Media & TV streaming
Holding both the tech and the product of a squad on a mass-market TV app
Tech Lead of a 4-developer squad, one of three on the connected-screen division, on the TF1 app for connected TVs and operator set-top boxes, while also standing in as Product Owner.
- Client
- TF1
- Sector
- Media & TV streaming
- Role
- React Native Tech Lead & acting PO
- Period
- March 2025 - present
The scale of the playing field
These public figures describe the platform the engagement took place on, not a result I claim on my own. They show the level of demand of the environment.
42M
monthly streamers on TF1+ on average in H1 2026, a record 44M in June
573M
hours streamed on TF1+ in H1 2026
3
squads on the connected-screen division, including the one I am Tech Lead of
TF1+ figures across all platforms, published by the TF1 group. The connected TV and set-top box app I work on is one of the entry points into that platform, alongside web and mobile.
The context
TF1 Bigscreen is the TF1 app on connected televisions and operator set-top boxes. The division is organized into three squads, each with its own Tech Lead and developers. A distinctive environment: dozens of device models, hard hardware constraints, operator validation cycles, and a mass-market audience that will not forgive a stuttering video player.
The challenge
Moving a squad of 4 developers forward on a demanding technical scope while also standing in as Product Owner. Two roles usually held by two people, with a new device landing in parallel: VegaOS, Amazon's system.
What I did
- Tech Lead of the squad: scope architecture, code reviews, developer mentoring
- Acting Product Owner: User Story scoping, backlog prioritization, business stakeholder coordination
- Integration and management of Amazon's new VegaOS device
- Building MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers to tool up the development team
- Custom debugging tools for set-top box troubleshooting
Technical stack
The outcome
The squad moves forward on a scope where tech and product are held by the same person, with a new device integrated and internal tooling (MCP, debug tools) that speeds up the developers' daily work.
What this means for you
This is exactly the fractional CTO format: one person owning architecture, technical guidance of the team and product priorities. If your tech team is moving without clear direction, or you cannot justify a full-time CTO, this is the operating model that applies.
Fractional CTOA similar need?
30 minutes to look at your situation and tell you honestly how I would approach it, whether you work with me or not.