Happy birthday, Téva! The Groupe M6 channel celebrates its 30^th anniversary and enters its fourth decade with strong momentum.

Launched on the French cable network in 1996, Téva was a pioneer from the start: the first French channel to position itself specifically for women. Thirty years later, that ambition remains at the heart of the brand, which has evolved alongside its audience while continually adapting its content and distribution.

And the figures speak for themselves. Last season, Téva recorded its best performance among overall audiences in nine years, while its streaming audiences doubled. On social media, the brand now reaches a community of more than two million followers, generating over 800 million video views.

We spoke to Catherine Schöfer, Managing Director of Paris Première and Téva, about the channel’s evolution, its role in championing female voices and talent, and its ambitions for the future.

Téva is turning 30 this year. Looking back at its journey since 1996, what are you most proud of – and what has remained at the heart of Téva throughout those 30 years? 

“What I’m most proud of is that, together with the whole team, we’ve genuinely been able to accompany our female viewers – not just entertaining them, but inspiring them too. When you read the feedback from our qualitative studies and come across comments such as “I feel good when I watch Téva,” “It’s a channel that understands me,” or “A channel that inspires me and makes me want to move forward,” that’s incredibly rewarding. It shows that the relationship we’ve built with our audience is both deep and genuine.

I’m also proud that, as a team, we’ve been able to transform the channel whenever necessary – making it more engaged, sharper and more in tune with the times.

And then there are the gems – the talents we’ve had the pleasure of discovering and supporting. There is the explosive duo behind Vous les Femmes (You, Women), an original series created in 2007 that’s still hugely successful on social media almost 20 years later; our weekly talk show Piquantes !, produced by Studio 89 and led by Nicole Ferroni; and all the women who have entrusted us with their stories, their struggles and their most personal experiences in our documentaries.

These are the moments that remind us why we do this job – and reinforce our belief that, in its own way, Téva has played a part in moving society forward.”

Téva was the first French channel to position itself specifically for women. Thirty years later, what does being a “channel for women” mean to you today? 

“Being a channel for women in 2026 obviously means something very different from what it did in 1996. And that’s precisely what keeps the positioning so relevant and alive.

Over the past 30 years, Téva has grown alongside women and reinvented itself with them. Téva does not simply show women – it gives them a space where they can express themselves authentically.

From the talk show Piquantes ! to our socially engaged documentaries, the channel provides a platform for voices, experiences and debates that you don’t find elsewhere. That’s what being a channel for women means today – creating a space where women genuinely see themselves reflected.”

Téva gives women a platform not only on screen, but behind the camera too – you recently mentioned that close to 90 per cent of your documentaries are often directed by women. Why is supporting female creators such an important part of Téva’s editorial approach? 

“The figures speak for themselves: women remain significantly underrepresented behind the camera. Even in documentaries, where they are proportionally better represented than in other genres, there’s still a long way to go.

We therefore believe it’s essential for Téva to lead by example in promoting female directors. This isn’t about making a statement for the sake of it, it’s a deliberate editorial choice.

And it makes even more sense given that our documentaries aim to explore societal changes affecting women, often through a very personal, first-person perspective. Who better to convey the full depth and truth of a subject than a female writer-director who has a personal connection to it?

But our commitment does not stop with documentaries. Whether in comedy, fiction or live entertainment, female creativity is still not visible enough. Téva is working to change that – not because these are “women’s issues”, but because these perspectives enrich creativity as a whole and simply deserve greater visibility.”

Téva has just achieved its best performance in nine years, doubled its streaming audiences and built a strong social media following. What is driving this momentum, and how are changing viewing habits shaping the way you develop the brand?

“We’re very proud of these results, which are the outcome of sustained work over many years. In a media landscape where competition has continued to intensify over the past two decades – with new DTT channels, streaming platforms and social media – Téva has held its ground and continues to stand out thanks to its strong relationship with its audience, clear positioning and programming that is both inventive and relevant.

At the same time, Téva is evolving to respond to changing viewing habits. One key area is strengthening our streaming offer through the most comprehensive rights strategy possible, including previews, extended rights for subscribers and stacking.

Hacks is a perfect example. The new fifth season is available exclusively on Téva’s linear channel with stacking, while for seasons three and four we have secured box-set rights, allowing our subscribers to watch both seasons again in full.

Social media has also become a powerful way to extend the reach of the brand and connect with new audiences. We’ve significantly stepped up our activity in recent years with dedicated, platform-specific content – and the results speak for themselves: highly engaged communities, more than 2.3 million followers and over 850 million video views in 2025.”

After 30 years of constantly reinventing itself, what’s next for Téva – and where do you see the biggest opportunities for the brand in the years ahead?

“Our priorities are clear:

• Remain the leading pay-TV channel for women
• Continue developing our streaming offer
• Strengthen our presence on social media and continue growing the engaged community around Téva – a powerful way to increase the brand’s reach and attract new subscribers
• Continue expanding our distribution and strengthening our partnerships with distributors so that we can adapt together to changing viewing habits

And we’ll remain what we’ve always been – a channel constantly on the lookout for the best female-led series, new talent and new formats. That’s part of our DNA, and it will continue to drive us in the years ahead.”

What’s your favourite Téva moment?

“I would highlight two recent moments.

The first was filming our special 30th-anniversary sketch show, On change les règles (We’re Changing the Rules), which will air at the end of October 2026. It’s a programme where the roles are reversed: women run the world, men give birth, Prince Charmings are suffering from burnout, princesses are starting a revolution… and even the son of God is a daughter.

It’s funny, intelligent and brilliantly written – and on set, with our home-grown talent, our guests and the entire team, there was such a joyful and inclusive energy. It captured exactly what Téva is all about. It was a real celebration!

The second was the screening of our documentary Les Mères protectrices (Mother Protectors) at the French National Assembly in September. It was a powerful moment and a wonderful recognition of our work – but above all, there was the deep satisfaction of knowing that we had made an impact and, in our own way, helped move things forward.”

🔹About Téva

Launched on the French cable network in 1996, Téva was a pioneer from the start: the first French channel to position itself specifically for women. Thirty years later, that ambition remains at the heart of the brand, which has evolved alongside its audience while continually adapting its content and distribution. Today, Téva combines entertainment, comedy, documentaries and female-led fiction. After 30 years of evolution, Téva’s ambition remains the same: to give women a space to be heard, represented and inspired – while continuing to find new voices, formats and stories. Discover Téva on M6+