Tag Archives: Rodolphe Belmer

TF1+ set for French-speaking markets

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Rodolphe Belmer speaking at Series Mania

SERIES MANIA: French broadcaster TF1 Group will begin rolling out its free streaming service TF1+ in its first international territories this June as it targets French-speaking markets around the world, including those in Africa.

TF1+ will be made available in Belgium and Luxembourg in June, followed by a launch in Switzerland later this year.

The company will then expand the ad-supported streamer to French-speaking African countries, beginning with North Africa and later those in West Africa and elsewhere on the continent. It could also add more countries, including Canada, by the end of 2025.

TF1 Group CEO Rodolphe Belmer confirmed the plans during a keynote session at Series Mania Forum in Lille this morning as the French broadcast group, which owns the country’s most popular free-to-air network in TF1, ramps up its digital strategy.

“The internet doesn’t have borders and it’s allowed international players like Netflix and Disney+ to develop. There’s no reason why we can’t do the same,” said Belmer.

It is unclear what TF1 programming will be carried by the international version of the streaming service, which in France offers series such as HPI, Plus Belle La Vie, The Voice, Panda and Star Academy.

According to Bloomberg, TF1 Group will mine its catalogue of programming to fuel the international version of TF1+ rather than create originals specifically for the platform.
TF1+ launched in France in at the beginning of 2024 after the broadcaster, along with France Télévisions and Groupe M6, pulled the plug on their joint-venture streaming service Salto, less than two-and-a-half years after it launched.

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Globacom, Eutelsat sign broadband deal

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Lagos-based telecommunications and TV company Globacom and European satellite operator Eutelsat have signed a multi-year wholesale capacity deal to bring satellite broadband to underserved areas of Nigeria.

Rodolphe Belmer

Through the partnership, Conpetro-owned Globacom will be able to deliver high-speed broadband to businesses and communities in unconnected and underserved areas throughout Nigeria via the Eutelsat Konnect satellite.

Globacom, founded in 2003 by Nigerian billionaire and company chairman Mike Adenuga, is the second largest network operator in Nigeria, with more than 45 million subscribers. The company recently launched mobile television service Glo TV.

Rodolphe Belmer, CEO of Eutelsat, said: “We are honoured to have been selected by Globacom, one of the leading telecommunications operators in Africa’s most populous market, to extend the reach of its services. This agreement illustrates the unparalleled resources of our powerful Eutelsat Konnect satellite to satisfy the strong demand for connectivity in underserved regions throughout the African continent.”

“We are delighted to add satellite services to our portfolio, leveraging the state-of-the art Eutelsat Konnect satellite to extend connectivity to even far-flung areas in Nigeria, in line with our mission to build Africa’s biggest and best telecommunications network. The infrastructure will complement our Glo 1 submarine cable and extensive fibre optic layout across the country,” added Adenuga.

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