“Watching TV in 2025 is a hassle. We decided to change all that. » Xavier Niel wants to bring order to access to TV programs today saturated with subscriptions, platforms and multiple accounts with Free TV, a free application, without obligation and open access.
A simplicity of access which does not prohibit exhaustiveness, the operator wants to offer the largest free television offer in France, accessible on all screens, and has more than 170 channelsof which 16 of TNTa catalog of 25,000 programs in replayas well as an ad-supported video-on-demand service, Free Cinemabringing together some 500 movies And 1,000 series episodes.
Television becomes universal again
The application, available on connected televisions, smartphones, tablets, computers and Free players, also marks a break in the group’s approach, it no longer depends on hardware or a prior subscription. Everyone can now access television via Free TV, whether they are a customer or not.
Features previously reserved for boxes, live streaming control, resuming a program from the beginning, become accessible to everyone.
Free TV+, the challenge of the hybrid model
At the same time, Free unveils Free TV+an enhanced version of its service. Proposed to 0.99 euros per month for one yearThen 5.99 eurosit offers more 300 channelsincluding all TNT and several pay channels usually reserved for premium packages, such as Disney Channel, CNN International Or National Geographic.
The comeback of the FAST model
Free TV is part of the rise of the model FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) which is experiencing strong growth in Europe. This format combines linear broadcasting, free access and advertising financing. In France, more than 600 FAST channels are now available, a three-fold increase in two years. For broadcasters, the interest is to monetize their catalogs without depending on subscriptions. For brands, these channels offer a new advertising space that is measurable, targeted and less expensive than traditional television. The French market for free streaming financed by advertising already weighs around 170 million euroswith annual growth estimated at more than 30%.
Free therefore joins a global trend driven by Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus Or Rakuten TVbut by adapting it to the French ecosystem. Where these platforms often depend on television manufacturers or international catalogs, Free has a direct link with 23 million subscribers and a brand already firmly established in the daily lives of homes.
Competition that opened the market
However, the free streaming market is no longer virgin territory. Pluto TVa subsidiary of Paramount, led the way in 2018 with a massive catalog of thematic channels. Samsung TV Plus is now present on millions of connected televisions, while Molotova French pioneer, maintains a strong reputation.
But Free TV stands out for its universal distribution and its ecosystem coherence. By bringing together network, box, application and advertising agency, Free can capture the entire value chain: from access to content to audience monetization.
This integration also offers an economic weapon that is data. Viewing habits, preferences and viewing times become levers for refining advertising and optimizing revenue without resorting to advertising saturation. In a market still being structured, this technical and commercial mastery could prove decisive for ILIAD;
From operator to platform
With 23.1 million subscribers in France by mid-2025, including 15.5 million mobilesthe group iliad continues its development. After connectivity, television; after the box, the platform. In France, Italy and Poland, Iliad is building an integrated model where the boundaries between telecom, media and advertising disappear, a bet that many have made and not very successful.
