Netflix to Test its First ‘Direct’ Linear Channel in France

According to a report by Variety Magazine, Netflix will be testing its first linear channel called ‘Direct’ in France, which will only be available to subscribers and will air French, international, and U.S. feature films and TV series that are available on Netflix.

The publication notes that Netflix Direct will only be accessible via the service’s web browser and will not be available on set-top boxes due to the distribution agreements with French telecom groups such as Orange, Canal Plus, and SFR.

Netflix notes on its website that it chose France to test its first linear channel due to the “consumption of traditional TV” in the country, while adding that “many viewers like the idea of programming that doesn’t require them to choose what they are going to watch.”

“Whether you are lacking inspiration or whether you are discovering Netflix for the first time, you could let yourself be guided for the first time without having to choose a particular title and let yourself be surprised by the diversity of Netflix’s library.”

The test channel had a soft launch on Nov. 5 and will be more broadly available in France in December.