The TF1 group and Free sign a new global distribution agreement

Boulogne April 25th, 2018

The TF1 group and Free sign a new global distribution agreement

Under the agreement, Free will distribute all the TF1 group’s channels, plus non-linear services associated with those channels.

The agreement consolidates the partnership between the two companies, creating value by providing an enhanced service across all screens for Free subscribers. It also allows Free subscribers to enjoy innovative functionalities around TF1 group programmes:

• extended catch-up windows for programmes on MYTF1;
• programmes premiered ahead of TV broadcast;
• innovative, advanced functionalities that will enable Free to launch new services;
• two new channels (TF1+1 and TMC+1), available from the 2018 autumn season;
• event programming in 4K.

This partnership is accompanied by the renewal of the distribution agreements for the TV channels TV Breizh, Ushuaïa TV, Histoire, and for the TV services TFOU Max and MYTF1 VOD.

About the TF1 group

The TF1 group is the leading private-sector unencrypted television broadcaster in France. It broadcasts five complementary unencrypted channels (TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films and LCI), and four quality pay-TV theme channels (TV Breizh, Histoire, Ushuaïa and Serieclub, the last of which is 50% owned) to meet special-interest demand.

The Group is adding a high-powered digital dimension to its channels, via exclusive content on MYTF1 and video-on-demand offers via MYTF1VOD and TFOU MAX.

TF1 Publicité, the Group’s advertising airtime sales arm, offers advertisers the combined benefits of access to mass-market television channels, digital affinity targeting and innovative brand content solutions. It also sells advertising slots on French independent radio stations and M Radio, on Discovery Communications channels (such as Eurosport and Discovery Channel), and on numerous websites.

In conjunction with its core business, the TF1 group is also present in the production and distribution of content. The main aim of acquiring Newen is to accelerate the international expansion of production and distribution.

The TF1 group has created a large range of complementary businesses in key areas such as entertainment and leisure with TF1 Entertainment (board games, music and live show production, licences and publishing); the film industry with TF1 Films Production and TF1 Studio; and home shopping with Téléshopping.

TF1 is keenly aware of its responsibilities to society, and through its “TF1 Initiatives” approach is committed to expanding and enhancing actions to promote diversity and solidarity and to protect the environment.

About Free

Free, a subsidiary of the Iliad group, is the inventor of the Freebox, the first multiservice box on ADSL. Free is behind numerous innovations in the Broadband and Ultra-Fast Broadband access segment (VoIP, IPTV, flat-rate calling plans to multiple destinations, etc.). The Freebox Revolution, the 6th generation of Freebox units, includes an NAS and a Blu-RayTM drive. Free also offers the Freebox mini 4K, the first Android TVTM and 4K box on the French market. Free was the first operator to include calls from landlines to mobile phones in its offerings, and also calls to French overseas departments. Since January 2012, Free has brought mobile phone usage within everyone's reach with straightforward, no-commitment offerings at very attractive prices. The Free Mobile Plan includes roaming communications all year round from more than 35 countries: unlimited calls, texts and MMS from Europe, French overseas departments, the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Israel (to the same destination), 25 GB/month from all those countries plus Mexico, Switzerland, Turkey, Algeria and Thailand. Free also includes unlimited 4G in its €15.99/month plan for Freebox subscribers. Free has over 20 million subscribers (6.5 million Broadband and Ultra-Fast Broadband subscribers and 13.7 million mobile subscribers as of 31 December 2017).