Transactional VOD Market Declines by 8.5% in 2025, Expected Acceleration in 2026
The Syndicate of Video on Demand Publishers (SEVAD) held its general assembly on Friday, June 12 at the Netgem premises, highlighting the central role of the platform in structuring the French sector. This meeting comes in a context of significant contraction of the transactional VOD market.
Accelerated Contraction of Transactional VOD
SEVAD documented an 8.5% decline in transactional VOD activity in 2025, according to syndicate data. The downturn accelerates at the start of 2026 with a 10.4% decline over the first five months of the year, according to the AQUOA source cited in the press release. This deterioration prompts the syndicate to demand increased support for French platforms, which it presents as essential for the visibility of French works in the digital market.
Network Expansion and Internal Reorganization
The general assembly welcomed two new members (Cortex Media and Médici TV) and appointed a new administrator following the merger of FilmoTV and Universciné, creating the new platform Sooner. Mathias Hautefort, president of SEVAD and affiliated with Netgem, called for an expansion of the range of content and economic models (transactional or subscription-based) within the network. The board now includes six administrators from Canal+, Arte, Orange, Gaumont, and the newly created platform.
Tax Reform and Regulatory Framework
SEVAD welcomed the completion of the VOD aid reform by the National Center of Cinema (CNC) over the past year and pointed to the commission on the reform of the special tax on video services (TSV), entrusted to deputy Denis Masseglia, as an opportunity to create a more equitable tax framework according to the syndicate.
