This week, we cover Netflix teaming up with TF1 in France, Midjourney launching its new AI video tool, and how streaming just passed cable and broadcast TV for the first time.

I always say I try to write for teenagers, meaning it should be easy for anyone in the media industry to understand. And this time, I really had no choice! This edition was prepared with the help of my 15-year-old intern, Mathilde.

🇫🇷 Netflix and TF1 team up in France

👉 Netflix just signed a big new deal with French broadcaster TF1. Starting in summer 2026, Netflix users in France will be able to watch TF1 live TV channels and streaming content, all without leaving the Netflix app.

📍 The deal includes popular French shows, reality series like Koh-Lanta, and live sports. It’s the first time Netflix adds full live TV channels from a traditional broadcaster.

💡 For Netflix, it’s a new way to offer live content. For TF1, it’s a smart move to reach more viewers and grow its own platform, TF1+, by being part of Netflix.

🎥 Midjourney launches AI video tool

👉 Midjourney just released V1, its first tool for making short videos using AI. You upload an image, and the tool turns it into four 5-second videos. It’s only available through Discord and works on web for now.

📍 You can let the AI animate the image automatically or give it instructions to create a specific movement. Videos can be extended up to 21 seconds. Plans start at $10/month, but videos use more credits than images.

💡 Midjourney says it wants to build tools for future virtual worlds, not just ads or movies. But the company is now being sued by Disney and Universal for using copyrighted characters in AI images.

📈 Streaming hits new TV record

What happened?

👉 In May 2025, people in the U.S. spent more time watching streaming than cable or broadcast TV combined. Streaming made up 44.8% of all TV watching, the highest ever.

Key numbers:

Streaming is up 71% since 2021
YouTube was the most watched, with 12.5% of TV time
Netflix is still the top subscription service, up 27% since 2021
Free services like PlutoTV, Roku Channel, and Tubi now make up 5.7% of viewing, more than any single broadcast channel

Why it matters?

🎯 Streaming is now the main way people watch TV. More platforms are adding live sports, free channels, and ad-supported options. This is changing how people watch and how companies make money from it.

🌞 GEN Z: Reese Witherspoon launches Sunnie

At Cannes Lions, Witherspoon introduced Sunnie, a new Hello Sunshine brand built for Gen Z women with social content, zines, book clubs, and real-life events.

Backed by celebs like Lana Condor and partners like Purdue University, Sunnie wants to reflect how young women actually live, talk, and connect.

📺 AVOD: Tubi brings YouTube creators to TV

Tubi just launched Tubi for Creators, a new program bringing 500+ episodes from YouTube stars like Rhett & Link, FunnyMike, Dan & Riya, and Watcher to its free streaming platform.

It’s a smart move to blend internet-native talent with long-form storytelling. With 100M monthly users, Tubi is now turning creators into primetime players.

🎮 XR: DAZN brings FIFA Club World Cup to Meta Quest

DAZN just launched a new app for Meta Quest that lets fans in the U.S. watch the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in 3D.

You can stream all 63 matches live for free, see the pitch as a 3D tabletop, and enjoy cool views like 180° video for the final games. It’s like being inside the stadium, without leaving your home.

🎯 ADS: stc tv teams up with Rotana for advertising

stc group chose Rotana Media Services to handle all ads on stc tv in Saudi Arabia.

The plan is to help brands reach the right people with better data and smart targeting. It’s a big step to grow stc tv’s ad business and make ads more effective for both viewers and brands.

📱 TELCO: Shahid partners with e& Egypt

e& Egypt customers now get full access to Shahid content as part of their mobile and home bundles.

It’s a big win for both sides: Shahid grows in Egypt, and e& offers more value with premium Arabic shows, movies, sports, and even FAST channels, all built into their plans.

🛥️ CANNES: YouTube’s CEO responds to Netflix

At Cannes Lions, YouTube boss Neal Mohan replied to Netflix calling YouTube a place to “kill time.” He said, “People decide how they want to spend their time, and 2 billion of them choose YouTube every day”.

He also talked about YouTube growing in sports, podcasts, and how Gen Z is changing what brands need to do. YouTube isn’t trying to be like TV, it’s already what people are watching.

🎬 FRANCE: Sunny Side of the Doc returns to La Rochelle

The 36th edition of Sunny Side of the Doc kicks off June 23–26 with 42 projects from 22 countries pitching for top honors.

This year’s focus? New ways to tell real stories and build global partnerships. In a tough market, the event wants to spark fresh ideas and stronger collaboration across the documentary world.

👛 Ginny & Georgia, from Sarah Lampert (Netflix, 3 seasons, 30 episodes): Angsty and awkward fifteen year old Ginny Miller often feels more mature than her thirty year old mother, the irresistible and dynamic Georgia Miller. After years on the run, Georgia desperately wants to put down roots in picturesque New England and give her family something they've never had... a normal life. But it's not all carpool and Kombucha as Georgia's past threatens her and her family's new way of life... and Georgia will do anything to protect her family.

🌊 We Were Liars, from Julie Plec & Carina Adly MacKenzie with Candice King (Prime Video, 8 episodes): One year after a mysterious accident left her with amnesia, 17-year-old Cadence returns to Beechwood, an island off Martha's Vineyard, seeking answers. As three generations of the distinguished Sinclair family gather at their private summer utopia, no one will talk about the accident – neither her childhood friends "The Liars" nor her first love Gat, forcing her to uncover the truth herself.

🚔 23 years ago, on June 2, 2002, The Wire premiered on HBO. Created by David Simon, the series explored the gritty reality of Baltimore through the eyes of both cops and criminals. Known for its slow-burn storytelling and powerful social commentary, The Wire is now seen as one of the best TV dramas of all time, and a masterclass in how to build complex, meaningful stories.

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Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend! I’ll be back Monday with my MENA insights.

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🤝 Netflix x TF1: A New Way to Watch TV in…