In today’s Digest, we discuss Netflix inking a linear TV deal with TF1, Trump delaying the TikTok ban for a third time, TikTok Shop launching in Japan, and the CMA tossing Google’s Privacy Sandbox a lifeline.

Netflix Inks Linear TV Deal with TF1

Netflix has signed a landmark agreement with TF1 to carry its linear TV channels via the streaming giant’s platform marking the first time Netflix will host live, traditional broadcast content. TF1, France’s largest commercial broadcaster, will leverage Netflix’s platform to distribute flagship programming including Brocéliande, The Voice, and major live sports across France. The deal will see TF1 air all five of its linear channels through Netflix in France, alongside a catalogue of more than 30,000 hours of on-demand content.

The partnership underscores a broader shift as legacy broadcasters adapt to evolving consumption patterns and look to leverage the reach of global streaming platforms amid declining linear viewership and ad revenue.

Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters told the Financial Times that some French viewers now associate “TV as Netflix, and so this is an opportunity for us to work with the largest broadcaster in the French media ecosystem [and] producer of great, premium content”.

Trump to Delay TikTok Ban for a Third Time; TikTok Shop to Launch in Japan

The White House has confirmed that President Trump will sign a third executive order granting TikTok a 90-day extension, allowing the app to continue operating in the US while negotiations continue. The move follows legislation passed last year requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US operations or face a ban in the country. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “As he has said many times, president Trump does not want TikTok to go dark. This extension will last 90 days, which the administration will spend working to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure.” 

As TikTok faces ongoing political scrutiny in the US, the platform is doubling down on international growth. In Japan, TikTok is preparing to launch its e-commerce feature, TikTok Shop. According to Nikkei Asia, recent updates to TikTok Japan’s privacy policy specifically referencing “shopping features”, have fuelled speculation that a formal launch could take place as early as this month.

CMA Throws Google a Lifeline

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened  a consultation into  whether to lift the legally binding commitments Google agreed to in 2022 around its Privacy Sandbox initiative. The CMA’s announcement follows Google’s April reversal of plans to prompt Chrome users to disable third-party cookies,  a move which the regulator says reduces the risk of anti-competitive harm. The regulator is now seeking public feedback on the proposal, with submissions open until 4 July 2025 through the CMA’s official investigation page.