Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video paid EUR 362 million for French creation in 2023

Netflix, Disney+ and the Amazon Prime Video platform contributed 362 million euros to French audiovisual and cinematographic production in 2023, by virtue of their financing obligations for three years, according to a report revealed by Arcom and the CNC on Tuesday.

Since the entry into force of a decree to this effect in July 2021, transposing a European directive, the largest foreign subscription video services are subject to the same rules for contributing to the financing of French creation as traditional television groups. (TF1, France Télévisions, Canal+, etc.) established in France.

Concretely, they must devote 20% of their turnover in France to financing the production of audiovisual works (series, fiction, live shows, theater, etc.) and cinematographic works, for a total estimated at the time of the reform between 250 and 300 million euros per year.

In 2022, the first full year of application of these obligations, the contribution of the three American platforms Prime Video, Disney+ and Netflix had reached 342 million euros, after 162 million euros in 2021, recall Arcom, the regulatory authority audiovisual, and the National Cinema Center.

In 2023, the 362 million euros spent are shared between 283 million for audiovisual production and 79 million for cinematographic production.

The share paid by each platform is not published due to business secrecy, but Netflix remained the largest contributor. The group claims to have invested “250 million euros” in 2023 in French production, including “50 million in cinema”.

Its French subsidiary in Paris and its European headquarters in Amsterdam were the subject of searches at the beginning of November as part of an investigation into suspicions of tax fraud and hidden work.

In the eyes of Arcom and the CNC, the three publishers Prime Video, Disney+ and Netflix “have generally respected their obligations” for three years and thus contribute around 20% to the compulsory financing of audiovisual and cinematographic production, against 80% for traditional TV channels.

During a press conference, Arcom president Roch-Olivier Maistre welcomed a “harmonious integration” of these streaming giants “into our model”, even if the European directive is “here and there attacked.”

The interim boss of the CNC, Olivier Henrard, noted that “regulation does not scare away platforms”.

For the 2024 financial year, two news, Crunchyroll (acquired by Sony in 2021) and Apple TV+, are subject to these financing obligations. Max, launched in France in June, could also quickly be affected.

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