In December 2018 the French public broadcasting group signed an agreement with the five trades unions representing French producers: SATEV, SPECT, SPFA, SPI and USPA. The agreement builds and strengthens a historic partnership. In a statement France Televisions said the agreement will allow it “to take up the digital challenge by expanding the non-linear showing of its programmes, allowing it to adapt dynamically to changes in use, in audience expectations and the specificities of each film.”
The agreement also deals with the finance invested by France Télévisions. Thus the group confirms its financial commitment to production companies broadcasting in different genres until 2022. Each year €420m will be invested in creating long-lasting productions. The statement underlines that the agreement signed between the producers’ unions and France Televisions will allow the latter to be better protected “with regard to operators who have not participated in pre-financing the production.”
Concerning exploitation rights, the length of the French group’s exclusivity period has been considerably lengthened compared to its exploitation of VoD services. The length varies according to France Télévisions’s level of financing. For dramas which it has financed 65% or more and for documentaries which it has financed up to 55% it has the exclusive SVoD rights for a period of one to two years. For linear exploitation of series and collections, the agreement stipulates France Télévisions holds the exclusive rights for 3 years, and for single programmes 2½ years.
Sources: https://www.francetvpro.fr, https://www.numerama.com, http://www.mediakwest.com
