France Télévisions Faces Crisis: Streamer Alliances Eyed for Survival

Amid budget cuts, Manuel Alduy, head of cinema and international fiction at France Télévisions, seeks to deepen ties with streaming platforms. The goal is to replicate the success of collaborations with European partners such as ZDF of Germany and RAI of Italy. Alduy emphasizes the importance of flexibility on both sides to achieve beneficial agreements. The presentation at Series Mania in Lille, where the dystopian drama 'The Best Immigrant' will premiere, reflects this strategy.

France Télévisions plans to reduce its investment in cinema by 5 million euros by 2026. The total investment in audiovisual content has decreased by 10% in two years, from 440 to 400 million euros. This situation directly impacts fiction production, reducing the number of high-end miniseries. Ambitious projects, such as 'The Count of Monte Cristo', are becoming exceptions due to financial limitations in Europe.

Streamers, with their greater financial resources, present both an opportunity and a challenge for France Télévisions. Alduy notes that platform budgets are often double or triple that of the public channel. The key to collaboration lies in the story, rights, and financing. France Télévisions maintains its commitment to national and European content, avoiding the acquisition of American series. Flagship French programs, such as 'Alex Hugo', continue to attract millions of viewers, demonstrating the success of this editorial strategy.

If budget cuts continue, France Télévisions could be forced to reduce investment in French fiction and return to acquiring foreign series, including American ones. Alduy mentions that other European channels are already adopting this direction. The mandatory investment in cinema is 3.5%, with 95% going to French-language films. The reduction of 40 million euros in overall investment will force alternatives, such as repeats or acquisitions of foreign series.

France Télévisions seeks economic models, rights, and creative control that benefit both parties. Successful collaborations include projects with Disney+, Paramount+, HBO Max, and Amazon. Alduy highlights that most of these projects originated at France Télévisions. The alliance with RAI and ZDF remains active, with the launch of romantic comedy projects. These projects focus on light entertainment with a public service approach. France Télévisions is interested in family series, geopolitical thrillers, and light formats such as romantic comedies.

The desynchronization between box office success and performance on open television is increasing. The films that work best on open television are usually dramedies with known casts, which were not necessarily box office hits. This reflects a greater public curiosity and a greater openness to discovering content. Films that are successful on open TV tend to have a clear and easy-to-understand proposition. The channel is adapting to on-demand consumption habits, where the preview of the series is key to its success in linear broadcasting.

The company must adapt to the changes in the industry, and its director hopes to replicate the success of collaborations with European partners. The goal is to create joint projects with streaming platforms, where everyone involved has an active participation. The objective is to work together to create quality content and maintain relevance in a constantly evolving market. France Télévisions' strategy focuses on producing content that resonates with the public and is economically viable.

Alduy highlights the importance of flexibility and collaboration to face the challenges of the industry. The channel seeks to maintain its commitment to the production of national and European content, but recognizes the need to adapt to the new realities of the market. The ultimate goal is to ensure the financial and creative sustainability of France Télévisions, maintaining its position as a key player in the entertainment industry.