Five years ago this week… Netflix launched a linear TV channel test in France, a move that seemed counterintuitive for the streaming giant. Dubbed Netflix Direct, the feature delivered the same linear programming to every viewer, a throwback to traditional TV, but aimed at cord-nevers and subscribers fatigued by endless choice. Critics questioned the logic, but Faultline saw it as a smart experiment in user retention—sometimes viewers just want someone else to pick what they watch. At the time, the trial was web-browser-only and faced rollout hiccups, with little early feedback from French media. Today, linear-style offerings have become a more accepted part of streaming ecosystems, and Netflix’s 2020 testbed was a clear precursor to its planned move in summer…