French commercial broadcaster TF1 is to offer its advertising supported streaming platform TF1+ in 22 French-speaking African countries.
It will go live on June 30, 2025 following earlier extensions into Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
In an interview with Variety, chief exeutive Rodolphe Belmer said the broadcaster was launching across the French-speaking world “with the aim of making TF1+ the leading entertainment platform in those markets”.
The move will instantly draw comparisons with Canal+, which already has an established base in French-speaking Africa and is in the process of concluding a deal in English markets through its acquisition of Multichoice.
Belmer also confirmed a micro-payment option for TF1+ that would extend revenue sources beyond the current linear advertising and digital advertising. The plan, which draws on a business model used in mobile gaming, would be used in the consumption of TF1’s top shows “Starting on September 1, we will offer all TF1+ users in France the option of watching our shows either with advertising or without advertising for each episode. So, if you want to watch our big family entertainment show called Koh-Lanta [Survivor], you can tune in on Tuesday evening to watch it, which is when it’s broadcast and you will be able to watch it either with or without advertising.
TF1 is not against surprise moves, last week it was announced Netflix subscribers in France will be able to watch TF1 channels and on demand content from TF1+ directly on the Netflix platform.
Belmer would not comment on the deal other than to say it would extend TF1’s advertising market.
