2023-09-27 17:56:28
Published on September 27, 2023 at 7:14 p.m. Updated on September 27, 2023 at 7:56 p.m.
While the television market is coming out of a fairly gloomy first half of 2023 and competition from platforms like Netflix and even Amazon Prime Video is increasingly keen for the major historic channels, the increase planned for the budget of public broadcasting (+6% to 4.025 billion euros in 2024) is making private channels bristle.
“These very significant and increasing amounts make the ACP’s demands all the more legitimate [Association des chaînes privées, NDLR] on the supervision of France Télévisions’ practices”, declared to “Echos” a spokesperson for this entity bringing together TF1, M6, Canal+ and Altice (BFMTV, etc.) and who in May had sent a letter to the Prime Minister to denounce several competitive advantages that France Télévisions would enjoy. “For the balance of the ecosystem and the financing of creation, it is essential that the public service does not drain the resources of private actors, especially in an economic context under tension,” continues the ACP.
Towards a status quo on
However, according to our information, the government is moving towards the status quo in terms of for France Télévisions and Radio France in the future contracts of objectives and means (COM) which must be finalized in the coming weeks, and which set the public service roadmap until 2028.
France Télévisions, however, would not have obtained the right to broadcast spots following 8 p.m. for certain sporting events, which limits its ability to position itself on certain sporting rights. According to some, and even if the public group denies it, by obtaining an exception France Télévisions might in particular have better monetized the broadcast of the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
Contracts of objectives and means
The irritation with private channels resurfaces in a complicated context for the audiovisual sector. Do they still hope to move the lines in future COMs and in particular that of France Télévisions? The budget of this group “must not fuel an inflation of rights, particularly sports rights, to the detriment of the entire sector and without benefit for viewers,” continues the ACP spokesperson.
According to private channels, even if the sustainability of public service resources for creation is in itself good news, this must be accompanied by new commitments to diversity of formats and obligations for exposure on the most powerful channels. When requested, France Télévisions might not immediately be reached for comment.
Programming choices
TF1, M6 and others criticize France 2 and France 3 in particular for launching into a real race for audiences by offering programs very close to those of private channels while their public service mission should push these channels to put forward on their antennas a wider range of works. Criticisms that France Télévisions firmly rejected.
In other words, the private channels which consider themselves victims of a form of unfair competition are also putting pressure on France to lift certain bans (promotions on food products, books) dating back more than 30 years which do not allow them to to seek out certain advertisers that digital players can attract without restriction.
Bans to be reviewed?
“In an audiovisual market in complete upheaval, we must get rid of the constraints inherited from a past situation,” demands a market expert. Faced with the Web giants, we have no choice, we must dynamite the current system both in terms of the rules of the market, but also in the relations between broadcasters and producers and on rights.
While there are fewer and fewer prospectuses in supermarkets – Leclerc has notably decided to stop them – this market which still weighed more than 2 billion euros (but has been declining for several years) necessarily whets the appetites of televisions which, according to our information, are also seeking to benefit from this windfall alongside the PQR and the radios.
Manna from leaflets
An experiment has been carried out in recent years allowing film advertisements to be placed on television and a meeting clause is planned to possibly extend this authorization. According to some, the timing might be favorable to consider new experiments to start broadcasting on television, for example spots on children’s books or food promotions.
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