Laura Carollo
Research expert covering cinema and film
Subscription video-on-demand in France - statistics & facts
France is one of Europe's most active SVOD markets in terms of subscriptions, behind Germany and the UK, and according to forecasts, this trend will thrive in the foreseeable future. Similarly, the value of the VoD market in France has soared over the past decade and shows no sign of slowing down. However, while more than a third of consumers had two streaming subscriptions or more as of 2022, the ever-growing number of available streaming platforms – and their fees – stack up. Which services come up on top of this extremely competitive market?
The SVOD market reigns supreme in the French video sector, and streaming services are part of the daily lives of many consumers. It remains to be seen what role the numerous bundles and other consolidations will play to balance out subscription fatigue and the impact of inflation on the number of services consumers are willing to cancel.
Netflix still leads the pack, followed by Prime
The French video streaming landscape is dominated by a handful of U.S. giants, leaving little room for local competitors. Data shows that Netflix remains the most popular VOD platform in France, which should not come as a surprise given its extensive content catalog and immense impact on the entire European streaming scene. The streaming service was closely followed by Amazon Prime Video, while Disney+ reached the third most popular SVOD service in France. The number of Netflix subscribers in France skyrocketed to over 27 million users in 2024, exceeding the performance of other international streamers such as Amazon Prime Video or Disney+.Small over big screens
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic fundamentally altered consumption habits and accelerated the demand for digital entertainment formants. SVOD platforms saw an exceptional rise in demand amid nationwide lockdowns as their expansive content portfolios offered quick and easy access to thousands of TV shows and movies around the clock. Even though the hype for certain digital media formats has already subsided following the lifting of restrictions, SVOD platforms and on-demand digital video content managed to maintain their appeal in a post-COVID world. In 2023, 41 percent of consumers watch TV shows every day or almost, while about the same amount go to the cinema less often than pre-pandemic.The SVOD market reigns supreme in the French video sector, and streaming services are part of the daily lives of many consumers. It remains to be seen what role the numerous bundles and other consolidations will play to balance out subscription fatigue and the impact of inflation on the number of services consumers are willing to cancel.
