Most R&D expenditure is incurred with a view to marketing a new product or service or broadcasting a new programme.

R&D spending in 2010 amounted to approximately €6 million.

A substantial proportion of the TF1 group’s business consists in creating and innovating for light entertainment, drama and films, the results of which may be uncertain. The following steps are involved in creating new and innovative concepts for programmes:

acquisition of a format, programme concept or script rights;

sociological research to identify the potential audience for new programmes;

consultancy;

location scouting, casting, set design and production of a pilot episode.

Programme-related R&D spending therefore includes:

the cost of new drama and entertainment formats that have never been broadcast in that form on TV, whether they are suitable for screening or not and as they affect expenses for the year (ie, whether they are scrapped or shown)

the cost of script rights for new concepts (never broadcast on TV) scrapped during the year.

The TF1 group gave fresh impetus to its Innovation division in 2010, strengthening its organisation by:

creating a Network, Innovation and New Technologies unit within the Technology department; 

setting up a specific innovation unit within e-TF1;

setting up cross-cutting working groups on key innovation issues.

(Updated: June 2011)