03-10-2013, 22:53
Nonce Paolini, CEO TF1, has threatened to close down the group’s news channel LCI (La chaîne d’information) if it cannot broadcast free-to-air.
He told the French press that on December 31, 2014, all 200 of the channel’s employees would lose their jobs due to its closure if the CSA authority does not give it permission to go FTA.
Until now, LCI has been a pay channel as part of the encrypted DTT service TNT.
But with two FTA news channels – BFM TV from NextRadioTV and i-Télé from the Canal+ group – it can’t compete as a premium channel.
“There is room for three news channels,†Paolini said, “I see no reason why there is now a duopoly.â€
TF1 has been pushing to move LCI from pay to FTA for some time now, but so far has had no success in doing so.
In a rare insight in the news channels’ finances, Paolini said the broadcaster has to pay €4.5 million in order to broadcast the channel on the DTT network, and loses almost €5m a year.
UPDATE. The French senate has reviewed an amendment to the audio-visual law – already dubbed into the LCI law – which would allow premium channels to turn into free-to-air channels on the DTT network. NextRadioTV and the Canal+ Group already protested against the change in the law.
The Senate has now decided to study the implications into the advertising market should the regulator CSA get the power to allow premium channels into FTA ones.
He told the French press that on December 31, 2014, all 200 of the channel’s employees would lose their jobs due to its closure if the CSA authority does not give it permission to go FTA.
Until now, LCI has been a pay channel as part of the encrypted DTT service TNT.
But with two FTA news channels – BFM TV from NextRadioTV and i-Télé from the Canal+ group – it can’t compete as a premium channel.
“There is room for three news channels,†Paolini said, “I see no reason why there is now a duopoly.â€
TF1 has been pushing to move LCI from pay to FTA for some time now, but so far has had no success in doing so.
In a rare insight in the news channels’ finances, Paolini said the broadcaster has to pay €4.5 million in order to broadcast the channel on the DTT network, and loses almost €5m a year.
UPDATE. The French senate has reviewed an amendment to the audio-visual law – already dubbed into the LCI law – which would allow premium channels to turn into free-to-air channels on the DTT network. NextRadioTV and the Canal+ Group already protested against the change in the law.
The Senate has now decided to study the implications into the advertising market should the regulator CSA get the power to allow premium channels into FTA ones.
Citaat:Nonce Paolini, CEO TF1, heeft gedreigd te sluiten nieuwszender LCI van de groep (La Chaîne d'information) als het free-to-air niet kan uitzenden.
Hij vertelde de Franse pers dat op 31 december, 2014, alle 200 medewerkers van het kanaal zouden hun baan verliezen als gevolg van de sluiting als de CSA autoriteit heeft geen toestemming om FTA te gaan geven.
Tot nu toe is LCI is een betaal-TV kanaal als onderdeel van de versleutelde DTT dienst TNT.
Maar met twee FTA nieuwskanalen - BFM TV uit NextRadioTV en i-Tele van de Canal +-groep - het kan niet concurreren als een premium kanaal.
"Er is ruimte voor drie nieuwskanalen," zei Paolini, "Ik zie geen reden waarom er nu een duopolie."
TF1 is druk aan LCI verplaatsen van betalen tot FTA voor enige tijd, maar tot nu toe heeft geen succes in te doen gehad.
In een zeldzaam inzicht in de financiën van de nieuwszenders ', Paolini zei de omroep moet betalen € 4.500.000 om het kanaal op de DTT-netwerk uit te zenden, en verliest bijna € 5 miljoen per jaar.
UPDATE. De Franse senaat heeft een wijziging van de audiovisuele wetgeving beoordeeld - al genoemd in het LCI wet - die het mogelijk maken premium kanalen om te zetten in free-to-air kanalen op de DTT-netwerk. NextRadioTV en de Canal + Groep al geprotesteerd tegen de wetswijziging.
De Senaat heeft nu besloten om de gevolgen te bestuderen in de reclamemarkt moet de toezichthouder CSA krijgt de bevoegdheid om premium toelaten in FTA degenen.
