Gaumont TV President Talks End of Peak TV, Warns: “If We Don’t Own the IP, We Lose Our Identity”

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Currently, things are extremely tough within the television industry. For the past ten years, France and Europe as a whole have experienced nothing but sheer delight in the realm of television. This was how Isabelle Degeorges, president and producer at Gaumont Television, put it during her keynote speech at the Conecta Fiction & Entertainment industry gathering held in Cuenca, Spain.

During a certain time, everything seemed attainable, as all live-stream broadcasters aspired to be in France and sought opportunities there. However, with the advent of COVID-19 and the decline of peak TV, we’re now compelled to adapt to a fresh, changed environment.” (She emphasized this point.)

According to Degeorges, the key to handling challenges lies in the right mindset. She emphasized that we should accept these situations as routine. After all, it’s common knowledge worldwide that fighting challenges, adapting, and creating new opportunities is just part of life.

Speaking at Conecta, Degeorges revealed that they are currently filming for Lupin’s fourth season, which is set to premiere on screens next year. She chose not to disclose any plot twists or creative specifics in her discussion.

For content creators like Gaumont, maintaining robust intellectual property (IP) is crucial, especially in an era dominated by international streaming platforms. The French regulation that mandates U.S. and global streamers to invest a minimum of 20% of their net earnings from France into European productions plays a significant role in this context, as Degeorges pointed out. In her words, “If we don’t own the IP, we lose our unique identity.” She further added, “If we don’t own the IP, it seems to me that everything becomes associated with the U.S., and ultimately, it is their culture that prevails.

Regarding intellectual property, an executive highlighted some forthcoming ventures during a meeting on Tuesday. These include “In the Shadows of the Forest,” a thrilling series for Apple TV+ featuring Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent, and the ninth season of the popular crime drama “The Art of Crime” for France Télévisions, which Gaumont has successfully exported to over 60 countries.

During a discussion on intellectual property rights, an executive brought up exciting upcoming projects on Tuesday. For instance, they mentioned the Apple TV+ series “In the Shadows of the Forest,” starring Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent, as well as the ninth season of the crime drama “The Art of Crime” for France Télévisions. This latter production has been successfully distributed to more than 60 countries by Gaumont.

Additionally, Degeorges employed her Conecta keynote speech to advocate for the governance of artificial intelligence. She proposed regulations that would mandate AI firms to compensate content creators fairly instead of exploiting their work by using it without charge to teach their algorithms.

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2025-06-17 15:24