France axes two DTT channels
July 20, 2018
From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris
Due to the ongoing reform of the French PSB sector, the French government has announced that €190 million of cost-cutting measures will take place between now and 2022, and that youth and overseas territories DTT channels France 4 and France Ô will stop by 2020. Both networks will turn digital and France Ô content will also join France Télévisions’ overseas TV channels network Outre-mer 1ère.
The upcoming reform, aimed at contributing to the global public spending saving plan, comprises all PSB radio and TV groups. Nevertheless, crippling costs will have an adverse affect on France Télévisions, which has been asked to save €160 million, as opposed to €20 million for Radio France and €10 million for the other PSB groups (Arte, INA, TV5Monde, France Médias Monde).
In 2019, France Télévisions will have to save €35 million, and €25 million in 2020.
At the same time, all groups are being asked to redeploy an additional €150 million investment towards digital by 2022. Another constraint for France Télévisions will be to keep its investments into French content to €467 million – or €560 million when Arte is included.