French love of linear offers launchpad for Netflix’s first linear channel

摘要

Netflix has chosen France as the territory in which to launch its first linear channel. Launching in December, “Direct,” will be available only on Netflix’s web browser version. It will have the same lineup for all users, with a mix of series, movies, and documentaries and a focus on Netflix’s French originals. Series will be shown in two- or three-episode blocks to ensure that viewers see enough of the program to decide if they want to continue watching using Netflix’s classic on-demand function. Netflix launched in France in 2014 and had over 8 million subscribers as of the end of June 2020. At that time, it accounted for over a third of all online video subscribers in France.