CSA allows TF1 ad breaks in news
July 20, 2017
From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris
French TV regulator CSA has authorised commercial channel TF1 to air a commercial break in news programmes that exceed 30 minutes, within a limit of 12 minutes per hour.
In doing so, the CSA has applied the general rule for commercial breaks already authorised to other French broadcasters by a decree-law of 1992, but which was forbidden to TF1 owing to its dominant position on the market. This will no longer be the case from next year when the new ruling comes into effect.
TF1 can expect to earn around €10 million to €40 million of additional ad revenues, but it also risks losing viewers who could prefer France Télévisions’ ad-free news.