Rodolphe Belmer: Last News

French commercial network Tf1 has unveiled fresh details of its new free streaming platform TF1+, which launches on January 8.

French commercial broadcast giant TF1 is taking its streaming service international. CEO Rodolphe Belmer told Series Mania on Thursday that TF1+ will start rolling out in the middle of this year before a wider series of launches in 2025.

Nicolas de Tavernost, the outgoing boss of M6, did not hold back today during what will likely be his last on-stage appearance after a near-40-year career with The Traitors France network.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent European production and distribution group Newen Studios has appointed Pierre Branco — the former country manager of Warner Bros Discovery for France, Benelux and Africa — as CEO. Branco will begin his position at Newen Studios starting in April, succeeding Romain Bessi, who has decided to step down after a six-year tenure during which he led the company’s expansion.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent As CEO of Canal+ for more than a decade, Rodolphe Belmer pushed the pay TV giant to make original scripted content — a bet that paid off with award-winning shows such “Spiral” and “The Returned.” So what does he have planned at TF1, the French television company he took over last year? From his office on the top floor of a 14-level skyscraper, with a panoramic view that includes the Eiffel Tower and La Defénse in the distance, Belmer reveals that TF1 hopes to expand its reach into other European countries, while launching an ad-supported streaming service on Jan. 8.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Gilles Pélisson, the former boss of TF1, has been elected president of French film and TV promotion org Unifrance. He will succeed to Serge Toubiana and Hervé Michel. Other candidates to take the helm of Unifrance included Frédérique Bredin, the former boss of the National Film Board (CNC), Anne Durupty, former Arte France boss, and film producer Marie Masmonteil. Pelisson was elected by a 60-member executive committee, which representatives of guilds and commissions. Pelisson is a veteran within France’s media industry landscape. He previously headed Bouygues Telecom and entered the Bouygues-owned commercial TV network TF1 in 2009 as administrator. He became president of TF1 in 2016 and recently stepped down from the network which is now headed by Rodolphe Belmer.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Rodolphe Belmer, the former CEO of Canal+ Group, who recently took the helm of France’s leading commercial channel TF1, said the company looks to forge deeper ties with streaming services, including Netflix, to team on premium content. Belmer, who was part of Netflix’s administration board from 2018 to 2022, explained TF1 is facing a dearth of U.S. content available for its primetime slots. “U.S. series are less and less available because of the vertical integration of big U.S. production companies and networks, so we have to replace the bulk of these programs,” said Belmer, who recently succeeded to Gilles Pelisson as CEO and chairman of TF1.

Rodolphe Belmer has made the case for TF1 Group as “the free entertainment reference for French citizens on TV and in streaming.”

Beyond the festival element of Series Mania, one major draw for international industry professionals is the event’s industry strand, Series Mania Forum, which runs from March 21-23. The popular event, which largely centers around its Co-Pro Pitching Sessions, panels and conferences, wraps up with its Lille Dialogues one-day summit on March 23. 

Rodolphe Belmer, the former Canal+ CEO on the verge of heading up French network TF1, has stepped down from the Netflix Board.

Former Canal+ CEO Rodolphe Belmer is taking charge of TF1.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Rodolphe Belmer, the former CEO of Canal+ Group, is set to join TF1 and is on track to be appointed managing director of TF1, France’s leading commercial channel. Gilles Pélisson, who is currently the chairman and CEO of TF1 Group, will propose Belmer as CEO at an Oct. 27 board meeting. Belmer would then fully succeed Pélisson as chairman and CEO after the following board meeting on Feb. 13. Pélisson will remain at the company as chairman of the Board of Directors until Feb. 13 and will then join the Bouygues group as senior VP in charge of media and development.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentSeries Mania, the TV drama showcase held in Lille, France, is postponing its 2021 edition to Aug. 26-Sept.

Susan Rice will step down from the board of directors of the streaming giant Netflix to join the administration of President-elect Joe Biden. "We are grateful to Susan Rice for her many contributions on our board and congratulate her on her return to public service," said Netflix chairman and co-CEO Reed Hastings in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

France’s Series Mania, one of Europe’s biggest TV festivals, has been canceled following new French government coronavirus health restrictions.

France’s Series Mania, one of Europe’s biggest TV Festivals, has been canceled following new French government coronavirus health restrictions.

By Jake Kanter