French broadcasters strike against "TV Sarkozy"

Back in President de Gaulle's days, France's only television channel sent its news scripts to the Information Minister for clearance before broadcast. Memories of the old ORTF, the 1960s state broadcaster, are stirring today as staff at France Télévisions have gone on strike. Forty percent of of the personnel at the public tv and radio networks have stopped work for the day and programmes have been suspended.

The cause is a revolution by President Sarkozy that will bring the public broadcaster under closer state control. As well as de Gaulle, Sarkozy's other model may be Silvio Berlusconi, the Prime Minister and media magnate who controls public and private TV in Italy.

The story began last January when Sarkozy decided out of the blue to end advertising on the state television channels (It was during his slightly unhinged period between wives when he announced a torrent of odd projects, most of which have evaporated). Commercials produce a third of the state TV revenue, with license fees making up most of the rest. In Napoleonic form, Sarko also decreed that henceforward he would appoint the boss of France Télévisions and the public radio networks.  For the past two decades the jobs have been the gift of an independent supervisory body, the CSA (Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel).

The President said that he was acting in the noble cause of relieving France2 and the other channels from the need to attract audience ratings with low-grade programming. The state would make up for the 450 million euro drop in income from advertising, he promised. They would now be free to start producing high quality programmes "just like the BBC". The British public broadcaster is Sarkozy's model, although it has an independent charter that makes it very different from the politically-controlled entity that he is creating for France.

Sarko's lieutenants say that presidential appointment of the TV chief will merely simplify things because everyone knew that the Elysée palace had the ultimate say on the matter even though the CSA is notionally independent.

[The ORTF in May 1968 poster]

Few beyond Sarkozy's camp bought these arguments. He was accused of giving an advertising windfall to the private networks and mainly Martin Bouygues, his friend who owns TF1, the biggest channel. The president's entourage also fanned worry about the arrival of a de Gaulle-style "TV Sarko" with instructions on the type of programming that they expect from the new France2. This includes slots to "explain" government policies. Frédéric Lefebvre, a parliamentarian and spokesman for Sarkozy's UMP party, listed the presenters and formats that they want to see in prime time [watch him here].

[Demonstrator from France Television today]

The Parliament has started to debate the television bill today. Commercials will disappear from prime time from January and completely by  December 2011. The promise to guarantee the gap in funding has yet to be fulfilled. The money is supposed to come from new taxes on the commercial networks and mobile phone companies but the TV companies have just had their levy halved to take account of the economic slump -- and the new digital channels that are eating into their revenues. 

The reform will take effect despite the opposition's promises to fight it in parliament. Among one of the more shameless amendments by the Sarkozy camp is a rule designed to protect TF1 when it runs 10 straight minutes of advertising at the end of the 8pm evening news. At present, both TF1 and France2 broadcast commercials in this slot after their parallel half-hour news shows.  To deter viewers from zapping to France2, the state broadcaster will in future have to fill the parallel slot with public service messages on education, health and social matters -- a real flash-back to de Gaulle's days. .   

Some of Sarkozy's criticism of France Télévisions is justified. The company suffers from over-staffing, bureaucracy and aggressive labour unions. Their programming is less diverse than that of the far richer BBC but it is still of a higher quality than the more crowd-pleasing output of TF1. 

The presidential interference has stirred hostility on a broad front, including much of today's print media. Of course you would expect Libération to dump on TV Sarko with glee, but it's worth quoting Laurent Joffrin, its editor.  "Nicolas Sarkozy will have managed to put under his influence almost the entire broadcasting landscape of France... After one year we are returning to the belle epoque of the ORTF."

Sarko is far from finished with the media. He has now set out to rescue the printed press from its steady decline -- what he sees as largely self-inflicted.   More on that later. 

Comments

[Emilie]

I support Sarko's policies from time to time. I do believe France Television needs to be reformed, as for exemple over-staffing and labour unions attitudes in France 3 as Charles mentioned it.
But THAT... I can't believe he dares proposing such measures.
National finances are in total mess: no problem, let's end advertising on public channels and subsidize them a bit more!
The public channels' director is in reality appointed by the President and not the CSA, well, no need to bother to make this appointment more independent from the executive power: let's make it official the Sunking will appoint him directly!
I believe psychologists are right saying Sarko has no "surmoi" (sorry I don't know the translation in english) That man dares everything...
and as Lino Ventura said in "les Tontons Flingueurs": "Les cons ça ose tout, c'est à ça qu'on les reconnaît".
Sarko is not only hyperactive, he's also really "CON" from time to time.

[Romain]

"The company suffers from over-staffing, bureaucracy and aggressive labour unions."

Some years ago, the president of Radio France was asked "how many people work at Maison de la Radio (their main office) ?" He replied :"one third".
There are too many public tv channels, they need to be resized and streamlined. However, this project has a strange Berlusconi look.

[dot king]

Lefèbvre reminds me of "oozing charm from every pore, he oiled his way across the floor" (could be Oscar Wilde - the quotation not the description).

The Christophe Hondelatte programme they are talking about, I suppose, is "Tandem" which is a monthly cultural programme project isn't it?
I saw the first one, wasn't at all convinced I should watch it, but it was thoroughly good - I thought so anyway. Varied, live, hung together well.
And CH's "Faites entrer l'accusé" is something I prop my eyes open and stay doggedly awake for.

In that 7 - 8pm slot though, it will be difficult to get audience away from "Le Grand Journal" and then from "Les Guignols de l'Info", though I usually switch ro Fr2 for the news - except that sometimes it isn't worth bothering.
The GJ has too many "cult" regulars to be beaten on audience IMO.

CHARLES if you hadn't used the word "leftist" next to the "La Police vous parle. Tous les soirs sur ORTF" poster, then it could have been seen as a programme title, a bit like the BBC's "Crime Watch".
The word "leftist" was, in the context, surplus to requirements.
:)

[Fernandez]

"The cause is a revolution by President Sarkozy that will bring the public broadcaster under closer state control. As well as de Gaulle, Sarkozy's other model may be Silvio Berlusconi, the Prime Minister and media magnate who controls public and private TV in Italy."

Don't forget his friend Vlad Putin.

[azloon]

[However, this project has a strange Berlusconi look.] Romain

with proposed time reserved to explain government policy, a whiff of hugo chavez as well (Sarko's good friend, Hugo Chavez, i should add. well, ok, he would be his good friend if he knew him).

[richard.jones]

@Dot,

I've sung this so many times 'oozing....' - it's My Fair Lady - Alan Lerner was the lyricist.

[qwerty]

Since FR2 is changing for the better, could somebody fire William Leymergie?

He is:
- ringard (check the jingles)
- despotic
- prone to nepotism and favoritism
- has his têtes de turc he enjoys humiliating
- franchouillard, he's in a constant one-up-manship game with anglosaxons ("ils ne nous aiment pas et on leur rend bien"), whom he hates (became particularly hysterical when UK won the 2012 Olympics - almost as ridiculous as Delanoe)
- a name-dropper (he likes to show he's friends with people like Depardieu and Arditi)
- he tends to strangle his collaborators (it happened once in any case)
- he wears his hair too long, and keeps tucking it behind his ear
- he uses gomina
- he makes life difficult for his collaborateurs, keeps interrupting them and insults/humiliates them occasionally in public
- i believe he sometimes wears leather pants

Apart from all that, he has a pretty good program.

[Daisy]

All hail Nikolai Tsarkovich!!

[Lex Stevens]

"It was during his slightly unhinged period between wives when he announced a torrent of odd projects, most of which have evaporated." -- CB

Charles, you are too funny!

[Romain]

Azloon,

At least Chavez looney toon style is funny (from outside Venezuela).
Sarko will have a hard time convincing people this is not a private lobbies guided plan. Moreover, all communication specialists consider that using public tv for official communication is counter productive; but politicians cannot help trying.

[Rick]

Is public opinion sufficiently apprised of the difference between a feature film, on the one hand, and TV programming, on the other?

Showing endless movies on a small screen indicates a certain naivety and paucity of imagination. Now, there’s something worth striking for!

[Pierre]

Complex issue excellently summed up (as usual). Reform is needed but a "napoleonic" one? Pretending that this will create a french BBC (in crisis too for what I read) really intends to "nous faire prendre des vessies pour des lanternes". (English equivalent please?)

[christopher muir]

Since French TV began SECAM system services in the old rue Cognacq-Jay building, one thing is certain: all presidents would want to have influence over certain programme content. And that goes for all countries. Public broadcasting is vital in a democracy, but it's a delicate balancing act and they are always under threat - often because of lapses in taste on their part or blatant rudeness to powerful politicians.(Not to mention explosive documentaries and satire.) It's a never-ending duel. Getting one of your cronies to run the show seems like a crafty idea.

[Pilko]

LICENCE - learn to spell

[Thanks for the advice, Pilko but I don't need it. Since the audience here is international and a lot of it American, I prefer US spelling when it's not very different from the British. CB]

[V]

A comparison with Berlusconi is a bit off, as Silvio had actually *owned* his media outlets before pretending to let go of them.
I just wonder whether the reactions would have been the same, had this been made by a socialist "progressist" government.
I guess they would have probably got caught in endless negotiations with the unions and not done anything at all in the end.

[Pierre Bernardi]

Emilie: the term is superego.

[Rick]

PIERRE, ‘prendre des vessies pour des lanternes’ = ‘to pull the wool over someone’s eyes’. Apparently, the expression comes from the USA (circa 1800) and refers to blinding somebody for an instant by tipping his powdered wig over his eyes. Wearing wigs in 1800? They were so old-fashioned.

[Romain]

"nous faire prendre des vessies pour des lanternes". (English equivalent please?) Pierre

How does "a red herring" sound ?

[prendre les vessies... translates as 'pull the wool over our eyes' CB]

[Balbou]

The reform is not unnecessary but the way NS handles it is biased. A necessary condition would be real independence of the TV boards. A real CSA.

Then, when you consider the number of public channels in France, it's obvious that some should disappear, especially if funds are down:
- F2, F3, F4, F5
- LCP
- Arte (french-german owned)
- F24 (international news)
- TV5 (though it is a joint venture with swiss, canadian and belgian TVs)

And I'm sure I'm forgetting some more obscure locally based channels.

Same for radio stations: France Inter, RFI, F Bleue, F Info, etc.

[PAUL 1st]

Let 'em go out on strike and stay out! The programmes might even be better.

[azloon]

[during his slightly unhinged period] CB

Charles, any tips for distinguishing his unhinged period from his hinged period?

------------

William Leymergie [sometimes wears leather pants] QWERTY

Did Sarko mention a dress code for TV Sarko. i say no leather pants, and no eyeliner for male on-air talent.

-------

Romain -- 'red herring' has two meanings in american english usage:

1) an issue which is raised to obfuscate a main point of an issue. it is characterized thusly by those who see the false issue being used as a cover-up for another point which the speaker/writer wishes to avoid.

2) the preliminary prospectus for a stock or bond offering, so called because it features red print on its front page which is subject to change before the actual issue of the stock or bond.

Chavez is a 'bozo' whose days are numbered if oil prices stay below $70/bbl.

[Gilles]

Good afternoon

I wonder what supports Romain's opinion that France télévision is over-staffed.

True, it is always a concern when politicians meddle with the medias

[Rick]

On the matter of Presidential interference on the small screen, is public opinion is sufficiently aware of France’s bully-boy tactics against the other TV5 member countries?

[Pierre]

Rick
Thanks. The historical explanation will help remembering the expression.

Balbou
It's not the number of stations that's the problem (by holy mother Beeb TV& Radio are also "divided" in 1,2, 3 4, 5, World, Prime, Parliament etc), it's their coordination and editorial & programs policy. The second surely shouldn't be the affair of the government, a fortiori not the president himself.

[Rick]

If it gives you any comfort, PIERRE, the BBC flagship lunchtime news programme managed to twist interviewee Christine Lagarde’s words. I wonder if Christine is aware that she had been ‘critical’ of the 2.5% reduction of VAT imposed by her opposite number... (who goes by the encouraging name of Darling).

Too often the ‘Beeb’ are arrogant and sloppy – failing to live up to their reputation.

[Ed Morrow]

We should pause for a minute to consider not the substance of the article but the article itself.

It is a first rate piece of reporting; concise without being impersonal, informative without being didactic.

Thank you Mr Bremner.

Regards,
Ed Morrow
Carmel Valley, CA

[Romain]

Gilles,

There are too many channels, as ommented by Balbou. The least would be to share and streamline production resources.

Azloon
I should have remembered Charles favourite expression "wool over eyes, my dog is a Kerry blue terrier, his wool is always over his eyes lol.
The red herring part is favoritism towards listed companies such as Bouygues TF1 to start with, so suggestion 1) and 2) would apply.
The whole project seems preposterous to me : reduce advertising budgets on public tv, giving a better share to private channels, new taxes on internet, like on commentator said : finance old technology by taxing new technomogy.
The whole thing looks like a masterpiece of fiscal nonsense like only French politicians can conceive. (en français : une usine à gaz)

[John Gregory Flinn]

"The cause is a revolution by President Sarkozy that will bring the public broadcaster under closer state control."

It's interesting that the West's biggest governments are introducing measures to increase their control.
They are all doing it in different ways (but I'll wager they'll all copy one another eventually):-
Hank Paulson in the US has garnered to himself an effective bugdet of some 1.5 trillion US to do all kinds of things with finance.
The UK has more cameras per square foot than the old USSR - to watch over you...(who wrote that song?)!
Now Sarko wants to make sure the french public properly hear what the State wants them to hear!
Italy is the same.
Japan did something similar to the Paulson plan some years ago.
Frau Merkel seems to be up to something ...?
And the EU want us all to do their bidding,(why did Barroso make his speech in english ? - they were'nt listening).

Fascism is alive and well, and flourishing in its new persona - "liberal democracy".

[Edward Johns]

Pierre, Oxford Hachette gives "to think the moon is made of green cheese" for "prendre des vessies pour des lanternes"

[Pierre]

Edward
Thanks too.I like this one. Reminds me of Wallace & Gromit's "A grand day out".

[Luke]

To me this just accentuates the power hungry nature of Sarkozy. He is well aware of the difficult times that lay ahead for his regime and he seems to be determined to retain power to the upmost degree. Namely by forcing endless amounts of pro-sarko propaganda into the new advertising-free tv slots.