Two French Senators tasked with reporting on the future of public service media in the wake of President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to abolish the licence fee, have called for a unified broadcaster in the model of the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Vice President of the Senate, Roger Karoutchi, and Jean-Raymond Hugonet from the Opposition Les Républicains Party, condemned the lack of any proposals on reform of public service media from the Government.
In a joint statement, they said Mr Macron’s justification for ending the licence fee to counter the rising cost of living “cannot be reduced to a simple measure regarding the purchasing power of the French people”.
Arguing that instead of reflections and proposals, the Government had delivered “an absolute void”, the Senators said there was an urgent need for “a real strategic project”.
They called for the accelerated unification of France Télévisions, Radio France, France Médias Monde and the Institut National de l’Audiovisuel, saying legislation should be enacted as early as next year.
Senators Karoutchi (pictured) and Hugonet also called for the creation of a single public service news organisation across radio and public service television, which they said would “end duplication and reinforce expertise”, providing coverage of local, national and international news.
With finance to come from the Government Budget rather than a licence fee, the Senate has called for an independent commission to take charge of evaluating the annual requirements and setting multi-year budgets.
Paris, 14 June 2022
