French Regulators Push for Transparency as Global Platforms Increase Presence
As global platforms continue to expand their reach in the French market, local regulators are now advocating for increased transparency.
Following the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive, major players like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ have ramped up their investments in French film and television. A recent study revealed that these platforms collectively contributed €866 million ($906 million USD) from 2021 to 2023.
With global SVOD expenditures now representing 20% of France’s National Film Board funding, local authorities are keen on maintaining the directive while also welcoming newer entrants like Sony’s Crunchyroll and AppleTV+ Max.
In response to concerns raised by local producer unions regarding negotiations without full economic transparency, France’s broadcasting regulatory authority (Arcom) is exploring legislative solutions to address the lack of visibility on streaming data.
Arcom’s Antoine Boilley emphasized the importance of public interest in financing audiovisual and cinema creation in France, advocating for exceptions to be made for the greater good. Netflix’s agreement to share financial data for 2023 has boosted optimism for increased transparency in the industry.
Aside from transparency, Arcom has proposed measures for SVOD services to allocate minimum portions of their annual obligations towards professional training programs to combat inflation and skills shortages within the industry.
The study revealed that series orders constituted the majority of the €866 million spend, with TV programming receiving €703 million ($735 million) and feature films €163 million ($170 million) since 2021.
Notably, SVOD-backed films often engage in early pre-buys, leading to higher budgets averaging $9.1 million, nearly double the industry standard. This approach has resulted in successful productions like “Beating Hearts” and “Monsieur Aznavour” that have flourished in both theatrical and streaming platforms.
CNC interim president Olivier Henrard commended the collaborative efforts between traditional pay-TV and public broadcasters with international streamers, citing recent successes like “Drops of God,” backed by AppleTV+ and France Television, which won the International Emmy for best drama.
Henrard highlighted the positive impact of this collaboration, emphasizing the growth of cooperation schemes and the integration of top-tier talent into editorial strategies. This shift towards a more inclusive and collaborative creative landscape has been met with enthusiasm within the industry.
