Apple has officially agreed to content quota obligations as set out in a 2021 France decree, via Deadline, which means it must invest 20% of Apple TV+ revenues in France to create French and European content.
This effectively commits Apple to create French originals for Apple TV+ on an ongoing basis. Recent French-language releases on the service include La Maison and Drops of God; the latter of which was a hit for TV+ and is returning for a second season.
Content quotas are becoming increasingly common, especially in European markets. Governments see it as a way to preserve local film and TV production economies, rather than ceding all market power to U.S. streamers.
In the French case, 20% of the prior year’s net revenue in France must then be reinvested in TV+ France productions. The majority of this spend must be directed towards independent production studios by French and European producers, who also must be allowed to retain their rights to the intellectual property.
While direct TV+ consumer influence in France is relatively small, its originals have become much more popular in the country since the deal with Canal+ was launched in 2023. That deal made Apple’s entire catalog of originals available on France’s largest cable TV provider, at no extra charge. For example, Apple’s sci-fi drama Silo topped Canal+ streaming charts last week.
As well as streaming on demand, some of Apple’s shows are even broadcast on Canal’s TV channels.
On its slate right now, Apple has the second season of Drops of God in development, and a new upcoming French thriller ‘A l’ombre des forets’, which will likely debut later this year.
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