PBS has reached a distribution agreement with international news broadcaster France 24 that will allow its member stations to offer a livestream of France 24 English through PBS digital platforms in the United States.
Under the arrangement, participating PBS member stations will be able to carry France 24 English as a digital sub-channel on broadcast TV, providing audiences with additional international news coverage alongside their existing public television programming.
The addition brings the number of live, linear, commercial-free streaming channels available to PBS member stations through its digital platforms to nine, including PBS Kids, Create, World Channel and the Japanese news network NHK English.
France 24 is part of France’s public service media system and provides international news coverage focused on global affairs, politics, economics and other major developments. The network launched in 2006 and has grown its presence in the United States primarily through free streaming platforms like YouTube and Sling Freestream and via one-off arrangements with non-profit and low-power TV broadcasters.
France Médias Monde, the government-owned broadcaster in France that operates France 24, says the network reaches more than 577 million households worldwide and has a weekly audience of just under 154 million people.
France 24 maintains a global reporting operation supported by approximately 200 correspondents, providing coverage of international events and developments from locations around the world. In addition to English, the network produces news programming in French, Spanish and Arabic. France 24 primarily competes against other government-funded broadcasters like BBC News, Al Jazeera English, Deutsche Welle, TRT World and NHK.
The agreement with PBS gives France 24 another TV touchpoint in the U.S., where international news networks have become increasingly competitive for audience share.
The agreement gives the network another distribution outlet in the United States, where international news organizations compete for audiences across traditional television, streaming services and digital news platforms. Two years ago, BBC News — whose programming is available on some PBS member stations through arrangements separate from PBS itself — converted its North American pay TV channel into a free, ad-supported streaming TV service in order to expand its reach ahead of that year’s presidential election. (BBC News is distributed in the United States through an arrangement with AMC Global Media.)
France 24 gives those member stations another outlet for international news, at a time when the appetite for reliable, verified information is high. Vanessa Burggraf, the Director of France 24, said the partnership reflects the importance of providing audiences with access to international journalism.
“We are proud to offer France 24 in English to American audiences and firmly believe that the channel will receive a warm welcome,” Burggraf said in a statement on Friday.
PBS has increasingly emphasized digital distribution as viewers shift toward streaming television and on-demand programming: Its website and mobile applications allow audiences to access programming from participating member stations, including live television and other digital offerings.
Most PBS member stations participate in the organization’s digital initiative, where simulcasts of their main programming feed are available through the PBS app for phones, tablets and smartphones at no cost. The PBS app often provides additional feeds from its larger member stations, including secondary channels and international news networks.
Ira Rubenstein, the Chief Digital and Marketing Officer for PBS, said the addition of France 24 supports the organization’s broader efforts to make public media programming accessible across multiple platforms.
“It’s a natural fit for public media’s mission to reach viewers wherever they are with in-depth, trustworthy journalism,” Rubenstein said.
The companies did not disclose financial terms of the agreement or specify how many PBS member stations are expected to offer the channel.
