Netflix wants more TF1-style deals after France test

Netflix wants more deals that put other broadcasters inside its own app.

Following its third-quarter 2026 results, the company said it wants to strike more third-party content deals like its TF1 partnership in France, Deadline reported. It said it will keep expanding its entertainment offer through licensing, meaning paying for the right to carry shows made by others, and new ways to bring outside programmes onto the service.

The French test began in summer 2026. TF1+ and the TF1 live channel became available to Netflix members in France from 19 June, in what Netflix described as a first-of-its-kind distribution partnership, according to a company announcement Netflix. Members can move between Netflix shows and TF1's live feed and on-demand catalogue without leaving the app.

The line-up includes scripted dramas Broceliande and Erica alongside France's version of The Voice. Live entertainment sits next to drama box sets in the same search and recommendations.

Netflix said it is pleased with how the partnership is performing. Early metrics point to incremental viewing in France, meaning extra watching on top of what members already did, rather than replacing existing viewing. The company also said its audience is approaching one billion people.

More deals are coming. The TF1 model is not the only outside deal in the mix. Netflix previously disclosed a new US licensing partnership with Universal in its fourth-quarter 2025 shareholder letter.

The push on outside shows follows a tight quarter for growth. Ahead of the third-quarter 2026 report, Netflix was expected to post its slowest third-quarter revenue growth in three years, Reuters reported. Analysts forecast sales of $12.87 billion, an increase of 11.8%.

That expectation tracked closely with the company's own guidance from July. Netflix had forecast third-quarter 2026 revenue of $12.86 billion and diluted earnings per share of 82 cents, meaning profit divided across all shares, Reuters reported. Shares fell more than 8% in after-hours trading, meaning trading after the main stock market closed, after that forecast was published.

For viewers, this means less hopping between apps. A deal like TF1 keeps live channels and catch-up shows in one place. If Netflix repeats the model elsewhere, local channels could sit next to its own series in more countries.

For crews, the stakes are practical. A licensing deal can give a finished show another window and another audience. That extra viewing can keep formats alive and keep people in work longer.