Canal+ Leader Praises Netflix for Encouraging French Viewers to Support TV as Ted Sarandos Commits to Theatrical Releases After Warner Deal
Ted Sarandos made a surprise appearance at last night’s Canal+ content showcase, receiving accolades for Netflix’s significant impact in France. He provided insights into Netflix’s plans regarding the theatrical release of Warner Bros. films, should the acquisition deal go through.
Maxime Saada, Chair and CEO of Canal+, expressed his strong support for Netflix’s strategies, stating that the streaming service has been “very good” for his company. When Netflix launched in France on September 14, it faced an audience inclined to traditional free TV or cinema.
In response, Sarandos noted Netflix’s commitment to making television “worth paying for,” emphasizing the need for high-quality content that consumers are eager to pay for.
Theatrical Commitment
When questioned about Netflix’s rationale for pursuing the $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., Sarandos addressed the limitations of Netflix’s current entertainment operations while reiterating the company’s dedication to theatrical movie releases.
“It’s hard to imagine we’ve only been doing original programming for 12 years,” he said. “We’ve been moving very fast, building a library as fast as we can. Our library only extends back a decade whereas Warner Bros. stretches back a hundred years. They know a lot about things we haven’t ever done like theatrical distribution.”
Sarandos clarified that Netflix intends to continue releasing Warner Bros. films in theaters with traditional windows, allowing these movies to flow through the existing Canal+ output deal. He noted that Netflix previously did not pursue theatrical distribution because it lacked ownership of a distribution channel, instead focusing on monetizing films through its subscription model for optimal growth.
In France, regulations surrounding theatrical releases are intricate. Both Netflix and Canal+ have sought to reduce long windows that delay films from reaching television screens, with Netflix currently required to wait 15 months before streaming films in the country.
Saada also raised concerns about the future of their partnership post-Warner deal, describing their relationship as “80% partners and maybe 20% competitors,” particularly regarding sports rights.
Sarandos responded that Netflix would focus only on “eventized” and “specialized” sports, such as the anticipated boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul or Christmas Day American football. “Our primary mission is film and television,” he said. “I don’t see us flipping from 80-20 to 20-80.”
As the bidding war heats up, Netflix is competing against Paramount, which is also interested in acquiring Warner Bros. According to the Financial Times, Warner is poised to counter Paramount’s hostile takeover offer.
