisu via Pixabay.