The new “media chronology” has been voted by the government. It now integrates video on demand platforms such as Netflix or Disney+ which will take precedence over free channels.
After a long period of debate on the new “media timeline”, the formalization fell on January 25. To take into account new viewer practices and in particular the impact of SVOD platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime or Disney+, producers and broadcasters were asking for a new broadcast schedule for films in France.
Currently, spectators had to wait 3 months after theatrical release before having a film on DVD, Blu-ray or paid VOD; 8 months to see them on pay channels that have signed an agreement (like Canal+ or OCS); 22 months for free channels like TF1 or M6, and finally 36 months for streaming.
Today we sign a new media chronology. This is a historic step for the cinema, which is adapting and integrating digital platforms and new uses by spectators at the very heart of our film financing and distribution system. 1/7
????— Mathieu Debusschere (@mathdebusschere) January 24, 2022
In the new agreement signed with the Ministry of Culture on January 24, Canal+ will only have to wait 6 months to offer a film on TVwhile SVOD will also reduce the delay: 15 months only for Netflixwho signed an agreement, 17 months for other sites. Suddenly, from now on, it is the historical free channels which become the left behind, the last stage of the calendar, after 22 months.
To secure a good place, Canal+ has spent 600 million euros for three years in production for French cinema. For its part, Netflix has obtained an advantage by committing to invest 40 million per year and produce at least 10 films in France each year. An agreement which is in addition to that imposed on all the American platforms which will have to pay 20% of turnover in France for national productiona total of 250 to 300 million euros per year for the French cinematographic sector.
Disney+ and Amazon have criticized this agreement and have not signed it, but will still be obliged to respect it. Faced with the constraint in France, Disney would consider releasing its films on its platform rather than in theaters…
Source: www.lemonde.fr
