Canal+ To Take Legal Action Against French Broadcaster TF1 For The Use Of "+" On Its Streaming Service

TF1+ is the new streaming platform that offers a replay experience, but also films, series and shows on almost all media. Appearing on January 8, 2024 to replace the old name “MyTF1”, TF1+ has the same objective as its predecessor, to offer an improved experience of TF1’s original content as well as a streaming-type experience to compete with giants like Netflix, Prime Video or Apple TV+. If this strategy has nothing to be sued, it is the name “TF1+” that poses a problem. Canal+ has just sued the channel because it does not have the right (according to Canal) to use the “+” sign.

TF1+, the new name that created a scandal at the Canal group

In 2019, Disney+ was starting to make a lot of noise in the streaming world. With a launch in the United States, then in France, the Canal group did not look favorably on the fact that the American giant used the acronym “+” in France. The group then tried to oppose Disney+ by appealing to National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI)After investigation, he concluded that Disney+ did not pose any problem and that the acronym “+” did not belong to Canal+.

Five years after this affair, the Canal+ group still assures that the acronym “+” is not a simple indicator of quality or a more complete catalog, it is an acronym that belongs to it and that does not have to be used by another company in France, at least in the world of streaming!

Today, the Canal group prefers to ignore the final opinion of the National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI) and take TF1 to court for using the acronym “+”. The Canal group denounces a practice that confuses consumers and is even demanding compensation of… 57 million euros from TF1. This absolutely enormous sum is linked to the importance that Canal+ gives to its brand.

TF1+ began to exist on January 8, 2024 and has always stood out from Canal+ by never referring to its competitor and by offering unique programming focused on its own exclusive and original content, adapted to a wide audience.

This assignment is likely to last several months, but the Canal group does not intend to give up, because the company believes that the acronym “+” belongs to it following the filing of the trademark “Canal+” on November 4, 1982 with the INPI.

French Broadcaster TF1 To Launch Its Newly Launched Streaming Service In Europe And Africa

French commercial broadcaster TF1 is to expand its newly launched streaming service into parts of Europe and Africa.

TF1+ went live on January 8 with 15,000 hours of available content, including 200 feature films, 200 TV movies and 200 box sets, featuring such iconic French series HPI and Sam, plus daily soaps and imported series.

An initial rollout will begin in June, when TF1+ will be extended into neighbouring Belgium and Luxembourg before expanding into French-speaking Africa in the next 18 months. Other territories, including Canada, are also on the roadmap.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Chief Executive Officer Rodolphe Belmer said he plans to push into as many French speaking markets as possible to grow its base and attract advertisers.

“We do not look to compensate a decline of linear TV, we want to capture a bigger market share of digital ads,” he said, adding that online ads can command higher prices because they’re targeted directly at consumers.

Online ads, which command higher prices because they’re easier to target to particular customers, can command about three times the price per thousand people reached, he said.

With a target advertising revenue of €15 per thousand people, TF1+ would be priced between YouTube at the lower end and Disney+ and Netflix at the top. “We want to tap the core of the market, and make a difference with bigger volume,” Belmer said.

Rather than create Originals for the platform, TF1 will instead rely on its existing library.