France’s messy law

Will prime-time advertising on France Télévisions (HQ pictured, left) be banned on January 5? The parliamentary debate about the audiovisual law project and the war of amendments before a definitive vote set for December 9, have made the process messy.

Opposition deputies are showing strong resistance, if not obstruction, to the text, arguing French public networks will be largely destabilized after that. Their strategy is to gain time so the law is not voted on next week by deputies before going to Senate, so making it not applicable in early January.

By last Tuesday evening, only two articles out of 56 had been voted on, to the exception of the two main measures regarding PSB ad ban and the nomination of its president by the Elysée (see below).

At the same time, France Télévisions was presenting its Xmas schedules and the on-screen messages that will start this month to inform the audience about the new 8:35 pm prime-time schedules. However, France Télévision President de Carolis mentioned that he had to decide over the suppression of prime-time advertising before the law is officially adopted. He is thus expecting a “clear sign” from the French State and shareholder before mid-December.

French deputies voted last Thursday night in favor of the nomination of the president of France Télévisions by the tenant of the Elysée himself.

Until the end of ORTF and the advent of modern television, France Télévisions Presidents have always been choosen by regulatory body CSA.

This article 8 of the law project on television, which is currently in debate in Parliament, is one of the most controversial as many people see in it a decision to return to a form of State television.