The “Streaming TV is dead” headlines may soon be dead, as well. Netflix is about to go from undermining TV to buying it.

Starting this summer, French subscribers will be able to stream five of France’s leading commercial broadcaster TF1 Group’s linear channels through the platform. This marks a significant turn for Netflix, which once helped shutter broadcast TV, only to now join forces with it.

Under the terms of the agreement, Netflix will start offering access to the live broadcast channels as well as on-demand programs, and will also take on a role in creating French programming.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed, but the extent of the deal signals a major commitment.

In a call with analysts, co-CEO Greg Peters called the agreement a “huge opportunity to increase daily engagement” — a key indicator for the company now that it no longer reports on subscriber numbers.

“By teaming up with France’s leading broadcaster, we will be able to give French consumers even more reasons to come to Netflix every day, and to stay with us for all their entertainment needs,” Peters said.

For TF1, the partnership will give it greater exposure and make it more attractive to advertisers. TF1’s channels will continue to run ads.

In a press release, TF1 Group’s CEO Rodolphe Belmer said the deal is part of the company’s digital transformation. “As viewing habits are shifting towards on-demand consumption and audience fragmentation increases, this unprecedented alliance will enable our premium content to reach audiences without precedent,” he said.

He added that linear TV is “in secular decline” but this kind of deal could allow it to remain relevant, “while benefitting from the huge driving force of Netflix.”

Netflix benefits in a regulatory way, too. In France, streaming platforms are required to reinvest between 20 and 25 percent of their revenue earned in France into French content. The deal allows it to meet that requirement while expanding its library with content that resonates with French audiences.

And there’s a huge audience to tap. The company’s channels have 58 million monthly viewers and its streaming platform, TF1+, has 35 million users. In comparison, Netflix has just over 10 million subscribers in France, co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in 2022.

The deal could also introduce TF1’s traditional audience to Netflix — and vice versa — creating a positive feedback loop of engagement and awareness.

And this could just be the beginning. Peters said the company will look at how the TF1 deal performs before making a similar deal elsewhere. If it’s successful, it could spread to other European countries and possibly the U.S.

As consumer habits evolve, streaming has already surpassed cable and linear TV for the first time. In May, streaming accounted for 44.8% of total TV viewing, while cable represented 24.1% and linear 20.1%, according to Nielsen.

Some linear channels are already on services like YouTube TV. But Netflix’s decision to integrate broadcast channels marks a new frontier. Streaming platforms are no longer killing TV, they’re digesting it.

With the TF1 deal, Netflix may be establishing itself as the one-stop shop for any type of entertainment — from bingeable series to live sports to real-time TV.

For many French viewers, Netflix already feels like television. Now it’s about to be.