“Renewal” public broadcasting “will go through a joint presidency at one point or another” to all its media, pleaded the president of Arcom Roch-Olivier Maistre, during a hearing at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
“I’m not talking about a merger” more than “someone who has a corporate vision like large private groups”specified Mr. Maistre to the deputies of the Cultural Affairs Committee.
He was notably interviewed on the objectives and means contracts (COM) of France Télévisions, Radio France and France Médias Monde (France 24, RFI) for the period 2024-2028. Initially expected in 2023, these COMs, negotiated with the State, must still be submitted to Parliament for opinion.
In its own opinion delivered in July, Arcom called for ” to strenghten “ cooperation between these media.
The “status quo is no longer possible”insisted Mr. Maistre on Tuesday, calling on the public service “to gather its forces, not to dilute itself but to unite”.
“It is now time for +global media+”that is to say to groups encompassing “all supports” TV, radio, internet, etc., and “competition is becoming international”he justified.
“Certainly, we have made progress”he admitted, citing the establishment of joint morning shows between France Bleu and France 3. But it is necessary “a pilot on the plane” on “major strategic projects” (proximity, information, digital, culture, winning back young audiences), estimated the one whose mandate ends at the beginning of 2025.
Led by the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, the project of a merger of public broadcasting media was on track until the dissolution of the National Assembly in June. The minister plans consultations to consider what happens next.
More urgent, the sustainability of funding for public broadcasting, “guarantee of its independence” according to Mr. Maistre, will be on the Senate agenda on October 23.
Journalist Anne-Sophie Lapix presents the 8 p.m. news on France 2 on July 23, 2024 in Paris / Ludovic MARIN / AFP/Archives
The president of Arcom was also questioned about the agreements that will be signed by the end of the year between the regulator and the private channels selected for the reallocation of 15 DTT frequencies in 2025.
These specifications will be “enriched” in matters of pluralism and must give “more means” to the ethics committees of the channels, according to Mr. Maistre.
“We also plan (…) to generalize the appointment of an independent director to the boards of directors of all audiovisual media”referent “on matters of ethics or editorial independence” et “correspondent” of the ethics committee, said Mr. Maistre.