M6 Group’s Coralie Boitrelle-Laigle

While the French TV market for children’s and family content is crowded and competitive, the M6 Group channels have garnered loyal audiences for years. Its offerings for young ones include Gulli on DTT, the pay-TV services Canal J and TiJi, the M6 Kid morning block, Gulli.fr and M6+. Coralie Boitrelle-Laigle, director of youth channels in France for the M6 Group, walks TV Kids through what’s guiding some of the channels’ programming decisions.

TV KIDS: What is the role of acquired content on M6 Group’s kids’ channels and platforms?
BOITRELLE-LAIGLE: We do acquisitions and prebuys. It’s essential to propose new, high-quality content to keep our leading position among kids and families. We operate different channels and platforms. We have a free channel called Gulli, targeting children and families, and we operate two pay-TV channels in France. We’ve launched a new platform called M6+, so we are looking for AVOD rights.

TV KIDS: How has your acquisition strategy shifted in the last year or two?
BOITRELLE-LAIGLE: In France, the market is really crowded, and the media industry has had to go through an intensive shift. We have to keep communicating with the digital-native generation to get closer to their new consumer habits. We have to be agile to keep proposing new content and maintain a financial balance.

TV KIDS: What is on your wish list in terms of genres, age demographics and formats?
BOITRELLE-LAIGLE: Gulli targets children and families, and it’s always a good start to propose comedy shows that include positive values. Comedy must be grounded in the daily lives of children so they can recognize themselves. SpongeBob SquarePants and Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks are the kinds of comedies that are a priority for us. TiJi is a preschool channel that [leans] slightly toward girls’ shows. Our main successes are [Barbie-themed content] and Zoom the White Dolphin. For Canal J, we are looking for action-adventure for children from 8 to 12. We are looking for volume because we program big blocks on the grid.

TV KIDS: Are you eyeing content that taps into the creator economy?
BOITRELLE-LAIGLE: Gulli is devoted to a young audience. We have to know what this audience likes [beyond] our TV programs. We keep an eye on YouTube and social media. We sometimes collaborate with YouTubers, but more to promote shows. YouTubers and influencers are local celebrities, and we need an international celebrity to build an IP. It’s hard for us to have special content based on a YouTuber. In our shows, we make the characters use the codes of YouTube and social media to create a close link with our audience.

TV KIDS: What would you like to see more of in the marketplace?
BOITRELLE-LAIGLE: In France, we have a lot of producers who are incredibly creative. We get lots of surprises every day and every week. I would like to see more episodic shows. It’s relevant for children to find the same beginning, middle and end, and in the middle of all three points, so many things can happen.

TV KIDS: What is your stance on exclusivity?
BOITRELLE-LAIGLE: We have different approaches depending on the franchise. We need exclusivity. We need to offer this content and this experience only on our platforms and channels. We are taking exclusive rights where possible and wherever we can, but it always depends on the IP. We’re open to discussing case by case.