Apple TV+ has reached a significant milestone in France by finalizing an agreement with the local audiovisual industry, thus aligning itself with French regulatory frameworks. This commitment will enable the streaming platform to enhance its support for local content creation and increase the availability of French content on its service.
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A Four-Year Agreement to Boost French Creativity
Apple has indeed sealed a deal with French audiovisual professional organizations. Effective until December 31, 2027, this agreement represents Apple TV+’s first official foray into funding French production under the Smad decree (Services of audiovisual media on demand).
The terms of the agreement require Apple to allocate a portion of its investments to heritage productions, including dramas, animations, creative documentaries, and live performances. Special focus will be on works of original French expression and independent creations.
A Winning Strategy for Apple
By bolstering its financial commitments in France, Apple TV+ can now more swiftly showcase works on its platform, marking a critical step in its strategy to expand in the French and European markets, where regulatory expectations are stricter than in the USA.
However, not all platforms have caught up yet. Arcom has called on other players, like Max (formerly HBO Max), to follow this lead and sign similar agreements. Nevertheless, it has praised this progress, acknowledging that it strengthens the financing of European and French works. It also highlighted Apple’s particular effort towards supporting animation and documentary genres.
The regulator is pleased that an agreement between Apple and the professional organizations of the audiovisual creation sector has been signed concerning the Apple TV+ service for a duration of four years. This agreement is encapsulated in a convention that binds Apple to the regulator. Through this convention and agreement, Apple commits to further supporting the production of European works and works of original French expression. Arcom appreciates Apple TV+’s commitment to animation and documentary in this context. The regulator hopes for the continuation of similar agreements, following those already signed by Amazon, Netflix, and now Apple.