France Channel

France Channel is an online digital video subscription service, founded by Julien Verley (former executive of Canal+ Group and France Télévisions), operating in the United States but headquartered in France.

France Channel

Type of site	OTT platform
Available in	English French
No. of locations	1
Area served	United States
Founder(s)	Julien Verley
Key people	Julien Verley (CEO for France Channel)
Industry	Entertainment, Internet
Products	Streaming media Video on demand
Services	Film distribution Television distribution
Parent	France Channels, SAS
URL	francechannel.tv
Registration	Required
Launched	21 August 2021; 3 years ago (2021-08-21) (United States)
Current status	Active

History

Background

Rise of streaming and success of BritBox

Due to the rising popularity of Subscription Video on Demand services (SVODs), commonly known as streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, around the world, especially among younger demographics, traditional TV has had to adapt in a changing market to appeal to younger generations in fear of being left in the dust by the SVOD services.^[1] In response to this, various European public service broadcasters (PSBs), have had to put many old rivalries aside in favor of collaborations in an attempt to compete against SVODs with their streaming services being launched often in their on countries.^[2] Most notable services are Joyn (joint-venture between ProSiebenSat.1 Media and Discovery, Inc. with ProSiebenSat.1 Media taking full ownership later on) launched for the domestic market in Germany,^[3] Salto (launched through the collaboration of TF1 Group, M6 Group, and France Télévisions before being closed in 2023) launched for the domestic market in France,^[4] and BritBox (originally a joint venture between BBC and ITV until ITV took complete control of the UK service in 2022 and the operations of the international service being completely transferred to BBC Studios, under BBC, in 2024) launched for both the domestic market in the United Kingdom and in various international markets starting with the United States, but later expanding to Canada, Australia, South Africa, and the Nordic countries.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]} In 2020, it was announced that BritBox alone reached over 1 million subscribers in North America (US and Canada only).^[11]

Launch of France Channel

Initial launch

After the success of BritBox internationally, especially in the United States,^[11] Julien Verley (former executive of Canal+ Group and France Télévisions) founded France Channels, SAS with the intent of launching a "French version of BritBox" aimed at international markets, but with French media content being on the platform with English and French subtitles and with some content also being dubbed in English. This is an effort to promote French culture and media abroad, similar to how BritBox does the same with British media and culture.^[12] The company also struck a deal with NetGem to provide the technology for its distribution platform.^[13][14][15] Originally slated for Spring 2021, but later pushed back to August 2021, the service launched in the United States with content partnerships with Canal+ Group (now Canal+ S.A.), France Télévisions, TF1 Group, France Médias Monde, M6 Group, and Arte France. Under the partnership with France Médias Monde, subscribers are able to watch livestreams of both the English and the French versions of France 24.^[16][17][18]

Availability

In June 2023, the France Channel launched as a Subscription channel on Amazon Prime Video.^[19][20] France Channel is also available as a Subscription channel on The Roku Channel.

Content and programming

Various French TV shows, movies, documentaries, and live TV networks appear on France Channel.

Live TV networks

• France 24 (English and French versions only)

Movies and documentaries

• A Year in My Life (Le Temps des Porte-Plumes)
• The Case (Villa Caprice)
• Cheating Love (On va s'aimer)
• Dr Knock (Knock)
• Palais Royal!
• A Real Job (Un Métier Sérieux)
• They Came Back (Les Revenants)
• The Together Project (The Aquatic Effect/L'Effet Aquatique)
• War of the Buttons (La Guerre des boutons)

TV shows and docu-series

• The Accursed Kings (1972 miniseries) (Les Rois Maudits)
• Accused (French Version) (Accusé)
• Arrogant (Connasse)
• Barbapapa (Barbapapa)
• Bertrand (Il revient quand Bertrand ?)
• Blame it on Rousseau (La Faute à Rousseau)
• Chronicles Of The Sun (Un si Grand Soleil)
• Dates That Made History (Quand l'histoire fait dates)
• Joséphine, Guardian Angel (Joséphine, Ange Gardien)
• The Kings of France (Les Rois de France)
• Little Brown Bear (Petit Ours Brun)
• The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince)
• Mirette Investigates (Les Enquêtes de Mirette)
• Secrets of History (Secrets d'Histoire)
• Tomorrow Is Ours (Demain Nous Appartient)
• Where It All Begins (Ici Tout Commence)
• The Whizz Report (C'est pas sorcier)
• Zorro: The Chronicles (Les Chroniques de Zorro)
• 64 Zoo Lane (64, rue du Zoo)