In order to compete against YouTube and major American streaming platforms like Netflix, the French audiovisual sector has decided to join forces. The result was the creation of LaFa, a new association which notably brings together TF1, M6, France Télévisions and even SACEM and Scam.
We have known for several years now that video and streaming platforms like YouTube and Netflix are eating up more and more screen time compared to traditional TV. In 2019, Netflix had more audiences than TMC, C8 and W9 combined, making the service the 5th “channel” in France if we are to believe the CNC's 2019 Video on Demand Observatory.
And just a few days ago, the general director of YouTube France Justine Ryst bluntly stated that the platform was “the first television channel in France” with 42 million users per month on average. A strong statement, which will also earn the manager the wrath of Yannick Carriou, CEO of Médiamétrie. The executive insisted on LinkedIn that YouTube was not a television channel, adding that the platform was not subject to strict criteria in terms of editorial responsibilities and investments in local and international content imposed on TV channels.
Also read: Netflix, Disney+: streaming platforms are more popular than TV, a first
French audiovisual industry joins forces against YouTube and Netflix
In order to weigh in on these entertainment behemoths, the French audiovisual sector has decided to act. In a press release published this Wednesday, November 13, 2024, TFI, M6, France TV and other players in the sector announced the creation of LaFA (for Audiovisual Sector). With this new association 1901, they hope defend the interests of the French audiovisual sector.
“In a context of profound upheavals in the sector, LaFA's ambition is to ensure the solidity of its economic model, to support its transformation, to guarantee the diversity and renewal of creation, and to ensure the influence of the “French cultural exception”, can we read in the preamble.
This alliance brings together numerous actors from both the private and public sectors. Indeed, France TV and the M6 and TF1 groups are not the only ones at the helm. There are also collective rights management organizations such as Adami (Administration of the rights of performing artists and musicians), SACD (Society of authors, composers and music publishers) or Sacem (Civil society of multimedia authors). Some producer unions have also joined the coalition such as Anim France, the SPI (Union of Independent Producers) and the USPA (Union Syndicale de la Production Audiovisuelle).
Preserve the freedom, rights and means of TV
Concretely, what are LaFA’s stated objectives? Here they are in a few points:
- Ensure published funding “high, dedicated, predictable and sustainable”
- Promote the development of private players in free-to-air DTT by lifting restrictive regulatory restrictions on TV advertising
- Guarantee budgetary autonomy and the missions of the CNC
- Ensuring the sustainability of the compensation scheme for intermittent workers in the entertainment industry
- Preserve tax credit schemes
TheFA also intends to campaign for promoting ethical generative artificial intelligencedesigned to protect intellectual rights. Finally, it intends to make its voice heard on the European scene by calling for the establishment of a regulatory framework for platforms. For now, the first step of LaFA will consist of the publication of an unprecedented study on the economic weight of French audiovisual in spring 2025. We imagine that the association will base its future requests to the government or the European Commission on these figures.
