France’s TF1 Explores Sale of Production-Distribution Group Studio TF1 as Broadcaster Doubles Down on Streaming — SkimNews
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- TF1 has hired Rothschild to oversee an early-stage sale of Studio TF1, its production-distribution group, which could be valued at around €400 million according to a source cited by Reuters.
- Studio TF1 (formerly Newen, acquired by TF1 in 2015) encompasses more than 50 production companies across 12 territories and produced 3,750 hours of programming in 2025, including French soaps "Tomorrow Is Ours" and "Here It All Begins."
- TF1's first-half revenue dropped 9.9% to €993 million, with its media division down 10.8% to €869 million, while Studio TF1 posted an operating loss of €4 million blamed on the absence of major Netflix deliveries.
- CEO Rodolphe Belmer, a former Netflix board member and ex-head of Canal+ Group, launched the AVOD service TF1+ and struck a content-carriage deal with Netflix to put TF1's five live channels on the platform.
- Studio TF1 launched theatrical distribution in early 2026, with its first full release "Good Vibes Only" selling more than 700,000 tickets, and has pledged to double its film output to 10-15 titles annually by 2027.
- TF1 is rumored to be preparing a renewed bid for rival commercial network M6, after a 2022 merger attempt collapsed when French regulators demanded antitrust remedies deemed unfeasible.
- ITV is pursuing a parallel European strategy, selling its media and entertainment arm to Comcast-owned Sky while spinning off production outfit ITV Studios as an independent listed company.
Why it matters: Studio TF1 carried a €4 million operating loss while TF1's media revenue fell 10.8% in the first half, giving Belmer concrete ammunition to redirect capital into the TF1+ streaming platform and a Netflix carriage partnership. The roughly €400 million sale would monetize an underperforming production arm while a renewed M6 bid — if pursued — would reshape France's commercial broadcasting landscape after the 2022 antitrust collapse.
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