2023-11-05 04:43:00
BFMTV is still the leading news channel in France but the gap is closing with CNews. Are you afraid of losing your leadership?
Marc-Olivier Fogiel – Absolutely not ! BFMTV has never been so powerful. We achieved our second historic return in terms of audience, with days where we outperformed. Yesterday Thursday [l’entretien a eu lieu vendredi], for example, we had a 4.9% audience share thanks to our coverage of storm Ciaran. We reach all audiences, on air obviously, but also digitally. BFMTV has become a completely 360-degree media, unlike our competitors. Furthermore, regarding our editorial line, I note that we are now the only general news channel… The others have positioned themselves in “niches”.
Which ?
LCI is mainly focused on Ukraine and a little towards the rest of the international scene. CNews revolves around issues related to immigration and identity with an editorial bias by debating a war of civilization that would arrive in the West. I’m not judging, but we are very far from what BFMTV does. Our challengers are right to look for a “corridor”. Because when they tried to do the same thing as us, they mightn’t do it and lost even more money!
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You have sometimes been criticized for giving too much importance to news items, particularly at the time of the Palmade affair…
When we talk regarding news items, some hold their noses. It is a noble material, which we treat when it is justified. There is nothing new under the sun. It was the same before my arrival with, for example, the Daval or Lelandais cases. LCI even had a daily news program.
The departures of presenters follow one another: Pascale de La Tour du Pin, Jean-Baptiste Boursier, Aurélie Casse and Bruce Toussaint. Is there any discomfort at BFMTV?
There is no discomfort. There is a gap between what we really experience at BFMTV and the way it is commented on! Just look at the reasons for each of these departures. Pascale de La Tour du Pin [partie sur C8 rejoindre Cyril Hanouna] for example wanted to become an entertainment star. It was incompatible with what we do. When Aurélie Casse came to say “goodbye” to me in my office, she was in tears. She explained to me that she might not refuse the offer from France 5, even if it was “heartbreaking”. Same for Bruce Toussaint. This season is actually very powerful and serene.
The latter will leave BFMTV in the middle of the season to join TF1, where he will launch a new morning show in early 2024. How are you coping with this unusual timing?
In twenty-five years in the business, this is the first time I’ve seen this! Bruce told me he would have preferred to stay until June. But it was a pressing request from TF1 which he might not resist. Without being paranoid, we can wonder if there is not a desire for destabilization. Especially when we see that, for a year, TF1 has tried to poach around twenty people from BFMTV, on and off the air. That the front page comes to market on the 15 is a tribute. And above all it shows that BFMTV is a real breeding ground for talent which, moreover, does not always succeed once they leave. Because the success of BFMTV is BFMTV.
Maxime Switek will replace Bruce Toussaint from January on the 9 a.m. to noon slot. Why did you choose someone internally?
Firstly because, generally, the personalities who commit to a season want to honor their commitments. So we were not going to do to others what they are accused of. And then we have enough “in-house” talents, like Maxime Switek, who is one of the most gifted journalists of his generation. Moving from the evening to the morning hours is a new challenge for him. In particular, he will have to learn to be more empathetic. Because in the morning, there is a very strong dimension of “welcome” viewers. See from January Apolline de Malherbe and Maxime Switek take turns on the air in the morning [elle présente le Face à face de 8 h 30] is a source of great pride. They are immense professionals.
What initial assessment do you draw from Laurent Ruquier’s show?
In terms of audiences, we are very satisfied. THE 8 p.m. from Ruquier doubled the box average. He is already above the goals I set for him for March. On the other hand, for the moment, the show does not yet differentiate itself enough from our other installments. I would like to see a program that looks more like Laurent Ruquier. Whether in the choice of subjects, its tone or its form.
Will he stay until the end of the season?
Obviously ! When Laurent read articles which claimed that it was going to stop, he called me and said: “We are friends, tell me if you want to stop…” This misinformation is crazy. We will see in June if we have found the right formula, but there is no question of stopping this program following two months. We have plenty of time, and the show has already progressed.
Last Sunday, on the show C media (France 5), Jean-Jacques Bourdin returned to his departure from BFMTV, explaining that he “might no longer work” with you…
He completely rewrites history. The reality is less glorious for him. He was fired from BFMTV following a complaint of sexual assault, and an internal audit during which 35 people testified. The Altice Media group [propriétaire de BFMTV] decided to take him to court following his statements, because he had signed a non-disparagement clause when leaving, in return for a sum of money. He is free to say what he thinks. But in this case, it was necessary to waive the clause and not accept the money.
Jean-Jacques Bourdin criticized your interventionism, in particular your wish to be “in the earpiece” of the presenters
The only time he had an earpiece was when he presented France in the eyes [plainte classée sans suite pour prescription]. That day, he was all trembling and paralyzed, I gave him the arguments to respond to Valérie Pécresse who was humiliating him. Generally speaking, I read a lot of false things regarding my supposed interventionism. At BFMTV, many decisions taken are collective, and for example I set up editorial conferences which did not exist before. Afterwards, I am responsible for the antenna. So, yes, I am 200% invested.
Could we see you once more one day on the air?
I no longer prohibit it on principle. But that is not on the agenda.
Is BFMTV for sale, as some rumors claim?
No. Patrick Drahi (editor’s note: owner of Altice) has said this publicly on several occasions. He told me once more personally last week. But once once more, it’s sometimes difficult to make yourself heard!
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