Netflix to offer live TV channels for the first time in deal with France's TF1

The big picture: The media landscape is rapidly evolving as streaming platforms and traditional broadcasters explore new partnerships to engage viewers. With Netflix now adding linear TV channels featuring live sports and games, the streaming giant is starting to resemble the very cable TV model it once sought to disrupt.

Netflix is set to break new ground in the television industry by offering live, linear TV channels for the first time, following a landmark agreement with France's largest commercial broadcaster, TF1. The deal, announced at the Cannes Lions festival, will allow Netflix subscribers in France to watch all five of TF1's free-to-air channels and access more than 30,000 hours of on-demand content from TF1+ directly through the streaming platform starting in the summer of 2026.

The partnership marks a significant shift for Netflix, which until now has focused exclusively on on-demand streaming. The move comes as traditional ...