According to Deadline, the thriller series Liaison, starring Vincent Cassel (Black Swan, La Haine) and Eva Green (Casino Royale, Penny Dreadful), has been acquired by TF1, a major French television network.
The show, which is also a collaboration between English and French production teams, will continue to be available on Apple TV+ worldwide. However, the rights to broadcast the show have been sold to TF1 for the French market on a non-exclusive basis during its second window. In other words, after its initial exclusive run on Apple TV+, the show can also be broadcast on TF1 in its secondary distribution phase. While TF1 has acquired the rights to air the show, Apple TV+ still retains the rights to distribute and stream Liaison globally, including in France.
Liaison is a joint production between Ringside Studio, which is supported by Newen Studios in the UK, and Leonis Productions in France. The series features a notable supporting cast, including Peter Mullan (Ozark, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Gerard Lanvin (Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1, Call My Agent!), Daniel Francis (Bridgerton, Once Upon a Time), Laëtitia Eïdo (Fauda, Citadel), Bukky Bakray (You Don’t Know Me, Rocks) and Thierry Frémont (Luther, Allied).
As portrayed by Cassel and Green, the main characters are two agents with a history as former lovers. The plot is set in the period following Brexit, and the agents are tasked with working together to prevent violent international cyberattacks that pose a threat to the UK. As they tackle these cyber threats, they must also confront unresolved issues and secrets from their past relationship, adding a personal and emotional layer to the thriller. The series is set against an international backdrop, with key locations including major cities like London, Paris, Brussels, and regions in Syria. This global setting emphasizes the wide-reaching impact of these cyber threats and the agents’ mission. The series delves into how past mistakes and secrets can jeopardize future outcomes, both personally for the characters and on a broader scale in their mission.
Deadline provides comments from two executives regarding the acquisition of Liaison by TF1. Rodolphe Buet (Little Vampire, Desaster), the CEO of Newen Connect, expressed his satisfaction that the series will be airing on TF1 in France. He believes TF1 is an ideal platform for the show in the French market. Buet highlights TF1’s history of acquiring high-profile international shows, mentioning CBS’s SWAT and ABC’s Will Trent as examples. To put it simply, TF1 has a track record of successfully bringing popular international content to French audiences. Sophie Leveaux (The Perfect Mother), who is responsible for acquiring and developing international drama for TF1, praised Liaison for its excellent cast and high production quality. She believes the show will be valuable to TF1’s television programming. Leveaux also notes that Liaison will be available to stream on TF1’s digital platform, TF1+, expanding its accessibility beyond traditional TV broadcasts.
Deadline then discusses the financial potential and strategic advantages of distributing Apple TV+ content beyond its initial release on Apple’s platform. Distributing Apple TV+ content during its second window can be highly profitable for distributors. This profitability holds true whether the distribution rights are exclusive to particular platform or shared with others. The president of distribution for Fifth Season, a company involved in selling content, disclosed to Deadline that they were handling the sale of over $1 billion worth of Apple TV+ content. This emphasizes the significant market value and demand for Apple’s shows and movies in secondary distribution markets. Prentiss Fraser, an executive involved in distributing Apple content, mentioned minimal overlap between Apple TV+ subscribers and traditional broadcast TV viewers in key regions. Many people who watch TV through conventional channels, like cable or satellite, do not also subscribe to Apple TV+. Consequently, distributing Apple TV+ content on traditional broadcast channels can reach a different audience, expanding the content’s overall viewership and revenue potential.