Growth in video and corporate sales has prompted news agency AFP to make these its priorities for 2017.

While its budget forecasts indicate only a one per cent revenue increase over 2016, video is expected to maintain its 17 per cent annual growth of the last six years, and corporate sales - which include sport - are expected to grow by 15 per cent.

A business development plan presented to directors by chairman and chief executive Emmanuel Hoog focusses on these two priorities, with AFP also building up its range of live products in a bid to be "the real time news agency".

Revenue forecasts - which call for "very contained" operating costs - are at 2015 levels, and do not include resources from the French government, which has increased AFP's subsidy by five million Euros (A$7.31 million) over the amount granted in the 2016 finance act.

Plans for 2017 include developing worldwide internet video transmission and improving satellite coverage, completing the IRIS multimedia production and editing programme, and setting up a CRM tool.

AFP is looking to gain 1000 clients between now and 2021 - 15 per cent of them in 2017 - growing its client portfolio by 21 per cent over the five-year period, and plans to become a leader in news video with products including AFPTV Live.

It is also working to develop its global licence in reponse to the rise of social networks and the emergence of mobile as the preferred news access platform.