The M6 television group is preparing to launch a brand new free video streaming service: M6+. Entirely financed by advertising, it will replace the 6play platform and will directly compete with TF1+ from March 6.
The world of video streaming is preparing to welcome a new kid! While, after the shutdown of the Salto platform that it co-managed with M6 and France Télévisions, TF1 launched its own SVOD, called TF1+ (see our article), its long-time great rival is preparing to make one even ! M6 – which brings together the TV channels M6, W9, 6ter, Paris Première, Téva, Série Club, but also Gulli, Canal J, TiJi, MCM, MCM Top and RFM TV, the radio stations RTL, RTL2 and Fun Radio, film and television production, distribution companies, an advertising agency, websites, music publishing and show production companies, etc. – announced, through Nicolas de Tavernost, its current CEO, in a interview at Figaro the launch of its future streaming platform. He also took the opportunity to announce his departure from control of the channel – he will be replaced by David Larramendy, current head of the Advertising department. Called M6+ – if we had any doubt, here is proof that it really is about competing with TF1! –, it will replace the current 6play replay platform. It will arrive on our screens on March 6.
M6+: an advertising-financed streaming platform
If Nicolas de Tavernost has revealed few details about the future platform, it is likely that it will follow the TF1+ model. We can therefore logically expect a completely free SVOD service financed by advertising, with a paid plan allowing you to remove advertisements and benefit from some additional functions – the TF1+ Premium subscription is 5.99 euros per month or 59.99 euros per year. The audiovisual group should offer all of M6’s programs – 6play claims some 6,500 hours of videos -, the broadcast of its various channels live, as well as exclusive series and films. Finally, replays of the channel’s shows will probably be available quickly after their broadcast.
“Our objectives are clear: at least double consumption on the platform with 1 billion hours consumed and triple streaming revenues to reach 200 million euros by 2028,” explains Nicolas de Tavernost to Le Figaro. The group is therefore targeting 1 billion hours consumed in streaming and revenues reaching 200 million euros in this sector by 2028. Ambitious objectives, especially in a market largely occupied by American giants, which continue to arrive in our regions, and already invested by TF1. M6 decided to launch into streaming because it noticed an increase in replay. In 2023, out of 9.4 billion hours of M6 group programming consumed, 500 million were in replay. But this choice also corresponds to a drop in television advertising revenue and an increase in the same market for online video.
New incarnation of the concept of FAST TV – in good French, “free streaming television financed by advertising” (see our article) – the economic model of M6+ is very different from the offer of major American platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ or Prime Video, which only offer paid subscriptions. And it could well appeal to many users, who no longer want old-style linear television, with its imposed schedules, but who do not want to spend several hundred euros per year on paid streaming platforms. Not to mention that the latter now include advertising in their cheapest offers, as evidenced by the new Netflix and Disney+ subscriptions – and soon Amazon Prime Video. The catalogs will make the difference. And consumers will decide.