Unifrance chief outlines French TV challenges and export strategies ahead of Le Havre market
Unifrance President Gilles Pélisson warned that consolidation and streaming are reshaping French TV distribution, but said French content remains strong internationally.
At the upcoming Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Le Havre, President Gilles Pélisson discussed how market consolidation and the dominance of streaming platforms are disrupting French television distribution across Europe. He noted worries about the future of public broadcasters, streamer-produced local content, and the advertising squeeze on free-to-air channels. Nevertheless, he pointed to strong buyer interest, with roughly 130 international purchasers expecting French productions to deliver varied, export-ready content.
Pélisson described the emergence of "hyper-distribution," where titles like "Miraculous" appear on many channels and platforms simultaneously, but warned that mere presence does not guarantee audience attention. Unifrance now monitors not only sales data but also market share and viewing hours to gauge true performance. He underscored Europe, especially Poland and Germany, as the core market for French programmes, and highlighted animation and drama as leading export genres, while noting recent declines in streamer-ordered new IPs.
Why it matters
French audiovisual producers must adapt to streaming and distribution shifts to keep global sales and funding flowing.
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